Water

[MarkCO]

While mentioned breifly in a few threads, this compound is so necessary to life. A LOT of people skip it or fail to consider it.

If you have acess to a natural water supply within 1 mile, and a method to collect and transport 1 gallon/person/day, then you will be served okay with a method to ensure the water is potable. Solar stills, tablets, settling tanks and filtration systems all have their +/-. Many harmful materials can be removed by one method, but not another.

If you do not have access to a natural supply, then you should consider storage. 1 month supply for a family of 4 would be 120 gallons minimum. A cistern in a crawl space filled with tap water and treated with an appropriate inhibior is a good method. Such a system can be installed in such as way as to use the water (with a pump) for irrigation say once every 6 months to rotate the supply based on the instructions for the inhibitor.

Colorado has some of the best water anywhere in the world and as such, most water storage inhibitors are more than enough for our water.

[StagLefty]

I keep several cases of drinking water on hand also a couple of 5's for toilet flushing. Picked up a Katadyn filter this year to add to my preps. Your absolutely right about not overlooking your water needs !

[jerrymrc]

I have a water source 2 blocks away. I think if it ever got to that point I would already be out of here. That was one of the main requirements when I was scouting locations if I had to leave. I found an underground spring that runs year round.

I keep lots of calcium hipochlorite on hand. I also have a large supply of coffee filters and a couple of .5 micron filters.I keep a 15gal and 2 5 gal water jugs ready to go.

The good thing is that we are on a water tower so I would have a little time to fill the containers. I dry camp allot and the trailer has a 50gal tank. being careful but still washing the dishes and taking some showers I still had a 1/4 tank after 2 weeks once.

[sniper7]

I have several water sources pretty close.
also have a nice deal I take for hunting that we put in the stream to re-fill our water bottles during the long days!

[Tora]

Both my places have wells. The CO water is great out of the ground, but the KS water sucks. I have it set up so I can get weter if the power is out at both places.

[BigBear]

"I'm a real man, I just drink my pee."

In all seriousness.... I do.


Ok really, in all seriousness, water is essential to life and is commonly overlooked. Good idea on a thread starter.

How long does water sit before becoming stagnate? What chemicals are used to sterilize it, etc?

[Batteriesnare]

I have several cases of water in my residences, and one in my car. I agree with BigBear though, how long is it good for? I feel dumb asking if water spoils, but better to be safe than sick at a bad time.

[theGinsue]

I keep lots of calcium hipochlorite on hand. I also have a large supply of coffee filters and a couple of .5 micron filters.I keep a 15gal and 2 5 gal water jugs ready to go.

This brings a few questions to mind. I know that Calcium Hypochlorite is used to purify water in swimming pools, but where do you obtain it? Pool/hottub stores?

Secondly, don't you worry about the calcium causing scaling in your filters, or do you use an anti-scaling agent?

Also, do you use a stabilizer at all to avoid the loss of chlorine due to UV rays?

[trlcavscout]

I am no expert so I am calling on one/some for answers to the questions above.

How do you treat river water to make it safe. How long can you store bottled water/stored water. Say you have a family of 4, a safe spot near river/water thats not downstream of a potential target, what is the best way to prepare? Thanks for help in this area.

[jerrymrc]

This brings a few questions to mind. I know that Calcium Hypochlorite is used to purify water in swimming pools, but where do you obtain it? Pool/hottub stores?

Secondly, don't you worry about the calcium causing scaling in your filters, or do you use an anti-scaling agent?

Also, do you use a stabilizer at all to avoid the loss of chlorine due to UV rays?

Regular old pool shock without additives can be had at wally world. Stored correctly it will last a long time. Water should be treated after the filter process.

No stabilizer. In fact you treat the water then let it breathe to reduce the amount of vapors.

Everything I have read about bottled water is that it just about is good forever. I have had some that was just fine after 5 years.

[cbs]

remember also you can boil the water in a pinch.

[theGinsue]

Thanks for the response Jerry!

cbs - Of course boiling water does help cleanes out a lot of contaminants, particularly of the bug type. The problem with boiling is that it does nothing for removing chemicals, hard metals, etc. that may be in the water. To remove those types of things you'll need a good filtration system.