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Meeting Water Needs During A Disaster |
A clean supply of water should be at the top of the list in nearly every
survival situation. A person can survive for a few weeks without food, but
serious health conditions can develop in three days without water (less in some
environments). In most situations, plan to need one gallon of water per person
per day. One half gallon is for drinking, the other is for cooking and
sanitation. High temperatures and physical exertion will increase the water
requirements per person. Be prepared by survival by stockpiling water supplies,
knowing where to find clean water, and when all else fails, knowing how to
purify water.
Many people underestimate the difficulty of finding clean drinking water after a
disaster. Municipal water sources are frequently contaminated during large scale
disasters like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. If you have well water, a
simple power outage is all it takes to lose access to your water source. Water
that was once suitable for drinking may no longer be safe. In an emergency
situation all water should be considered contaminated unless you know for a fact
that it is safe. For these reasons, storing water in your home is worth
considering.
It is so cheap and easy to store water for emergency use, that everyone should
do it. Water can be stored in most food grade plastic buckets, barrels, and jugs
provided that they are well rinsed and sanitized with a bleach and water
solution provided it is kept in a cool and dark space. Empty, sanitize, and
refill the containers once a month to ensure your supply is always safe and
fresh. You can also buy sealed one gallon jugs at any grocery store. Many of
these containers will cost $1.00 per gallon or less and have an expiration date
of about two years. The water will be good for considerable longer, but it
should be checked for freshness every few years and replaced as needed. At some
point, the stored water will run out water purification is very important.
Water filtration and purification are used to address three concerns; biological
matter, chemical agents, and taste. Dirty water, or water with particulate
floating around should be first filtered. Repeatedly pouring water thru coffee
filters or layers of cloth effectively removes large particles. Boiling the
water for one minute is a quick and easy way to eliminate harmful viral and
bacterial organisms. After boiling, pour the water back and forth repeatedly
between two sanitized containers. This aerates the water which will remove the
stale taste that water has after boiling. Finally, add 16 drops of unscented
clorox bleach per gallon of water and stir vigorously. Allow the water to sit
for at least 30 minutes and you have done about everything you can to remove
biological threats. Chemical agents are much more difficult to detect and
remove. Distilling the water should make it safe for drinking, but that is
beyond the scope of this article.
Storing a few days of water and knowing how to purify water can make all the
difference in a disaster situation. Even if you are caught off guard, these few
tips should help you avoid dehydration. |
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