A Few Thoughts on Water Storage, by N.P.

Survival Blog ^ | 10/10/14 | N.P.

[Kartographer]

I’d like to discuss a few ideas about water storage and describe what I’ve decided to do in our situation.

My background, since most of this is my opinion, is that I work as the chemist (meaning I manage the water treatment systems) in a large power plant, hold the highest drinking water license possible in the state where I live, and am a degreed microbiologist. I’ve dealt with various water treatment systems for awhile. I don’t claim to know everything, but I do think that I’ve learned some things, and I hope to pass along a few ideas and opinions that hopefully will be of some value.

[Kartographer]

If you have room consider getting one of these:


275 gallon Food Grade tote. You can often find them of Craigslist for $100 or less.

[Kartographer]

Preppers’ PING!!

[Kartographer]

Better than Bleach: Use Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Water

http://readynutrition.com/resources/better-than-bleach-use-calcium-hypochlorite-to-disinfect-water_19062010/

Remember the stock you make is just usable just as laundry bleach you would buy at the store for use as a disinfected for washing down and disinfecting surfaces and bedding.

[Kartographer]

A follow up article by N.P.

http://survivalblog.com/a-few-thoughts-on-water-storage-by-n-p-2/

[driftdiver]

I havent been able to find those. I did find a couple of 55 gal barrels and 3 of the water bobs

[driftdiver]

A new ones is $322

http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/9530/275-gallon-re-bottled-ibc-tote-ce-275tote

[CGASMIA68]

Question for the pros?
Article starts out by saying “those of us not fortunate to have our own well”.
We have 3 on the property one deep two shallow,can we leave H20 out of our prepping?
The shallow can be accessed through the top with a bucket on a rope should the power go out(old fashioned way)

[driftdiver]

I’d say no, it can be reduced but not left out. What if the well goes dry, gets polluted or you end up having to bug out.

[CGASMIA68]

great site, all types that can be utilized for water

[MountainDad]

Got a lot of those.
Work great!!!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You have to consider the fact that you may be trapped indoors for some time.

So, no.

Reduce yes, but keep a week's worth of water inside. Two would be better.

[TexasGator]

“or you end up having to bug out.”

275 gallons of water is one heck of a load to haul out ....

[Iron Munro]

POLAR PURE^® WATER TREATMENT

Bailing Out?

For those interested in a low cost way to treat questionable water to make it safe for drinking Polar Pure is once again available.

Polar Pure^® was forced off the market by the federal government several years ago because drug manufacturers were using the chemicals it contains to make drugs. The Polar Pure^® manufacturer has finally been able to institute controls that satisfy the government and has brought the product back on the market.

Polar Pure^® isn’t the long term answer to providing large quantities of safe drinking water for your family but it is perfect for the short term, bailing out, emergency carry bag, camping, storm and power emergencies, etc.

One $20.00 bottle of Polar Pure^® treats up to 2,000 quarts of water.

POLAR PURE^® GEAR REVIEW:

http://www.backpacker.com/gear/essentials/water-purifiers/gear-review-polar-pure-water-disinfectant/

BUY POLAR PURE^® HERE:

http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Pure-Plus-disinfectant-Purification/dp/B00N5AGT1Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410912646&sr=8-2&keywords=polar+pure

HISTORY: WHY THE GOVERNMENT FORCED POLAR PURE^® OFF THE MARKET:

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19385037

[driftdiver]

Which is why I have chemical sterilizers and portable filters

[Eagles6]

Local farm supply stores have good prices on tanks. Also find out now where the springs are in your area and plan on catching your rain water.

[SpaceBar]

I have heard bad things about standard hdpe milk/juice containers, but they work quite well, are easily handled, and if one fails, there are many more. Milk contains fat, and needs to be washed with a hot detergent/bleach solution to remove all lipids sticking to the plastic, then a final rinse with boiling water. After that, ten drops of chorine bleach and tap water, cap it, and tape it. Will be potable for decades... centuries if left undisturbed and away from damaging sunlight.

[Kartographer]

Have you had it tested? Even testing good I would still I would treat it especially for drink and cooking.

[Kartographer]

I have found that the seams on most milk and water jugs tend to split over time. Two liter soda bottle last much longer.

[Scrambler Bob]

M4Later ...

[BobL]

Nice to see this article pretty much confirming what I was saying yesterday, which was non food grade plastic bags, if brand new, are fine to use for storing water with the only difference being that they haven’t gone through the expense of certifying that capability. The idea that pesticides are added to bags was silly on its face and the bag makers deny it (and why on earth would they do that in the first place). The idea that chemicals from the plastic could leach out has more merit, but I suspect that the EPA wouldn’t be too happy about that, since many, of not most, of those bags end up with groundwater running over them.

Furthermore the wording they use warn you on the boxes is very, very, weak: “Not recommended for food storage” Nothing about poison control and nothing about harmful chemicals.

So, as I suspected, the companies simply don’t see an upside in spending the money for certification and it probably exposes them to additional liability, so why bother with it?