[DieHard the Hunter]

> if the power goes out, water is more important than food

Absolutely unnecessary to buy bottled water, unless you really want to.

There is plenty of clean fresh water in the reservoir of your toilet, on the assumption that you don’t use any disinfectant product (you know, them blocks that turn the water green or blue...) Just take the lid off the reservoir and scoop out what water you need.

Probably best not use the water in the basin for anything other than handwashing WITH SOAP. Three tablespoons of chlorine bleach added to that water should render it reasonably safe ON THE ASSUMPTION YOUR BASIS IS CLEAN. Don’t flush this water, just re-use it for washing.

There is also plenty of fresh water in your hot water heater. Just turn on the drainage fawcett and collect the water into a bucket.

[353FMG]

And in order to save on precious drinking water all should drink their bourbon straight without ice.

[tet68]

Just turn on the drainage fawcett...

Just how Fara do you have to turn her on? Majorly?

[GOPJ]

You have a feel for safe but odd water - so here's my question... What about swimming pool water? I put chemicals in the pool weekly - chlorine, acid, “blue stuff” etc. The water sparkles - but in an emergency, what would it take to make it drinkable?

[ReignOfError]

There is plenty of clean fresh water in the reservoir of your toilet

If "plenty" is less than a gallon and a half, sure. And a toilet tank is not designed to hold potable water -- it could have lead, and will often have rust.

Probably best not use the water in the basin for anything other than handwashing WITH SOAP.

You can re-use "gray water" for washing -- yourself, clothes, etc. In an emergency, being springtime fresh is not a top priority. Then you can dump it back into the toilet tank you've just emptied and get another flush or two.

If you suspect an emergency is in the offing, fill the tub. That's 42 gallons of water, probably not the best available for drinking, but you can also use that for washing and refilling the toilet tank. Think about it -- you'll need to take care of biological necessities long before you run out of clean (or at least "clean enough") clothes.

I have a little water filter I bought for a trip to Thailand. That and my bathtub could keep me going for a week or two if I keep using the toilet, a month if I dig a privy out back. The usual guideline for drinking purposes is one gallon per person per day.

Ten gallons of water -- two standard-size buckets -- is a pretty handy thing to keep on hand. You don't need to expect a major emergency. A 24-hour power outage or a water main break, even if they don't cut off the supply, could easily compromise the safety of tap water.

There is also plenty of fresh water in your hot water heater. Just turn on the drainage fawcett and collect the water into a bucket.

And TURN IT OFF. You don't want your water heater turning into a boiler on you.