EMERGENCY WATER by Ken Larson American Survival Guide Vol.

!" No. #

To $%e sur&rise o' many" $%e need 'or (a$er is muc% %i)%er $%an 'or 'ood. Many &eo&le %ave lived 'or !* days (i$% no 'ood" bu$ (i$%ou$ (a$er" a'$er $%ree or 'our days you are in serious $rouble. +eo&le $end $o underes$ima$e %o( muc% (a$er is ac$ually needed $o &er'orm normal" rou$ine $as,s o' daily livin). -rin,in) (a$er is $%e &rimary need" bu$ you may need addi$ional (a$er 'or ba$%s" coo,in)" 'lus%in) $oile$s" cleanin) ea$in) u$ensils" (as%in) clo$%es and o$%er c%ores. Wa$er availabili$y is a''ec$ed in na$ural and man made disas$ers. .n every disas$er" $%e ma/ori$y o' $%e )eneral &o&ula$ion is $o$ally un&re&ared 'or even a small in$erru&$ions in normal u$ili$y and 'ood dis$ribu$ion services. .n mos$ disas$ers" $%e vic$ims e0&ec$ and some$imes demand $%a$ 1someone1 &rovide needed &ro$ec$ion" (a$er" s%el$er and 'ood. T%ere are myriad (ays $%e (a$er su&&ly can be disru&$ed. T%e mos$ common (ay is due $o lac, o' elec$rici$y. Wi$% no elec$rici$y" $%ere (ill be no (a$er 'rom (a$er &uri'ica$ion &lan$s or your (ell22unless i$ is a non2elec$ric (ell. T%e second mos$ common (ay is a (a$er main ru&$ure. Recen$ly" more $%an *"*** &eo&le in $%e sou$%eas$ern 3ni$ed S$a$es (ere ou$ o' (a$er 'or over $(o (ee,s due $o suc% a ru&$ure. Wells can be con$amina$ed by 'loodin)" and (ell &um&s can become dama)ed by 'loodin). 4ree5in) (ea$%er also $a,es i$s $oll on (ell and ci$y (a$er lines. Local s$reams are never sa'e durin) disas$ers because ra( se(era)e and &ollu$ed sur'ace (a$er can en$er $%e s$reams. -urin) a recen$ %urricane " $%e (ind ble( an e0cessive amoun$ o' leaves in$o $%e a''ec$ed area6s reservoirs. T%e (a$er $urned yello( 'or $%ree (ee,s and ac7uired an ob/ec$ionable $as$e due $o $%e abnormal amoun$ o' leaves $%a$ (ere decom&osin). Con$ainer s$ora)e 22 cer$ain &las$ic con$ainers suc% as dry(all buc,e$s and &las$ic $ras% con$ainers are no$ in$ended 'or 'ood con$ac$ and may leac% undesirable c%emicals in$o s$ored (a$er. T%ese con$ainers s%ould be used 'or $rans&or$in) (a$er or 'or s$ora)e o' (a$er no$ used 'or consum&$ion. Al$%ou)% $%e 8 )allon dry(all buc,e$ is no$ )ood 'or s$orin) drin,in) (a$er" i$ is an e0cellen$ c%oice 'or $rans&or$in) (a$er and 'or s$ora)e o' (a$er no$ used 'or consum&$ion. Any con$ainer used 'or $rans&or$a$ion or 'or s$ora)e needs a $o&. durin) $rans&or$a$ion" $%e $o& reduces s&illa)e. Tray $rans&or$in) (a$er in $%e care $run, in a buc,e$ (i$%ou$ a $o& and you (ill see %o( muc% slos%es ou$. -urin) s$ora)e" $%e $o& ,ee&s ou$ dir$" dus$" insec$s" e$c. T%e 8 )allon buc,e$s used by res$auran$s 'or 'ood &roduc$s are e0cellen$ 'or s$orin) drin,in) (a$er. .' no con$ainers are available" &las$ic s%ee$s or ba)s can be used $o line &orous con$ainers 'or s$orin) (a$er in emer)encies. A de&ression can ever be du) in $%e )round and lined (i$% &las$ic $o %old (a$er $em&orarily. .n s$orin) (a$er 'or emer)ency uses" mos$ au$%ori$ies recommend a minimum o' 9 )allons &er &erson &er day. T%is s%ould include one %al' )allon 'or drin,in) and $%e balance 'or o$%er uses. .$ is &re'erable no$ $o ra$ion (a$er in a survival si$ua$ion

because $%is may %ave adverse a''ec$s on $%e %eal$% o' &eo&le involved. . s$ore non2drin,in) (a$er 'or dis%(as%in)" $oile$s" (as%in) clo$%es" e$c. in 8 )allon &las$ic dry(all buc,e$s. My drin,in) (a$er is s$ored in ou$ bleac% bo$$les and &las$ic mil, /u)s. . add : dro&s o' li7uid bleac% ;#2: &ercen$ sodium %y&oc%lori$e< &er )allon o' clear (a$er $o &ro$ec$ i$ durin) s$ora)e 'orm $%e )ro($% o' micro2or)anisms. . su))es$ s$orin) an e0$ra /u) o' bleac% $o &uri'y any ne( (a$er $%a$ is o' 7ues$ionable 7uali$y. =e care'ul no$ $o misiden$i'y bleac% bo$$les as con$ainin) drin,in) (a$er i' you also %ave bleac% on %and. T%is is es&ecially dan)erous (%ere c%ildren are involved. Al(ays remove $%e bleac% label and re&lace i$ (i$% $%e (ord 1WATER1 in lar)e indelible le$$ers on $%e /u)s in (%ic% $%e (a$er is s$ored. T%e 3$a% S$a$e 3niversi$y E0$ension Service o''ers $%e 'ollo(in) ins$ruc$ions 'or %ea$ s$erili5a$ion (%en usin) )lass con$ainers $o s$ore (a$er> 1'ill clean 'rui$ /ars (i$% (a$er" leavin) one inc% o' %ead s&ace a$ $%e $o& o' $%e /ar. +lace clean s$erili5ed lids on $%e /ar and &rocess $%e (a$er in a boilin) (a$er ba$% as 'rui$ /uice is &rocessed. ?uar$ /ars s%ould be &rocessed 9* minu$es. T(o 7uar$ /ars 98 minu$es.1 W%a$ever $%e con$ainer used" i$ is &robably a )ood idea $o da$e eac% con$ainer (i$% a lar)e ma)ic mar,er or o$%er mar,in) ins$rumen$. .6m )lad . did mar, my 'irs$ (a$er s$ora)e /u)s because . no( %ave (a$er $%a$ is @ years old. Wa$er is used on a 'irs$2 in 'irs$2ou$ basis. My (a$er su&&lies %ave been used many $imes in $%e las$ @ years. Since . do o(n a )enera$or" a &o(er ou$a)e (ill s%u$ do(n my (ell. No elec$rici$y" no elec$ric (ell &um&. An several o$%er occasions" my (ell &um& %ad main$enance &roblems and $%e s$ored (a$er came in very %andy (%ile $%e &um& (as bein) re&aired. -on6$ s$ore &las$ic con$ainers near 'uels" &es$icides or similar ma$erials. T%e va&ors 'rom $%ese can &ene$ra$e $%e &las$ic and con$amina$e $%e (a$er. Also" s$ore (a$er in $%e dar, $o &ro$ec$ $%e &las$ic 'rom sunli)%$. Ane &roblem commonly encoun$ered in (a$er s$ora)e is inven$ory con$rol. You mus$ be dili)en$ in re&lacin) $%e (a$er you use and ro$a$e your inven$ory a$ leas$ every several years. 3se $%e oldes$ inven$ory 'irs$. Any 7ues$ionable (a$er you %ave in s$ora)e can be used 'or non2drin,in) &ur&oses. T%e local coun$y e0$ension service (ill $es$ your (a$er 'or &uri$y. T%is is a )ood idea (%en you %ave (a$er su&&lies $%a$ %ave no$ been ro$a$ed 'or several years. .' you %ave enou)% advance no$ice o' a comin) (a$er emer)ency or &ossible emer)ency" 'ill u& e0$ra em&$y mill car$ons" /ars" ba$%$ubs" sin,s" (adin) &ools" $ras% cans and or any o$%er available con$ainer. Abviously (a$er in )arba)e cans (ould be used 'or non2drin,in) &ur&oses unless 'il$ered and &uri'ied. ATBER WATER SA3RCES 22 You can use $%e (a$er 'or $%e $oile$ $an, ;no$ $%e bo(l< and i$ (ill o''er several )allons. You may (an$ $o loo, in your $an, ri)%$ no( $o see i' i$ needs a )ood cleanin). Tra&&ed (a$er in %ouse &lumbin) lines o''ers several )allons o' clean (a$er. As soon as $%e (a$er &ressure )oes o''" be care'ul $o s%u$ o'' your %ouse lines 'rom $%e s$ree$. T%is ac$ion (ill insure you do no$ dra( in con$amina$ed (a$er or allo( your $ra&&ed (a$er $o 'lo( bac, in$o $%e connec$in) munici&al sys$em. Ne0$" $urn o'' $%e %ea$ sources $o your (a$er %ea$er. To )ain access $o

$ra&&ed (a$er in $%e %ouse line" crac, $%e 'auce$ a$ $%e lo(es$ level and drain $%e lines. . %ave ins$alled a 'auce$ in my basemen$ $o insure . can collec$ $%e (a$er 'rom $%e lines $%a$ run under my %ouse. T%e basemen$ is (%ere . &lan $o be durin) a (ea$%er aler$. Your (a$er %ea$er $an, %olds !* 2 #* )allons. C%ec, your (a$er %ea$er $an, because i$ may %ave a 'oo$ or more o' sedimen$ in $%e $an, bo$$om. Sedimen$ removal is a )ood reason $o drain $%e $an, every year. .n addi$ion" $%e removal o' sedimen$ (ill im&rove $%e (a$er %ea$er6s e''iciency. T%e %o$ (a$er $an, can be drained by o&enin) $%e 'auce$ a$ $%e bo$$om o' $%e $an,. You may need $o o&en $%e %o$ (a$er 'auce$ else(%ere in $%e %ouse $o allo( $%e release o' $%e vacuum $o allo( a 'ree 'lo( o' (a$er. T%e (a$er inle$ valve ;'auce$< s%ould be $urned o'' i' you doub$ $%e 7uali$y o' $%e inle$ (a$er. .' $%e inle$ valve is $urned o''" you may need $o ven$ $%e (a$er $an, by o&enin) $%e 1&o& o''1 valve lever $%a$ is used $o allo( over %ea$ed $an,s $o ven$ e0cessive &ressure. T%e 'auce$ a$ $%e bo$$om is $%readed $o receive a re)ular )arden %ose. T%e (a$er in a (a$er bed can also be used. Anly use $%is (a$er 'or non2drin,in) &ur&oses because o' $%e &ossibili$y o' al)aecide c%emicals in $%e (a$er and &las$ic c%emicals bein) leac%ed in$o $%e (a$er. A s(immin) &ool o''ers a lar)e volume o' s$ored (a$er 'or non2 drin,in) use. .n one case a s(immin) &ool &rovided a (%ole nei)%bor%ood (i$% (a$er a'$er a %urricane. T%e nei)%bors se$ u& a $em&orary s%o(er in $%e bac,yard ne0$ $o $%e &ool. A$%ers (%o lived nearby carried $%e (a$er bac, %ome in any con$ainers $%ey could 'ind. .' i$ rains" &lace buc,e$s or barrels under rain )u$$er do(n s&ou$s. You may %ave $o cu$ or disconnec$ $%em so $%e (a$er can 'lo( in$o $%e con$ainer. .' your con$ainer is no$ clean" you can line i$ (i$% &las$ic suc% as a clean )arba)e ba). +las$ic s%ee$s can be &laced on a %illside or be s$run) be$(een $rees $o 'unnel (a$er in$o your con$ainers. +3R.4Y.NG WATER 22 +ollu$ion can a''ec$ ice" sno(" (a$er in s$reams and in s%allo( (ells causin) $%ese (a$er sources $o be unsa'e. Even clear s$reams can %ave &arasi$es in $%em. 3n&ollu$ed (a$er mus$ be boiled $o assure com&le$e des$ruc$ion o' any dan)erous or)anisms. +ro&erly s$ored (a$er is $%e sa'es$ in an emer)ency. .' you %ave $o use (a$er 'rom an un,no(n source or o' un,no(n 7uali$y" be a(are $%a$ $%e 'ollo(in) me$%ods o' &uri'yin) (a$er do no$ )uaran$ee $%e sa'e$y o' $%e (a$er bu$ (ill reduce $%e ris,s involved. =oilin) (a$er is one o' $%e sa'es$ me$%ods o' (a$er &uri'ica$ion. .$ s%ould be boiled 'or a$ leas$ 9* minu$es $o insure $%a$ bac$eria are ,illed. =oilin) does no$ remove &ollu$ion. T%e boilin) &rocess (ill ma,e $%e (a$er $as$e 'la$ since some air %as been driven ou$. To add bac, $%e o0y)en and $o im&rove $%e $as$e" &our $%e (a$er several $imes 'rom one con$ainer $o ano$%er. Ano$%er me$%od is $o &our $%e (a$er in$o a closed con$ainer and vi)orously s%a,e i$. A small &iece o' (ood or a &inc% o' sal$ can be added $o $%e boilin) (a$er $o im&rove $%e $as$e. Learn %o( $o s$ar$ an ou$door 'ire $o be used in boilin) (a$er. -o no$ de&end on elec$rici$y or )as 'or your %ea$ source. Anly use c%emical &uri'ica$ion 'or 7ues$ionable (a$er i' boilin) is no$ &ossible. 3nders$and $%a$ or)anic ma$$er in $%e

(a$er increased $%e amoun$ o' c%emical needed. T%e colder $%e (a$er" $%e more $ime needed 'or $%e c%emical $o (or,. Add : dro&s o' bleac% &er )allon o' (a$er 'or clear (a$er and double $%a$ amoun$ 'or cloudy or sedimen$2'illed (a$er. Mi0 (ell and (ai$ 'or !* minu$es be'ore usin). You s%ould be able $o smell $%e bleac% a'$er !* minu$es. .' no$" re&ea$ $%e &rocess un$il you smell $%e bleac%" o$%er(ise do no$ use $%e (a$er. .' you leave $%e con$ainer uncovered 'or several %ours" $%e c%lorine $as$e (ill be reduced and $%e (a$er (ill be more &ala$able. Al(ays use 'res% li7uid bleac% because i$ (ill lose i$s s$ren)$% over $ime. -ouble $%e recommended amoun$s i' $%e bleac% is over one year old and do no$ use i$ i' over $(o %ears old. Wa$er &uri'ica$ion $able$s can be used $o &uri'y (a$er. T%ey are readily available 'rom s&or$in) )oods s$ores and mili$ary sur&lus ou$le$s. 3se 'res% $able$s. Normal s%el' li'e 'or iodine $able$s is ! $o 8 years i' uno&ened. iodine $able$s (or, be$$er $%an bleac% or %ala5one $able$s 'or cer$ain in$es$inal &arasi$es..n addi$ion" %ala5one $able$s %ave a s%el' li'e o' only 9 year. Commercial 'il$ers combine a 'il$er subs$ance and ac$ive in)redien$s $o 'il$er and $rea$ $%e (a$er a$ $%e same $ime. Some brands are no$ as e''ec$ive as $%ey claim. Clear (a$er s%ould be used (%enever &ossible (%en &uri'ica$ion is needed. .' sedimen$ is &resen$" i$ (ill se$$le ou$ in $ime and $%e clear (a$er can be &oured o'' or $%e (a$er can be &oured $%rou)% a clo$% or co''ee 'il$er $o s&eed u& $%e &rocess. A novel me$%od $o clear u& (a$er is $o use a clo$% si&%on arran)emen$. +lace $%e 'ull cloudy (a$er con$ainer %i)%er $%an $%e em&$y clean (a$er con$ainer. Roll u& a clean dry &iece o' clo$% and &u$ one end in $%e u&&er con$ainer and $%e o$%er end in $%e lo(er clean con$ainer. .' $%e clo$% in $%e lo(er con$ainer is several inc%es belo( $%e cloudy (a$er6s (a$er line" $%en a si&%on e''ec$ (ill be)in and $%e (a$er (ill be 'il$ered. T%is is a very" very slo( &rocess" bu$ is )ood $o ,no( abou$. .n $%e dis$illin) &rocess" 7ues$ionable (a$er is boiled and allo(ed $o condense in$o sa'e (a$er. Ane me$%od is $o allo( $%e (a$er va&or esca&in) ou$ o' a $ea ,e$$le $o en$er an inver$ed mil, /u). T%e (a$er va&or (ill condense in $%e mil, /u) and run ou$ in$o a &an se$ nearby $o collec$ i$. Ano$%er me$%od is $o run $%e (a$er va&or $%rou)% co&&er $ubin) ;same as used in your %ouse< $o condense $%e va&or in$o &ure (a$er. 4or 7uan$i$y &roduc$ion" $ry $o visuali5e a moons%iners s$ill. 3se a lar)er closed con$ainer %ea$ed over a 'ire (i$% co&&er $ubin) coiled several $imes $o ma,e suc% a s$ill. CANSERVAT.AN 22 T%e more you conserve your (a$er in an emer)ency" $%e less you (ill use or need 'rom s$ora)e. 4or e0am&le" $oile$s use !2# )allons &er eac% 'lus%. Add several bric,s in $%e $an, $o reduce usa)e ;be care'ul no$ $o %ave $oo muc% (as$e 'or eac% 'lus%<. And $oile$s need no$ al(ays be 'lus%ed a'$er eac% use. You mi)%$ also (an$ $o build an ou$door $oile$ $renc% suc% as is described in 1T%e =oy Scou$ Bandboo,1 or o$%er &ublica$ions. S$re$c% ou$ $%e &eriods be$(een your ba$%s or s%o(ers" or use a Navy $y&e s%o(er &rocedure" (%ere you $urn on $%e (a$er $o (e$ do(n" $urn o'' (a$er" soa& u& and $%en $urn on $%e (a$er $o rinse o''. .' (a$er is very limi$ed" $a,e a s&on)e ba$% (%en ever &rac$ical. -o no$ (as$e (a$er (as%in) clo$%in) o$%er $%an under clo$%in).

=e'ore you (as%" leave clo$%es ou$side over ni)%$ and $%ey (ill &ic, u& addi$ional mois$er reducin) $%e amoun$ o' (as% (a$er needed. A %eavy de( (ill ma,e a (as% $o(el mois$ enou)% $o use 'or a s&on)e ba$%. .$ is even be$$er $o roll $%e clo$%es in $%e de( $o ma,e $%em very (e$ be'ore be)innin) $%e (as%. Never $%ro( (a$er a(ay (i$%ou$ 'i)urin) ou$ o$%er uses 'or i$. 4or e0am&le" use $%e $ub (a$er 'or 'lus%in) a $oile$. Save $%e (a$er (%en you (as% your %ands and use i$ 'or $%e ini$ial clo$%es (as%in) (a$er. -o no$ dis&ose o' dir$y (a$er /us$ because i$ %as sedimen$ in i$. You (ill be sur&rised %o( muc% sedimen$ in dir$y (a$er (ill se$$le ou$ over ni)%$ or in several days i' le'$ undis$urbed. T%e clearer sur'ace (a$er can be used a)ain 'or non2drin,in) &ur&oses. 4inally " i$ is very im&or$an$ $o (as% %ands (%en &re&arin) 'ood. .n$es$inal &roblems can ra&idly de%ydra$e $%e body and cause severe %eal$% &roblems. As you can see" (a$er s$ora)e is very sim&le $o accom&lis%. A li$$le advance &re&ara$ion can add a )rea$ deal o' securi$y in our curren$ (a$er2sensi$ive and %i)%ly $ec%nolo)ical $imes as (ell as in any emer)ency si$ua$ion. C