In times of emergency, access to clean and safe drinking water can be compromised. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a power outage, or a contamination event, knowing how to secure healthy water for you and your family is crucial. Here are practical steps you can take to ensure you have safe drinking water at home during an emergency.
1. Store Emergency Water Supplies
Why It’s Important: During an emergency, your regular water supply might be disrupted. Storing water ensures you have access to clean water when you need it most.
How to Do It:
- Amount: Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days.
- Storage Containers: Use food-grade water storage containers. Clean and sanitize them before use.
- Storage Tips: Keep water in a cool, dark place, and rotate your water supply every six months to ensure freshness.
2. Boil Water for Safety
Why It’s Important: Boiling is one of the most effective ways to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites that could contaminate water during emergencies.
How to Do It:
- Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute (or three minutes at higher altitudes).
- Let the water cool naturally before drinking.
3. Use Water Purification Tablets
Why It’s Important: These water purification tablets are lightweight, portable, and effective in killing pathogens in water.
How to Do It:
- Follow the instructions on the package. Typically, you’ll add one tablet to a specified amount of water and wait for a designated period before drinking.
4. Invest in a Quality Water Filter
Why It’s Important: Water filters can remove a variety of contaminants, including bacteria, protozoa, and some viruses, providing an immediate solution during emergencies.
How to Choose:
- Look for filters that meet NSF/ANSI standards for contaminant reduction.
- Popular options include portable water filters, like those from LifeStraw, Sawyer, and Berkey water filters.
5. Create a Rainwater Harvesting System
Why It’s Important: Rainwater harvesting can provide an additional source of water during emergencies.
How to Do It:
- Set up a system to collect and store rainwater using clean containers and roof catchment systems.
- Ensure the water is filtered and purified before drinking.
6. Know How to Disinfect Water with Household Bleach
Why It’s Important: Bleach can be used to disinfect water when boiling isn’t possible.
How to Do It:
- Use regular, unscented household bleach (with 5-9% sodium hypochlorite).
- Add 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of water, stir, and let it stand for 30 minutes.
- Ensure there is a slight chlorine smell before drinking. If not, repeat the process.
7. Utilize Solar Disinfection (SODIS)
Why It’s Important: Solar disinfection uses the sun’s UV rays to purify water, which is especially useful in areas with abundant sunlight.
How to Do It:
- Fill clear plastic bottles with water and place them in direct sunlight for at least six hours (or up to two days in cloudy weather).
In an emergency, having a plan for ensuring safe drinking water can make all the difference. By storing water, knowing how to purify it, and using effective filtration methods, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from waterborne illnesses. With these simple steps you can prepare now to stay safe and healthy during any crisis.