Water Storage: The Ultimate Guide on How To Stockpile H20
Food and water — we all need it to survive. Everyone acknowledges it. Everyone is aware that you can’t go long without them. And yet, as few as 17% of Americans report that they are very prepared for an emergency.
Now, picking up some canned food at the store isn’t necessarily rocket science, but when it comes to saving water, it can require a bit more planning. After all, who wants to survive an apocalypse only to keel over after taking a sip of contaminated water?
In this post, we’ll let you in on the do’s and don’ts of stockpiling water and how you can prevent it from becoming contaminated. We’ll even throw in a few suggestions for some of the best water storage container options available.
Why is Storing Water Important?
Most preppers have the basics planned out ahead of time. They’ve got plenty of food, blankets, and batteries on hand. They likely even have the best route planned out if they have to go somewhere in an emergency.
Where people often tend to fall short, though, is on storing water.
FEMA suggests that a person has three days of water on hand in the event of any given emergency.
They suggest a minimum of half a gallon of water per person per day. If we do the math, that’s 1.5 gallons of water stored per person. If you have four people in your family, that’s 6 gallons – for just three days of living. That doesn’t even include the extra water you would need for cooking and personal hygiene.
Unfortunately, most people overlook the importance of storing water since the majority of us have unlimited access to it. However, when disaster strikes, the first utilities to shut off in your home will likely be electricity and water.
Sure, we can all survive without electricity – but not water. The human body can last about three weeks without food. But when it comes to water – you can cut that number down to three days.
All this to say, stockpiling H2O is essential. This is why it’s necessary to take the required precautions so that you can properly store your most valuable emergency supply item.
The Do’s and Don’ts on How to Store Water
Storing water for the long haul takes more than just pouring some tap water into some old bottles and calling it a day. It also takes more than simply buying a couple of cases of water bottles and storing them in your basement.
Although water may not have an expiration date, it can become contaminated over time. If not stored correctly and in sterile containers, it can become tainted with harmful parasites, algae, and more. Worst of all, these bacteria can be invisible and could silently poison you and your family without you even knowing it.
Water Storage Don’ts:
That said, there are plenty of water storage myths and facts, and figuring out fact from fiction can be difficult. Here are some of the biggest don’ts when storing water:
DON’T store water in any plastic containers besides BPA free emergency water storage receptacles. This is because the plastic that makes up containers such as soda bottles and milk jugs degrade over time and are not meant for long-term water storage. In addition, they’re tough to sterilize again once they’ve been contaminated with sugar and other preservatives.
DON’T store water in clear containers. Instead, stick to an opaque container that blocks out light. We recommend using blue or green colored containers for their light-blocking abilities.
DON’T store water in direct sunlight or in an area that is warm or hot. It’s best to store water in a cool, dark place such as a basement, pantry, or garage.
Water Storage Do’s:
Here are some tips you do want to keep in mind when storing water:
DO make sure that any container you plan to use is completely sterilized.
DO treat your water with a special water treatment – especially if your water is coming from a well or other untreated water source. More on water purification further down.
DO label and date your stored water so you can rotate it accordingly.
DO rotate water every on a regular basis.
How Long Can You Store Water?
Many people wonder, “how long can water be stored?”.
We recommend checking your water at least every six months or so. By “checking,” we mean opening the container and looking for telltale signs of contamination such as:
A cloudy appearance.
Any foul smells.
Obvious signs of bacteria or algae.
As for rotation, a good rule of thumb is to replace the water once per year. This is not to say you’ll die if you drink water that has been sitting for over a year, but we tend to be extra cautious when it comes to our family and their health.
PRO TIP: Don’t let your rotated water go to waste! Use it to water your gardens or house plants! If you’re big into gardening or are just experimenting for the first time, check out lasagna gardening or hugelkultur garden beds. These gardening methods are perfect for those looking for a no-till, no-dig option that can help them produce plenty of food off the grid.
How to Purify Water
Storing and rotating water in the correct container is key, but purifying it when necessary is equally just as important. This is a crucial step when storing water long-term since it can easily become polluted over time for a number of reasons.
If you haven’t stayed on top of rotating your water and it’s been over a year – don’t worry. As we already hinted at, the water is probably still good and just needs a little purification.
There are plenty of ways you can do this, from purchasing purifiers like chlorine dioxide to using iodine tablets, a water filter, or even just simply boiling it. You can download our comprehensive resource on water filtration techniques by signing up for our email list.
Regardless, it’s always a good idea to have a water purifying method on hand just in case things go south with your current stash.
PRO TIP: If you come to find that your stored water isn’t contaminated, but tastes stale – this is completely normal. You can improve its taste by pouring the water back and forth between two cups or containers. This will aerate the water and help bring its flavor back.
Water Storage Containers
There are plenty of ways to store your H2O. Here are a few of the most popular methods.
Plastic
Plastic is around every corner these days. Even though we believe its use should be minimized, it still remains one of the best ways to store water — when done correctly. Plastic tends to be quite durable and lightweight compared to other materials like glass and stainless steel.
However, plastic can leach chemicals into the water if left for an extended period of time. So, if you choose this option, be sure to use a BPA free container and rotate your water more frequently.
Plastic water storage containers can come in a wide variety of options, from jugs and bricks to massive water storage barrels like this Blue BPA Free 320 Gallon Storage Tank.
Glass
If you’re wary about using plastic, glass is a great option as it’s better for the environment and won’t potentially pollute your water with chemicals. Plus, it’s easy to sterilize and see-through, which means you can keep an eye on how your water is doing.
Just be sure to keep this type of container out of the sun and in a cool, shady place. We recommend covering these types of receptacles with a tarp or blanket.
It’s also important to keep in mind that glass can break easily and is heavy if you should ever have to move it. A good option when it comes to glass water storage containers is to stick to 1-gallon glass jugs or smaller.
Stainless Steel
Next up, we have sturdy old stainless steel. The king of all water storage options, stainless steel is durable, can block out the sun naturally, and won’t taint your water with chemicals.
The only problem is that it can be a little pricey. But in our opinion, it’s totally worth the investment. Your best bet is to purchase a 5-gallon, 8-gallon, and 10-gallon stainless steel water can.
Staying Hydrated Through an Apocalypse
And there you have it — the best way to go about storing water for the long-term. If you can keep a decent amount of water on hand for an emergency, you’ll be able to stay well-hydrated, even when the lights go out and the city-water dries up.
Don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family members — especially if you want them around after an apocalypse, too — so they can also be better prepared for any and every situation that might come your way.
For more on prepping, feel free to check out our articles What is Prepping, Prepping on a Budget, and along with the slew of other content on our homepage.