How to find/store water and make it safe!

How to find/store water and make it safe!  

Water is among the most urgent needs in a survival situation. The human body consists of 94% water, making its replacement and replenishment the most urgent need in a survival situation. You will not live long without it, even in cold weather your body needs, at the minimum, two quarts per day; in hot weather, if you cease perspiring, you have a medical emergency. 

This is further complicated by the fact that no ground water found in North America can be considered safe. Although water that is closest to an underground source is usually safest, you should never assume that it is safe. No matter how clear it seems disinfection should be your first goal. (See below)**


Whether you obtain your water from a spring, creek, stream, lake or pond -- in that order -- the closer it is to an underground source, the less likely that it is polluted. When possible, surface water should be dipped from below the surface.

Never assume that any water is pure. Always disinfect! Look for greener vegetation, tree clusters, or old stream beds as an indication of water. Look for water collected in hollow stumps or rock depressions. 

Ice and snow are a good source if melted first. Never eat ice or snow as these will lower your core body temperature. Always melt ice/snow before ingesting. Scrape frost off of plants and grasses on cold mornings. 

Heavy morning dew can provide water. Tie rags or tufts of fine grass to your ankles and walk through dew-covered grass before or noon after sunrise. Wring the water out into a container as the rags become wet. Dew can be wiped from rocks and plants also. More than a quart an hour can be obtained this way. 

Water sometimes gathers in tree stumps, tree crotches or rock crevices. Ants or bees going into a hole in a tree may indicate a water-filled hole. 

Avoid water having a dark color, an odor, an oily scum, or containing floating materials, as any of these may indicate heavy pollution. Never drink sea water or urine, as these will only dehydrate you.


**Disinfecting Water**


There are two basic methods of disinfecting water from a source not known to be safe before using it.:

HEAT

1. Strain water through a clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or trash.
2. Bring the water to a vigorous boil. If you have enough fuel, boil for 10 minutes.
3. Store water in a clean container after it cools. Taste can be improved by pouring back and forth from one clean container to another several times.

CHEMICALS

When water purification tablets are available… Use as directed. If not, the following common chemicals may be used for purification.

Chlorine Laundry Bleach:
Clear water - use 2 drops per quart
Cloudy water - use 4 drops per quart
When using chlorine: if a slight chlorine odor is not detectable in the
water, repeat the dosage and let stand for an additional 15 minutes.

Tincture of Iodine (2 percent)
Clear water - use 5 drops per quart
Cloudy water - use 10 drops per quart

1. Use step one as above.
2. Mix thoroughly stirring or shaking in container.
When shaking in a container, leave the lid slightly loose so some liquid leaks.
3. Let stand for 30 minutes.

WORDS OF WISDOM

I speak from the experience of Hurricane Katrina. FEMA, the Red Cross and other civil authorities warn us that in the event of a major natural disaster, we should expect little outside help for at least three days (72 hours). I personally think it will be more like three - five days if not longer, depending on where you live.

Storms, earthquakes, hurricanes, fire, and even civil unrest will mean that you face the possibility of extended periods without power, or access to fresh water or even possibly food. During any type of disaster or even when camping, disease should be a major concern. Maintaining good personal hygiene will go a long way in preventing illnesses and help morale.

This requires water. Clean drinking water is essential to survival; which makes water one of the most important and necessary items for survival. 

Some of the most common requirements are: Drinking, cooking, washing your hands, proper dental care, washing clothes (clean and dry clothing does wonders for morale), take a bath (in safe water as often as practical), if no shower or bath facilities are available, at the minimum wash were you perspire (personal hygiene areas).

Minimum daily water requirements are determined by several different factors, mainly the climate, temperature and daily physical activity. In a survival situation water is a fundamental consideration.

During an emergency, an adult requires about one gallon of water per person per day (a normally active person requires a minimum of ½ gallon of water per day for drinking and cooking, more in hot weather, and slightly less in cold.): two quarts for drinking and cooking and two more quarts for washing body and clothes. 
Assuming no physical activity, a man can go without water for up to ten days in temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, seven days at 90, and two days in temperatures of 120. 

Some of the need for liquids can be met by using juices from canned fruits and vegetables. Avoid caffeine (cola, coffee and tea) as it increases water loss and promotes dehydration. Children require only slightly less, depending on their age. For a family of four, that's a minimum of 28 gallons per week. Don't forget to figure in your pet's needs as well. It would also be a good idea to learn and pay close attention for any signs of dehydration. 

Not enough water in hot climates or weather means you face the threat of heat stroke, too little in cold climates or weather means you may expose yourself to cold weather injuries such as frostbite or cracked skin, which can lead to infections and possibly other diseases.

Probably the best method for setting water aside is to purchase food grade (food-grade containers are any store-bought plastic or glass containers that have previously held food or beverages) 55-gallon drums. These are available new through commercial sources, though they tend to be expensive. However, any food-grade plastic or glass containers can be used for storing water, provided that they have been completely cleaned. Some examples include two-liter soda bottles, water, juice, and punch or milk jugs.  

Wash your container(s) with hot soapy water. Next, rinse the soapy container well with plain water. Then sanitize by rinsing with a solution of 1/2 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per pint of water. Finally, rinse with clean water. If water is to be stored in used plastic milk jugs, special care must be taken to clean, sanitize and rinse the inside handle area to remove any residue.

Empty bleach containers should never be used for two reasons. First, they are not food-grade containers and a young child may not be able to understand that some bleach bottles are safe to drink out of and others are not.

It is not necessary to treat water for storage, providing the water comes from a safe water supply. All public water supplies are already treated and should be free of harmful germs. If stored properly, this water should have an indefinite shelf life. But you may want to rotate and replace this water every 6-12 months with fresh safe water. 

Clearly mark all containers "drinking water", with the current date and store the tightly capped containers in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Containers should be stored in cabinets or on shelves that will not tip over or allow the containers to fall off and break as a result of any type of natural disaster. To improve the taste of "safe" water stored for a long time, pour from one clean container to another clean container, several times. Another method of storing water for an extended period of time is to freeze it. 

Freezing water will allow you to store it in a safe state, and use it, as you need it. If you should ever lose electricity, the frozen water will also help keep the foods in your freezer frozen until power is restored. Make sure you leave enough head space in containers before freezing (2-3 inches). This will help prevent the containers from spilling and breaking. 

One problem with freezing the family water supply is you will use up a lot of freezer space. Purify them before filling them by using a gallon or so solution of 50/50 pure bleach and water. Rinse the barrel once, but do not worry about the bleach remaining in the barrel. It will help purify your water. Since the barrel will weigh 440 lbs when full, (For every gallon of water there is 8 lb.'s weight) fill your water barrel in the location you will store it. Now that is a lot of weight and bulk. 

If you plan on relocating to another location, then you need to make sure that you scout out possible watering spots when you plan your routes. Lakes, rivers, streams, melted snow; even man-made water sources can be planned on but should never be counted on. Constantly refill (if water is available) at every stop.

Once your barrel is full, add nearly 1/4 cup (2 oz.), or 5-6 Tbsp (180 drops/tablespoon) of pure chlorine bleach. It will dissipate from the water quickly, so be sure to cap the drum tightly. Make a note on your family calendar to check the contents at least once every six months. Cover the barrel to protect it from sunlight, this will extend the life of the barrel and will minimize the growth of algae, etc., in the water. 

To extend the life of the stored water, you can add pure chlorine bleach every three months or so. Exchange the stored water for fresh at least once or twice a year.

An average hot water heater holds 25-40 gallons. The back of your toilet tank, from 2-5 gallons. A spa or hot tub holds 300-500 gallons or more, depending on its size. However, you should not count on these, because they could be damaged, especially during any type of serious natural disaster. Other sources of water supply can come from ice cubes, frozen containers of water, your hot water tank or your toilet tank (not the bowl). 

Do not drink from the toilet tank if a chemical disinfectant or purifier has been added to the water. Make sure your water heater is strapped or secured to a wall to keep it from falling. Be sure you know where to shut off incoming water to avoid any chance of contamination. 

To obtain a free flow of water from the hot water tank, it is sometimes necessary to open the valve at the top of the tank as well as the faucet at the bottom of the tank. The flow of water will also be increased if any hot water faucet in the home is turned on before draining water from the hot water tank. Be sure to turn off gas or electricity to the tank before draining off water for emergency use. 

Stored water will probably not be fresh from the tap when you go to use it. Before drinking it, you should purify it. There are three methods, each with advantages and disadvantages. You should also invest in some type of water testing kit.

A few things to remember are:

1. Always plan for more water than you need.

2. No matter what do not drink water from a non-potable source. One of the worst hazards to survival is waterborne disease. You need to treat all water either by boiling for at least one minute or by using water treatment tablets.

3. Water may look and smell fine, but be full of germs and other harmful substances.

4. Be on the look out for ways to decrease the amount of water you need to purify.


IMPORTANT NOTE 

If you do not have water or are not able to get water, you will not survive. It is that simple.