Hurricanes, floods, power outages, snowstorms. Whatever your emergency, be prepared with plenty of safe drinking water. You'll need at least one gallon per person for three days, the experts recommend. You'll use it for drinking to avoid becoming dehydrated, and for cooking, brushing your teeth, and washing. Public water supplies might be interrupted or contaminated with nasty germs during certain weather-related conditions.
The International Bottled Water Association provides these steps to ensure safe water storage:
- If you choose to store tap water in your own containers, select appropriate containers and disinfect them before use. Never use a container that ever held toxic substances. Rinse them with a diluted chlorine bleach solution (one part bleach to 10 parts water) before use. Replace the water every six months.
- If you plan to use commercially prepared "spring" or "drinking" water, keep the water in its original sealed container. Replace the water at least once a year.
- Store both bottled water and tap water at room temperature (between 59 and 86 degrees F) or cooler, if possible. Keep water out of direct sunlight and away from harmful chemicals, paint thinners, household cleaners, and gasoline.
- Make sure the water storage containers you use are of food grade quality, such as 2-liter soda bottles, with tight-fitting screw-cap lids. Milk containers are not recommended because they do not seal well.
|
