One of the most important items that you can have in your emergency supplies is a water filter. There are a variety of ways to clean water and make it safe to drink: boiling, distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization, chemical purification and filtration. In this post, I want to explain the basics of micro porous filtration or more simply said “how a water filter works”. At the end of the post, I have included some excellent reference articles from Wikipedia that include more detailed information on the topic for those that are interested.

Many people use water filters in their homes. They are attached to their faucets or sometimes are used with a water pitcher. Typically, these water filters use some sort of activated carbon filter, micro porous filtration or a combination of the two to purify the water. Portable water filters use the same methods to clean water. Portable water filters are used by hikers, the military, survivalists and other people that are in harsh environments. They allow you to clean suspect water and make it safe to drink.

Here is how a portable water filter works. Most portable water filters use a ceramic cartridge inside to clean the water. At one end of the filter, dirty water is brought in through a pumping action. The pump then forces the water through the ceramic cartridge. The ceramic cartridge is designed to filter contaminants that are 0.2 micrometers or larger. Basically, the filter will allow through water molecules and not much else. Major pathogens and contaminants such as Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporodium and other bacteria will be filtered out of the water. Giardia is commonly found in most back country water sources such as lakes, rivers and streams. Once the water is forced through this ceramic cartridge, it comes out the clean end of the water filter, purified and ready to drink. Pretty simple process. Most portable water filters will pump about a liter of water per minute, depending on the clarity of the water.

The advantages of a portable ceramic water filter:

• Allows for quick access to safe, purified drinking water wherever you find a water source.

• Removes debris from the water is it is filtered.

• Portable and simple to use and maintain.

What a portable ceramic water filter can’t do:

• Remove viruses from water sources such as hepatitis A and rotavirus.

• Remove chemicals all chemicals from the water.

• Remove salt from the water.

Portable water filters like the MSR Miniworks or the Katadyn Combi are great portable water filters and highly recommended. Keep in mind, that ceramic water filters, while designed for outdoor backpacking, hiking and military use, still need to be handled carefully. If dropped or damaged, the filter can get very small hairline cracks in it that will allow larger molecules to get through the filter and make it not safe to use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_filter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfiltration

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purified_water

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceramic_water_filter

After you have completed priority #2 which is to gather Grab and Go supplies, your next priority is to gather Shelter in Place supplies. Over the years, I have found it very helpful to divide my emergency supplies into two broad categories: Grab and Go supplies and Shelter in Place supplies. My definition of these two categories might be slightly more detailed than the traditional ones. As we reviewed in my previous post, Grab and Go supplies are designed for short term survival, about 72 hours. Shelter in Place supplies are long term emergency supplies that are designed to keep you and your family alive much longer than 72 hours.

Traditionally, the concept of sheltering in place has been limited to a short term “stay put” strategy. In case of biological, chemical or nuclear contamination, local authorities may ask you to shelter in place. That essentially means to stay put inside, get your grab and go supplies, go into a windowless interior room and do what you can to prevent the outside contaminant from getting in and harming you. Here is a link to a great article from the American Red Cross on this traditional approach to sheltering in place: http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/Preparedness/shelterinplace.pdf.

Because emergency preparedness needs to be much broader than just evacuation or duct taping yourself into a room, I have expanded what it means to “shelter in place” to mean anything that keeps you and your family alive beyond the first 72 hours. The types of supplies you will need to shelter in place will be similar to your grab and go supplies, so expect some crossover. Because you could shelter in place for anywhere from a week to a year or longer, there is a wide variety of items that people will need in their shelter in place supplies. Depending on your personal circumstances, location, budget, and expertise, your supplies may vary greatly. Here are some of the important concepts to consider in gathering your shelter in place supplies:

• If possible, make your “shelter” your home – Your best chance for long term survival for you and your family is in your home. As long as it is safe to inhabit, you will have many resources there that will help you stay alive. For long term survival, staying safe out of the elements is critical. This is especially true for children and the elderly.

• Determine the length of time you are preparing for – It is important to know the approximate length of time that you are prepared for. Knowing this will help you make good decisions as far as rationing food, water and other critical supplies. Start small and gather a two week supply and then gradually build from there as time and finances permit.

• Be able to store and filter large amounts of water – Every shelter in place supply should have water storage. There are many great posts on the blog about water storage. You should also have equipment that allows you to filter and clean water.

• Store shelf stable food – I strongly recommend storing a combination of freeze dried food meals and basic staples. These foods should be stored in #10 cans or heavy duty pails to give you the longest shelf life possible. These foods should be able to store safely for decades.

• Sanitation, Hygiene and First-Aid – Do not scrimp in these areas. Having a port-a-potty and necessary hygiene supplies with keep you safe from illness. Cleanliness is critical to long term survival. Have a substantial first-aid kit and know how to use it.

• Decide how you will cook, heat and get power to your home – Comprehensive shelter in place supplies will have a generator and some way to safely store fuel.

• Light and communication – A really good dynamo radio is a must (or two) and make sure you have more than just flashlights. You should have lanterns, fire starter (flint and steel) and extra batteries.

• Review, Rotate, Replace – Like with your grab and go supplies you should regularly review, rotate (which means to use) and replace items in your shelter in place supplies.

Because of the severe flooding that is happening along the Red River, I am posting an article from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) about flood safety. This is a very good article and our hearts go out to the folks suffering with the terrible flooding in North Dakota.

NOAA National Weather Service and FEMA Offer Flood Safety Tips for Flood Safety Awareness Week
March 13, 2009

Floodwaters can be swift, powerful and, at times, deadly. However, advanced planning can help protect lives and minimize property losses due to flooding. With the spring thaw approaching, NOAA’s National Weather Service and FEMA are partnering to observe the fifth annual Flood Safety Awareness Week, March 16-20, 2009.

The National Weather Service, along with FEMA’s FloodSmart program, has launched a new Web page that shows the effects and cost of flooding to millions of people in the United States. The site also provides essential information on what to know and do before, during and after a flood, and a variety of safety tips and online tools, including one that lets them see whether their homes and businesses are threatened at various flood stages.

“Floods claim nearly 100 lives and cost billions in property damage in the United States annually,” said Jack Hayes, director of NOAA’s National Weather Service. “Spring is peak flood season in many parts of the country, but floods can happen anywhere, at any time of the year. Many lives could be saved by following some simple and essential flood safety tips.”

“Knowing what you can do to protect against the impact of flooding is critical in keeping your family, home and financial well-being secure,” said Ed Connor, acting federal insurance administrator for FEMA’s Mitigation Directorate. “Purchasing flood insurance is one important step you can take now. Many residents incorrectly believe that homeowners insurance covers the costs of flooding, but in fact, only a flood policy can.”

Understand Your Risk

One way to learn about flood risk is by visiting the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service Web site. Click on your location on the U.S. map in the center of the page to learn about conditions in your area.

National Weather Service hydrologists, in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, FEMA and other water agencies and river commissions, have developed a tool that allows emergency planners as well as business and home owners to visualize flood risks in specific locations. This tool – a series of flood inundation maps – is available for a number of coastal and river areas, with plans to expand coverage across the United States. These interactive maps display the depth and extent of flood waters for specific river stage levels. Flood inundation maps are available online.

Know What to Do

Review flood safety information and preparedness tips so that you will know what to do if you are suddenly faced with a flood. Seek information from credible local and federal emergency planning agencies. Recommended Web resources include:
• National Weather Service Flood Safety
• National Weather Service Turn Around Don’t Drown
• FEMA’s FloodSmart
• FEMA’s Flood page

Take Action

Consider what steps you can take now and what steps you will need to take if your home or business floods. Know what you will need to do if you encounter flooding while driving or outdoors. Some tips:
Now:
• Create an evacuation plan before flooding occurs.
• Discuss flood plans with your family; everyone should know what to do in case family members are not together when a flood occurs.
• Purchase flood insurance: talk to your insurance agent about your coverage options.

When Floods Strike:
• Use a battery-operated NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards to receive up-to-date emergency information.
• Evacuate immediately, if advised to do so.
• Turn around if a road is flooded. It may be more dangerous than it appears.
• Keep emergency supplies on hand, such as non-perishable food, medicine, maps, a flashlight and first-aid kit.

NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

You will see these types of bars in many survival kits. Originally, these types of food bars were designed for use by the U.S Coast Guard for survival on life boats. Because they were designed for this intense survival environment, they are excellent for use in your emergency supplies. Here are the main attributes of food bars that make them great:

• Long Shelf Life –Unlike off the shelf nutrition food bars that only last 12 months, these high calorie survival food bars are designed to last for 5 years!

• High Calorie – Although compact, these food bars are very high in calories. They come in 1200, 2400 and 3600 calorie configurations.

• Non-thirst provoking – Because they were originally designed for use on life boats, these food bars are made to not make you thirsty. That is why they are not particularly sweet or salty. They are little bit bland for that reason.

• Lightweight, compact and durable – You don’t have a lot of room in a survival kit so space is at a premium. These types of food bars weigh less than a pound and a half and are very compact. That means you can get the calories into your 72 hour emergency survival kit without taking up all the space.

• Taste – While they are fairly bland in taste, they at least don’t taste bad. Some have a coconut cookie taste and others a lemony taste. But in a pinch you and your kids will eat them. My kids have eaten them.

At www.TheReadyStore.com we carry two brands of high calorie emergency food bars: Datrex and Mainstay. Here is the run down on each.

Mainstay food bars taste like lemon sugar cookie dough. They come in 1200, 2400 and 3600 calorie packs. The food bar is foil wrapped and the food bar has no other wrapping inside. They are flat and not as compact or easy to break apart as Datrex. They have a 5 year shelf life.

Datrex food bars taste like a coconut shortbread cookie. They come in 2400 and 3600 calorie packs. The entire food bar is foil wrapped and inside the foil the food bar is packed in 200 calorie small bricks for easy portioning. They are slightly more crumbly than the Mainstay bars, but they are more compact and easier to eat.

Finding the right emergency radio for your needs will depend on the type of situations that you might find yourself in. Communication during a disaster is critical for your survival. Getting timely, accurate information from local authorities will more than likely come through either your radio or TV. Here are some items to consider when deciding on what type of emergency radio to purchase:

• Start with a dependable AM/FM radio – It is easy to go overboard with your purchase of an emergency radio. While some of the other options on a radio might be useful, make sure that you have access to a reliable AM/FM radio. Most emergency broadcasts are going to happen on those readily available frequencies. Make sure that the radio has a tuner on it not just a scanner. Don’t get a “scan” FM
  radio. You want to make sure that you can pick up even the weakest signal and to do that you will need to have a tuner on your radio and
  not just a scan radio that stops only on a strong signal.

• Multi-band radios – A multi-band radio includes AM/FM, shortwave frequencies, TV channels and NOAA weather bands. These types
  of radios can help you receive signals from greater distances. Shortwave radios are especially helpful if the disaster is spread out over a large area and local radio towers are knocked out. This will help you get information outside of the disaster zone. If you can afford it, I would recommend having a multi-band radio on hand. Keep in mind that radios that currently receive UHF/VHF TV channels will longer
  work after the switch to digital TV in the summer of 2009.

• Dynamo, Hand crank and solar – Make sure that your emergency radio can be powered in multiple ways. The most important feature is that the radio has a dynamo or hand crank feature. This will allow you to use the radio when you don’t have electricity or battery power. That will be critical in a disaster where power and batteries may not be readily available. Remember that radios use very little power so a little bit of cranking goes a long way.

• A caution about solar radios – Solar radios (and everything else for that matter) sounds great, but just a bit of caution. You will need time to charge the radio if you are only using solar power. Anywhere from 5-10 hours to charge the radio. You may not have that kind of time. Also, you can’t charge them in cloudy weather or in the dark. Solar radios require you to plan ahead and you may not have that luxury in a disaster.

• NOAA radios – If you live in an area that experiences severe weather, then you should have a NOAA radio somewhere in your emergency supplies. Hurricanes, tornados, flash floods and blizzards are some of the weather that you will want to receive regular alerts on through your NOAA radio.

Listed below are some of the radios with their various features that are offered at www.TheReadyStore.com:

DELUXE Dynamo Solar Powered Multiband Radio

Frequency Reception: AM/FM, Shortwave, Weather Radio (NWR)NOAA Weather (NWR)

Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Solar, Battery, AC/DC Adaptor, Cigarette Lighter

Light Source: L.E.D.

Battery Life: 48 hours

ULTIMATE Dynamo Solar Powered Survival Radio

Features & Functions: Light, Reading Lamp, Radio Receiver, Siren, Cell Phone Charger, Blinking Light, Headphone Jack

Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Solar, Battery, AC/DC Adaptor, Computer USB Light Source: L.E.D.

Frequency Reception: AM/FM, Shortwave, Weather Radio (NWR)NOAA Weather (NWR) Battery Life: 12 hours

Now if you just would like to pick up a AM/FM radio and you don’t think you really need a multi band radio then there are a few good options plus most of them do come with additional options (flashlight, Dynamo/Crank, Solar) and to not have to worry about tracking down batteries or worried if they have leaked battery acid can bring a peace at mind.

Digital Pocket Radio – AM/FM

Features & Functions: Radio Receiver

Power/Fuel Source: Battery

Frequency Reception: AM/FM

Solar/Dynamo Radio with Flashlight – AM/FM

Features & Functions: Light, Radio Receiver, Siren, Blinking Light,
Headphone Jack Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Solar, Battery, AC/DC
Adaptor

Light Source: Incandescent

Frequency Reception: AM/FM

Compact Dynamo Radio with LED Flashlight – AM/FM

Features & Functions: Light, Radio Receiver

Power/Fuel Source: Dynamo/Crank, Battery, AC/DC Adaptor

Light Source: L.E.D. Frequency Reception: AM/FM

If you find yourself in need a fire, but you don’t have a lighter or matches there are a number of options you can turn to in order to get a fire started. The most common match-free method used involves magnesium, flint and steel. Lens-based options are common, too. Fires can also be started using friction, steel wool and certain batteries, or even by using a soda can and a chocolate bar. In any of these methods it’s best to have dried tinder in order to build the fire and keep it going. (Tinder is any dry substance that readily takes fire from a spark, such as dried leaves, plants, or pieces of wood.)

Flint, Magnesium, and Steel- This is a more familiar backup for most campers, and a Magnesium Fire Starter is ideal for any 72-hr kit as well. In this method you shave off a little pile of magnesium from your block and then strike your bit of steel against the flint which creates sparks. The sparks should be directed toward your pile of tinder, which will catch fire from the flames. You can get the fire going a little stronger by lightly blowing on the small flames, and then adding larger pieces of wood.

Lens based Methods- For this method all you need is some sort of lens in order to focus sunlight on a specific spot. Using lenses only works when the sun is out; it cannot be used at night or anytime when the sun can’t directly reach you.) A magnifying glass, eyeglasses, or binocular lenses will each work the same. (Adding water to the lens can intensify the beam.) Angle the lens towards the sun in order to focus the beam into as small an area as possible. Position the tinder under the beam and it will start a fire.

One can also start a fire using this type of method with 3 different objects.

-The first alternative is a water balloon full of water, (however, a balloon has a shorter focal length than one of the lenses previously listed. You should hold these 1-2 inches from your tinder pile.)

-The second alternative would be using ice. The ice must be clear, shaped into a lens (by chipping at it), and polished.

-The final alternative using the lens method is using a coke can and a chocolate bar. I got the best instructions I could find from this site:

Coke and Chocolate bar.

So if you have the supplies, have fun with that!

Cell Phone/9 Volt Battery and Steel Wool- The first step for this method is stretching out the steel wool to about 6 inches long and about ½ an inch wide. Rube the battery on the steel wool while holding the steel wool in one hand and the battery in the other. For this method you could use a cell phone, cordless phone, 6 volt, or 9 volt battery. (I’ve read that any battery would work, but these are the only ones I’ve seen used.) Rub the side of the battery with “contacts” on the wool. When the wool begins to burn, gently blow on it and place it under your tinder.

Friction- Last, but not least, this method requires a bit of strength and a lot of patience in order to start a fire. Place the point of a straight stick into a groove in a piece of bark or flat wood. (Make sure neither of these pieces of wood contains sap or moisture.) Rub the stick firmly between your hands, while the point creates friction against the other piece of wood. Eventually the wood will heat until it creates a small ember which you can drop in your pile of tinder.

People who are unfamiliar with what a NOAA Weather Radio is might first think of an old guy with a long beard going into a big boat with a whole bunch of animal friends. This is a different type of NOAA. NOAA stands for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA falls under the United States Department of Commerce and among other things they are responsible to track all things weather related that impact our fine country. You have probably heard of the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center. These two organizations are inside of NOAA and provide all kinds of weather related information.

Each day, across the country, the National Weather Service (NWS) produces short broadcasts on the weather in your area. These broadcasts
are not picked up on a regular AM/FM radio. These weather broadcasts are transmitted on one of seven VHF frequencies that range from 162.440 MHz to 162.550 MHz. Because they are transmitted on these specific frequencies that lie outside the range of a standard AM/FM radio, most people have never heard them. But they can me extremely helpful and even save your life because these broadcasts will alert of severe
weather in your area.

So, with that out of the way, what is a NOAA Weather Radio? A NOAA Weather Radio is able to pick up those weather band broadcasts. They work just like a regular radio where you tune your dial to pick up the weather broadcast in your area. They are very simple to use and come in
variety of shapes and sizes. There are some NOAA Weather Radios that have an alert feature so that if there is severe weather in your area
(like a tornado), they will automatically turn on and start broadcasting. Many times these weather band radios are integrated with an AM/FM and/or a shortwave radio as well, so it is an all in one radio.

I recommend always having a good AM/FM radio, but if you live in an area that gets severe weather that is life threatening, having a NOAA Weather Radio could certainly save your life.

After you have completed priority #1 which is to make a plan, your next priority is to gather Grab and Go Supplies. To do this, let me first explain what Grab and Go supplies are designed to do. Like we have discussed in other posts, you should anticipate that following a disaster you will not receive any help from authorities for at least 72 hours. Your Grab and Go supplies should allow you to evacuate quickly and survive the first 72 hours after a disaster.

With that in mind, you should keep these qualities in mind with your Grab and Go supplies:

1. Make them lightweight and portable – Don’t pack a lot of heavy, bulky items. Store your Grab and Go supplies in an easy to transport bag or backpack. Try to keep them all in one place.
2. Store them in an easy to get to place – Remember your Grab and Go supplies need to be designed for quick evacuation. If they are buried beneath a pile of boxes or scattered all around the house, you won’t get everything you need.
3. Store shelf stable items – Rotating items in your Grab and Go supplies will be your least favorite thing to do and you won’t do it as often as you should. With that in mind store shelf stable food and water with a 5 year shelf life at a minimum.

4. Review, Rotate, Replace – Don’t forget the 3 R’s in maintaining your Grab and Go supplies.

For the most part, your Grab and Go supplies will be comprised of comprehensive 72 hour emergency survival kit. This month, I posted a list of items that you should have in your 72 hour emergency survival kit. I am reposting that list below for your review:

FOOD AND WATER (Remember that these items cannot be cooked or refrigerated.)
Protein/Granola/Calorie Food Bars
Crackers/Cereals (for munching)

MREs/Canned Food (Remember that cans can leak/explode)
Candy/Gum (These items could melt, so it’s best to keep them in a zip lock baggy)
Water (1 Gallon/4 Liters per person, drinking water can be found in water boxes or pouches)

CLOTHING/WARMTH/SHELTER
Change of Clothing (short and long
sleeve shirts, pants, socks, jackets, etc.)
Undergarments
Rain Coat /Poncho
Emergency Heat Blankets
Lightweight Tent

LIGHTING AND FUEL
Flashlights, Lanterns (Battery, Solar, or Crank powered)
Extra Batteries
Flares
Candles
Light Sticks
Water-Proof Matches

EQUIPMENT/TOOLS
Can Opener
Dishes/Utensils
Shovel
Radio (with batteries or solar or crank powered!)
Pen and Paper
Axe
Pocket Knife
Rope
Duct Tape

PERSONAL SUPPLIES AND MEDICATION
First Aid Supplies (make sure you know what it is in it and how to use it!)
Toiletries, Feminine Hygiene, Folding Brush/comb etc.(Roll of toilet paper—remove center tube to easily flatten into a zip-lock bag)
Sanitary Supplies (mini hand sanitizer, soap, shampoo, dish soap, etc.)
Immunizations Up-to Date
Medication (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, asthma inhalers, children’s medication, etc.)
Prescription Medication (for 3 days)

PERSONAL DOCUMENTS AND MONEY (Place these items in a water-proof container!)
Scriptures (Miniatures are lighter)
Legal Documents (Birth/Marriage Certificates, Wills, Passports, Contracts)
Vaccination Papers
Insurance Policies
Cash
Credit Card

MISC
Infant Needs (if applicable)
Small, Lightweight toys and games for Children (For calming effect, comfort, and entertainment)

So you bought a bunch of emergency food storage (smart thinking!) and now you’ve got to figure out where to put it and how to store it. Let’s keep it simple. Here are some suggestions:

1. Where - Store the food & water in a cool, dry place. This one you have heard over and over, but it is the rule of thumb for storing your food & water. Two things cause your food to loss nutritional value and spoil: oxygen and moisture. Hence the dry place. Keeping your emergency storage cool slows down spoilage dramatically. The cooler, the better. Make sure you have your emergency food storage stored in such a way that it has little or no contact with air.

Basements are perfect for food storage because they maintain a steady cool temperature year round. But many people across the country don’t have basements, so storing your food at room temperature (typically 70° to 75°F year round) will be just fine. I know a lot of people that store their food in cases under their beds or in closets. To achieve maximum shelf life, store in an environment with a temperature of 60°F or lower and humidity of 10% or less.

Just make sure you can get to it when you need it and it won’t get damaged.

2. How – I recommend keeping your food & water off the ground and in the original packaging as much as possible. By keeping the food off the ground on shelves or stacked, you will prevent the food from being damaged by somebody stepping on it, dropping it or kicking it. You also want to keep your food in a place where you can get to it, but that isn’t in the way. If you dent a #10 can it may affect the seam of the can and thereby affect the shelf life.

Also, by maintaining as much of the original packaging as possible, you will prolong the shelf life. So, if you buy a bunch of food in #10 cans, keep the food in the #10 cans. You may even want to keep them in the cases that they were shipped to you in. You can repackage your food zip lock or even vacuum sealed bags, but it will reduce the shelf life.

Here are some ideas on how to store specific products:

Storing freeze dried food: If stored under proper conditions, freeze dried food will last 30 years, and is very low maintenance. Freeze dried food is not as sensitive as other food items, and is quite durable. As long as it is stored at constantly at less than 70°F to 75°F, it will stay fresh and nutritional for 30 years. Make sure it is not in the sun and that cans stay in good condition. Even after 30 years, the freeze-dried food is still good to eat; it just begins to lose nutritional value and flavor.

Storing MREs: Military Meals are a bit more temperature sensitive than freeze-dried food. For optimal shelf life, MREs need to be stored in the coolest place you can possibly find for them. If stored consistently at room temperature (70°F to 75°F) they will last up to 5 years. MREs are perfect for grab-n-go storage. They are not near as long term as freeze dried food, and they do not need any cooking or preparation whatsoever. MREs are extremely durable and withstand a great deal of punishment and remain undamaged. They are great for camping, outdoor activities and emergency survival situations. (CLICK HERE to view the Storage Shelf Life Graph)

Water Storage: With your water you should use a Water Preserver in order to provide your water with a 5-year shelf  life.  If you do not use water preserver then we recommended to rotate your water every 6-12 months. Can I Purify Water with Household Bleach? A lot of people think you can, but you would be shocked what information is listed in that blog.

Storing water is a huge part of every emergency plan. Like we have discussed in this blog before, you got to have water and preferably a lot of it. But storing a lot of water presents a major problem: rotation. As most of you know, water is very heavy. It weighs a little more than 8 lbs. per gallon. To put that into perspective, your 55 gallon water barrel when completely full weighs more than 450 lbs. Yikes! That is a back ache waiting to happen if you try to move it. And getting the water out of it to rotate can be just as difficult.

Keep in mind that untreated water that is stored in a cool area away from direct sunlight in opaque containers needs to rotated at least annually. Some municipalities do a good job of treating their drinking water and so it might extend that shelf life, but as a general rule, water stored in that way, should be rotated annually.

But rotating water (especially annually) is a pain. And because of that you and I both know that it doesn’t happen as often as it should. With that in mind, let me give you a few suggestions to help with water rotation. Hope they help.

1. When you store water use a Water Preserver –
www.TheReadyStore.com sells a Water Preserver that is designed to treat up to 55 gallons of water and extends the shelf of the water to 5 years! I’ll take 5 years over 1 year any day. So in all of your storage containers, use a Water Preserver to extend the shelf life and not have to rotate as often.

2. Store water in smaller containers–

A 5 gallon stackable water container will slightly more expensive up front, but you will rotate the water much more easily and as a result much more often.

3. Buy a siphon pump –

I have an inexpensive siphon pump that works awesome. It screws into the top of my 55 gallon water barrel and once it is primed that water just keeps on flowing. It makes emptying my barrel so much easier and as a result, I rotate more often.

4. Keep you water storage in a place where it is easy to rotate the water –

Have a drain close by or access to the outside where you can dump your water and easily replenish it with new water.