Saving Water – Finding Water – Using Water Most people don’t think about water until is already off. If you know a hurricane, winter storm, wildfire, or planned utility shutdown is coming, you still have time to build water reserves. Drink enough liquids so your body functions properly. Pale urine is generally a sign of good hydration. Dark yellow and/or less urination could mean you need to increase fluids – water, electrolyte drinks – because if in a hot climate and may be sweating more. In moderate heat or high humidity, CDC guidelines suggest roughly about 24 ounces per hour but NOT more than 48 ounces per hour. With high humidity and sweat, electrolytes become important to return to your body.
IF you have not stored water, start now by filling every clean, food-grade container you have. Store bought jugs are great but don’t overlook reusable bottles that were made for drinking soda or juice or other foods. FILLING YOUR OWN CONTAINERS Best is food grade containers, commercial emergency water containers or factory sealed bottled water Good is food grade jugs or jars, water bricks or cubes. 1. Clean container by washing container with soap and water 2. Then Sanitize container by washing in water that is with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of unscented household bleach per quart of water or (3.75 liters). 3. Rinse container and dry container 4. Fill with clean tap water to the top of container 5. IF tap water is not already treated, add 1/8 teaspoon or 8 drops of regular unscented household bleacher per gallon or 3.75 liters of water storing in sanitized containers. 6. Careful to not touch top of container with hands that could transfer germs. Seal container tightly 7. Write date water sealed on the label or piece of tape on container.
Avoid milk jugs or anything that held chemicals to use as water storage container.
If you have a bathtub, 2-4 hours prior to storm hitting your area, fill bathtub with water. < When power goes out, FILL BATHTUB IMMEDIATELY. Even a short power outage at water treatment plant can cause a “Boil Water Notice”. A bathtub can hold 50 to 80 gallons of water, depending on its size. While this water isn’t ideal for drinking unless it’s stored in a clean water storage liner, it can be used for flushing toilets, washing hands, or other sanitation needs. A bathtub liner, often called a waterBOB or similar emergency storage bag, keeps the water clean and reduces the risk of contamination. IF NO BATHTUB, fill buckets, trash cans, vases, bowls, empty flower pots, anything that can hold some amount of water. Walk around home and LOOK with new eyes for any type of “holder”. If local officials announce that the public water supply may become unsafe, fill sinks, pitchers, cooking pots, coffee makers, and even clean coolers while the water is still flowing. Every gallon stored ahead of time is one less gallon you’ll have to worry about later.
**Pro Tip: IF YOU HAVE 2 or more Toilets – use the one closest to city or sewer line for bowel movements and the one Farthest away for urine – with less water flowing, the larger waste will flow better in shorter distance and this will reduce flushing and use of water. Pour 1/4 cup of bleach or vinegar into “urine” toilet to prevent frequent flushing in case of smell. Keep grocery size bags to put used tissue into near “urine” toilet. Put used tissue into bag and close with a tie or knot up handles to reduce smell. Then can place the “grocery” bag into larger trash bag that is kept closed as needed. IF the WATER is out: To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing by turning on the faucet in your home at the highest level. A small amount of water will trickle out. Then obtain water from the lowest faucet in the home. IF YOU CANNOT FLUSH TOILET DUE TO CLOG OR PUMPING STATION OUT: raise toilet seat, line toilet with a trash bag, put seat back down and use – raise seat and carefully tie up bag, tightly, to prevent smells or attracting flies. Have trash bags and ties Ready! Tie bags with edges of bag into a knot like tying shoe laces or use bread ties, zip ties, tape around the wound up top, string/rope, old charger cords, any thing to close the top of bag. Can also use buckets or bathroom size trash cans with bags for liners. IF run out of bags for liners, a 5 gallon bucket with a replaceable lid after use works too. You can buy 5 gallon buckets with a toilet seat attached for just this use. TOILET WORST CASE SCENARIO – out of bags for liners: use a small trash can or storage bowl any container that you can immediately throw away. You may have to squat over the small trash can or bowl. Not fun and seems disgusting but you can do it and your body needs the relief so you will feel better after a few moments of Yuckiness! You would do this if a child or loved one needed help so you can do it for yourself too! Find a way to wrap up and enclose the trash can or entire container – use plastic wrap, wrapping paper, gift bags, baby diapers, pillow cases, dish towels, towels, small rug, old t-shirt, old sheet cut into smaller squares (save rest of sheet for later), ANYTHING to cover and then place into larger, curbside trash can with lid or at least outside of home. IF in an apartment, put tightly wrapped “package” in bottom of a dark closet- move stuff for a open space on the floor so no spilling and then set “package” onto floor and close door to keep in cooler, dark space to be taken out as soon as possible.
Don’t forget the water already inside your home – Safe water sources in your home include the water in your hot-water tank, pipes, and ice cubes. You should not use water from toilet flush tanks or bowls, radiators, waterbeds, or swimming pools/spas. Check your freezer: Freeze bottles of water. They help keep food cold longer if the power goes out, and once they thaw, you’ll have additional drinking water. Ice cubes, reusable ice packs, and containers of frozen water all become useful during an emergency. Your water heater may hold 30 to 80 gallons of potable water. This water can be used for : Flushing Toilets Cleaning The water may have rust or sediment in the water especially at the bottom of the tank requiring filtering, sanitizing or boiling before “drinkable” and better to use for non-potable reasons if unsure. If the municipal water supply becomes contaminated or pressure is lost even for a short time, then a boil notice may be sent out but you may not get the notification. Check to see if you can and how to do this before an emergency with the container you will use to put water into.
To drain water from a tank style water heater: 1. Turn off the power or gas by switching off breaker and turn the gas control to “off”. 2. Turn off the cold water supply to the heater, the valve is usually on the pope entering the top of the tank. 3. Let the Water COOL – hot water can cause serious burns 4. Attach a garden hose to the drain valve near the bottom of the tank 5. Place the other end of the hose in a bucket ***PRO TIP – This is where you want to check tank and practice BEFORE NEEDING THE WATER> If no water, then no water pressure from pumping station so you will have to use only gravity. The bucket needs to be lower than the valve on the hot water tank to drain out. IF your tank is ground level, you may not can drain. IF the water tank if higher than where the bucket will set, you would need a pump to transfer water. IF your tank is higher than top of the bucket for easy drainage, close the drain valve when one bucket is full and then move in an empty bucket. Have several fillable items ready or could just fill 1 bucket at a time as needed if using for flushing. IF YOU DRAIN WATER TANK and Power has restored to home **** Refill the tank before turning the gas or electricity back on to the tank. If the gas is turned off, a professional will be needed to turn it back on.
EMERGENCY OUTDOOR WATER SOURCES – YOU want to Filter and Disinfect the water before Drinking If you need to find water outside your home, you can use these sources. Be sure to treat the water according to the recommended instructions before drinking it. Rainwater collected in a container as in a barrel drum or pots or coolers, fresh not standing Streams, rivers, and other moving bodies of water Ponds and lakes Natural springs Avoid standing water or with floating material, an odor, or dark color. Saltwater must be distilled before drinkable. You should not drink flood water that has risen or not normally where see water.
Water PURIFICATION Boil water: if you have the capability to safely boil water Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute At elevations above 6,500 feet, bring to a rolling boil for 3 minutes
Bleach – if boiling is not possible Use regular unscented household bleach Add 8 drops of bleach per gallon of 3.75 liters of water Mix well Let water stand 30 minutes A slight chlorine or bleach smell should remain, if not, repeat 8 drops, mix and wait another 30 minutes before using water
Filters: Not all filters remove viruses or chemicals so know your filter capabilities Can use a cloth as a filter by pouring water from one container into another container to remove large debris before purifying.
For 2-4 people, a 2 gallon or 53 liter, gravity fed filter works very well such as in water pitchers used in refrigerators or some counter top style water filters Keep at least 1 replacement filter for use or damage to current filter.
Individual filters – can be purchased and is a very thick straw like item used for drinking directly from water and filtered as you drink.
Water Tablets – Water tablets are available to buy to use to disinfect water just as bleach does. Easy to use and easy instructions to follow for safety.
Other Tips Wash dishes in a basin or stopped sink instead of running water. Use disposable plates and utensils or re-use with a wiping of hand wipes if cleans sufficiently depending on food type. Collect water used for rinsing dishes or washing hand and reuse for toilet flushing if needed. Remember to keep bowls for pets monitored for evaporation if outside or hotter temperature. IF you can store more water before outage begins, Do It. Don’t assume outage will only last a day or two. To shut off incoming water, locate the main valve and turn it to the closed position – you may need a special wrench or tool. Be sure you and other family members know beforehand how to do this. Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace the manufacturer’s operating instructions or safety guidelines for any items or appliances mentioned. Always read and follow the applicable equipment owner’s manual and all safety instructions before operating any equipment. Proper operation, maintenance, and safety procedures are the responsibility of the operator.
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