Apr 15, 2011 by BT from http://teapartywest.com/?p=1482

Storing Water

While you’ve been busy accumulating your food storage, you might have been putting off the one essential: Water.

Storing water is one of the most important things you can do. You can live for days without food but you must have water to survive. All dehydrated food needs water to be re-hydrated. You will need to store a minimum of 30 gallons per month per person. A three-month emergency supply would be 90 gallons. Some preparedness authorities recommend storing at least 14 gallons of water per person, which amounts to a two-week supply. This would mean a family of 4 would want to store approximately 56 gallons of water.

There is a product called ION for water purification. It is a water treatment that will kill giardia and dysentery on contact. It takes eight drops per gallon, and one bottle will treat 110 gallons. It also kill bacteria on wounds and if you begin to feel as if you are about to come down with the flu you can use it medicinally by putting 20 drops in a cup of water and drinking it.

Choosing the right containers for storing drinking water

There are many types of containers available for storing water for long term, but not all are intended for storing drinking (potable) water. Rain barrels, for example, are great for collecting and storing water for garden use, but are likely not ‘food grade’.

Choose heavy-duty, ‘food-grade’ polyethylene barrels for bulk water storage

These barrels are often blue in color (blue means water is being stored, red would mean fuel or flammable liquid is being stored, and colors other than blue may not be food grade plastic) and normally hold 40 – 50 gallons. Ideally, an outlet spigot should be mounted on the side of the barrel for decanting or draining.

For storing larger quantities, you can buy industrial-type water tanks that store 250+ gallons. These food-grade plastic bladders are housed in a metal cage and can be stacked two or three high. Remember: 250 gallons of water weighs 2,000 pounds, plus about 150 pounds for the cage. Make sure your flooring can support this weight.

Clean water storage containers before filling

Before storing your water, it’s a good idea to wash and sanitize the container. This can be done by mixing 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of liquid household chlorine bleach to one quart (1 liter) of water.

FEMA Suggests:

“If you are preparing your own containers of water, it is recommended you purchase food-grade water storage containers from surplus or camping supplies stores to use for water storage. Before filling with water, thoroughly clean the containers with dish washing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap. Follow directions below on filling the container with water.

If you choose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles – not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them. Cardboard containers also leak easily and are not designed for long-term storage of liquids. Also, do not use glass containers, because they can break and are heavy.” (Full article on FEMA.gov)