Drinking Water and Emergency Preparedness

During an emergency or natural disaster, the water supply to your home may be stopped or become undrinkable due to contamination. As a result, you may need to be able to provide your own drinking water until your regular water supply is restored and deemed safe for consumption. This is especially true for people who live in areas that are prone to earthquakes, such as California, or those regions that experience hurricanes or tornados regularly.

Alternative Drinking Water Sources

There are actually many potential sources of water in emergency situations. In addition to any bottled water that you have on hand, drinking water can be obtained from ice cubes or canned goods. Even rain water or the water in your hot water tank or the toilet's water storage tank (not the bowl), can be used in an emergency situation if purified through boiling. Water from waterbeds or swimming pools should not be used, as the water may contain impurities that could be harmful if consumed.

If you have city water, some water suppliers will recommend that you shut off the water supply coming into your home if the water supply has been contaminated (the shutoff valve is usually near the water meter). The valve can be turned on when water is needed for non-potable water requirements, such as flushing toilets.

Methods of Purifying Water

  1. Boiling is an effective method for destroying many microorganisms which can be found in water, including bacteria, cysts, and viruses. Most public health experts recommend boiling water for a minimum of 3 to 5 minutes.
  2. Purification tablets can be purchased from drug stores or retail outlets that sell camping supplies. Be sure to follow the directions on the package. Chemical disinfectants are normally effective against most forms of bacteria and viruses, but not against cysts.
  3. Liquid household bleach (not granular) can also be used in an emergency to disinfect water. The bleach product should be free of additives and scents and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend using 8 drops of bleach per gallon of water, and the water should be allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Home water treatment products can be used for treatment of some forms of microbiological contamination. Distillers, which boil the water, would be effective against many forms of viruses, bacteria, and cysts. Cysts can also be filtered physically with many filters or reverse osmosis units, but most such products are not effective for viruses or most forms of bacteria. Ultraviolet systems can also be used for disinfection, but electricity is required to operate them and the water must be clear in order for the light to be effective.

How to Store Water

Bottled water that is in factory-sealed containers can be stored for several months. If you choose to purify and store your own water, public health officials recommend that you use glass or clean plastic containers, such as those made from PET, with screw on caps. You should clearly mark containers with the date the water was stored, and it should be used or discarded within one year (unused water can be used for irrigation or other non-potable water applications).

You should select a cool, dark location for storing your emergency drinking water supply. Garages, sheds, or other areas where products such as paints or gasoline are kept are not good places to store water. Depending upon your specific needs, it is estimated that most families will need to have at least a half gallon of water per person per day in the event of an emergency (if you have pets, you will need to store additional water for them). Be sure to inspect your stored bottled water containers regularly for leaks or other problems. If you suspect the water quality has become compromised, discard the water or boil it before consuming.