How To Keep Stored Water Safe To Drink Now
How to keep stored water safe to drink now is critical to know. With the holidays just around the corner, I’m hoping some people will give water storage containers for gifts. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but today I am sharing how to keep your stored water safe. Safe to drink, safe to brush your teeth and cook with. I actually get asked all the time, “Linda what is the stuff you recommend for keeping our stored water safe”? So today I am posting the product so you know which one I use and why I use this one. Water Preserver Concentrate
Each one of these small bottles will be the exact amount needed for your 55-gallon water storage barrels. If you use the 3.5-gallon WaterBricks you will use 1/2 teaspoon of Water Preserver in each container. The advantage to using this product is the fact that you will only have to rotate or replace the water in your containers every five years. Yay! If you use a bleach solution you must rotate or replace your water every six months. It’s all about keeping your water safe.
MY LATEST VIDEOSWater Safe-U.S. EPA Recommends It
This is the only product that I am aware of that the EPA recommends and the top notch emergency preparedness people use. I love the fact that I can wash my containers and fill them with a hose that is lead-free (not your normal garden hose). Then I can fill them with water and the drops required per gallon of Water Preserver and store them safely for five years. I can use the water from my kitchen faucet and use these drops as well to safely preserve my water in smaller containers. Easy peasy. We have family living in northern Arizona near the area that experienced a minor earthquake a few years ago. The first thing we asked was if they were ok, which they were, although a little shaken up. The second question was if they had much water stored in case of damaging aftershocks. The response was, “probably not enough!” You never know when an unexpected event may change everything for you and/or your family. Now is the time to prepare, not when that event suddenly happens!
This is the information printed on the Water Preserver container: “Water Preserver (TM) is the first and only product recognized and proven effective for 5-year water storage, registered and licensed by federal and state EPA.” It certainly makes you feel more comfortable using this product.
Please store water for your family and for yourself for drinking, cooking and personal hygiene. Here is my post on the Water Bricks for stored water. This is my Water Barrel post.
Minimum Water Needed Per Person-Per Day:
- 1 gallon per day per person to stay hydrated. If you live in a HOT area you might need more.
- 4 gallons per day, per person, allows for personal hygiene, washing of dishes, etc.
- 5 to12 gallons per day would be needed for a conventional toilet
- 1/2 to two gallons for a pour flush latrine
How Long You Can Survive:
1. 3 minutes without air
2. 3 hours without shelter in severe heat or cold
3. 3 days without water
4. 3 weeks without food
We need water to prepare the dehydrated or freeze dried food we have stored in our homes. This holiday season please think about being prepared for the unexpected…we need water…lots of water.
I recommend this Water Preserver
I store mine in glass bottles I think they are 16 ounce how much would you use also vinagar plastic jugs how much would you use.
Hi Gigi, the paperwork says 8 drops per one gallon container. I would check out the ounces for sure and measure accordingly to the exact bottle size. I worry about plastic containers. I am always afraid they will leak. The water with a tiny bit of bleach would be good for personal hygiene issues or washing clothes. Thanks for stopping by, Linda
Hi Linda I use 2 liter bottles to store water. I believe its good for one year. Then you have to rotate it. I haven’t used anything in it. I did clean out the bottles with bleach water. I don’t want to put chlorine in my body so what do you suggest for a 2 liter bottle to keep the water longer? I figured I could boil it when I got ready to use it if I kept it for longer than a year. Maybe a drop or two of bleach wouldn’t hurt? How long will it keep with bleach added to it? Thank you 🙂
Hi Melissa, I am not fond of using bleach but I do know that you will need to rotate the water every six months. It would also depend on the temperature. It would be great water for washing or personal hygiene. We all need water..lots of water. I have also heard the water in our taps is chlorinated. I struggle recommending just plain tap water because every city and county water system is different. Some people have well water. All we can do is do the best we can and be prepared for the unexpected. Happy Holidays! Linda
Thanks Linda for your quick reply. My husband and i discussed it and we are going to buy some 50 gallon drums and just use our water we have stored now for hygiene. We also intend on buying the water preserver you suggested. Thanks again 🙂
Hi Melissa, you will be so happy you only have to rotate the water every 5 years. Plus having the extra water is awesome. I have seen the exact 55 gallon water barrels at Walmart that some of the large preparedness stores sell for much more. You will need a pump to get the water out. You only one pump. I am nervous nellie so I buy two pumps because my husband is not techy if one pump breaks I have a second one. You are smart to have more than one source of water storage. Of course if you had to you can always hammer a nail through them to get water in an emergency. Happy Holidays, Linda
Linda we have a pond also and I am going to buy the stuff needed to filter that water if need be. I know how to make a filter out of cotton, sand and charcoal and rock and a two liter bottle. I hope it never comes down to needing that but if it does I will know how to do it 🙂
Melissa, that is so awesome you have a pond near your home. I love hearing comments that people like you are learning how to be prepared for the unexpected. I just found out I have some underground springs near my home. WooHoo! We need water…lots of water. Linda
Linda that is good news, you will need to find them and have a hand pump put in or something. Our pond is right behind our house, we bought a house that is on 3 acres with a pond and two out buildings. We have chickens and rabbits and are going to have pigs as soon as we can afford them. our pond has fish in it so not only will it serve us with water but food as well. We also have a big garden and my husband and I (mostly my husband) can what we get from it. This was our first summer in the house and our garden yielded some food, mostly zuchinni and spaghetti squash which we froze and made zuchinni relish out of. Also my husband made pickles and we got a little corn and a few beans. The deer ate most of our green beans 🙁 It’s funny we have this land right on the outskirts of town. We are considered in city limits so if SHTF we are not really safe. People would be coming here right away to raid what we have. Luckily my husband is well able as am I to fend off anyone who might be crazy enough to come and try and take what we have. lol. Anyways, it’s been lovely talking with you and I really appreciate the work you put into your blog. It’s helpful information. Thank you again 🙂
Walmart has two products listed. Water Preserver Concentrate…what is the brand you recommend
Hi Rosanne, Water Preserver, I didn’t know Walmart sold it. Awesome! Thanks for the information! Linda
Both say water pres erver but look exactly same but a big price difference. I don’t know which one it is. Thanks
Hi Rosanne, I never know when Amazon will change the links. If they are the same one, buy the cheaper one. Check on shipping costs as well. Linda
HI Rosanne, I wouldn’t buy them right now, I think those sellers are selling them at a higher than EVER price. I bought a bottle for $12.49 with free shipping on Amazon in July this year. Be wary of those that have put scare tactics into raising the prices, good grief, wait a couple weeks and check the price again. That price is a rip-off. Linda