Drinking water in an emergency or disaster is vital to survival. A little bit of planning goes a long way.

In the wake of a major disaster, the value of pure freshwater is comparable to that of gold.

This can be seen when there is a shortage of clean water, like in the aftermath of a hurricane.

The main reason for this is that clean drinking water is necessary for survival. 

In these cases, bottled water companies are forced to shut down operations because there is a lack of clean water to use.

There are many ways to clean freshwater, although the cost for some of these methods is enormous and dependent on the size of the operation, making the total cost of implementation very high in some cases.

Our lives would be in jeopardy without water.

• 60% of our bodies are water, and newborns’ bodies contain up to 80% water.
• Clean drinking water is essential for newborns.
• Water supplies may be interrupted or deemed unsafe for human consumption after a large-scale disaster, which is unfortunate. 

How to get access to clean water in an emergency

Despite repeated warnings, many individuals are nonetheless unprepared when tragedy strikes.

The safest location for you to keep a supply of drinking water is in your own house.

A week without food is possible, but a few days without water may be deadly.

Two quarts a day is the minimum amount of water you should ingest.

Consider stocking up on a few days’ worths of drinking water in case of an emergency. 

When you want to keep a clean water supply for your home and family, you need to ensure a proper water storage solution.

Many people use durable plastic containers to store water and keep it clean.

When you’re done using the water, keep it in a cold, dark area at home.

Changing the water every six months is a good rule of thumb.

In the event that you run out of water or are stranded in a place where clean drinking water is unavailable, you’ll need to know what’s safe and what isn’t.

What water supply is safe

Water from your hot water tank, toilet tank water (not the bowl), and water trapped in your pipes are some of the safest sources of safe drinking water following a disaster.

Put whatever ice cubes you have kept in the freezer to use.

Because waterbeds have been treated with chemicals that are not suitable for human consumption, it’s not advised to use the water from them for drinking.

However, waterbed water can be used for washing clothes and dishes, etc. 

Find streams, rivers, lakes, or other sources of freshwater outside your residence.

Floodwater is frequently tainted with germs and pollutants, so don’t drink it.

Drinking rainwater should be saved for later use.

How to Purify Water in an Emergency Situation

If you are having problems finding safe a clean water to drink, then you must clean or purify it before drinking.

The best practice in most cases is to purify any water source you may find just to be on the safe side.

Boiling water is the simplest and most effective method for removing impurities.

The high temperatures make it inhospitable to disease-causing bacteria.

• You should boil the water for around a minute or two.
• Then pour the water from one clean container to another to improve the overall taste.
• If you can’t boil the water, it’s best to use a chemical treatment to purify the water.

Keep in mind that some chemical treatments can slightly alter the flavor of the water, so be prepared for that.

Chemical treatments can also be costly, so you may want to choose boiling over a chemical treatment if you have an outdoor water source.

Using Bleach to Disinfect Water

If you need to disinfect water, use regular household liquid chlorine bleach that contains 4 percent to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite.

Bleach may be used as supplied or can be diluted with an equal volume of clean water before using it.

If the latter method is used, a fresh solution should be made for each day’s use.

Use 10 drops (0.5 milliliters) of household liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of clear water, or 20 drops per gallon of cloudy or very cold water.

Stir the mixture thoroughly and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use any of it.

If the water is cloudy after stirring, let it stand for several hours or until it clears before using.

It is safe to consume water that seems clear.

Add eight additional drops and let it sit for another 30 minutes if it’s still hazy or obscured.

Here is additional information on how to purify water with bleach.

To sum it up

Having safe drinking water is essential to your health in any emergency or disaster situation.

It’s vital to have a plan in place to ensure you and your family will have the water you need when the tap stops flowing.

I hope this blog post has helped you learn about some ways to ensure that your family can enjoy safe drinking water in any emergency or disaster.

Feel free to leave a comment, and please share this post with your family and friends!