Water purification, storage, or boiling may be in our future turn disasters into events with planning keep reading.

  Supplying water for ourselves during an event when it is lost may include water purification, storage, and boiling. We can turn "disasters", "catastrophe's" and "emergency responses" into the word "event", very seldom is a natural occurrence a Disaster. With planning, and being "self-reliant" we can change our mindset from dread to acceptance with an "I knew it was going to happen but I didn't know when" attitude, it has the ability to transform us from a "survivor" to a "responder".

Mount Shasta California

  The CEO of Nestle's recently commented that the idea that human beings have a right to water is "extreme". further, he did not say "Water is not a human right", (Link) as his company makes billions of dollars selling our water back to us in plastic bottles. I recently wrote a series of articles on "Plastic Pollution" for Earth Day, I mentioned several companies, Cities, and States that are taking a pro-active approach to the situation we have all contributed to. I looked for Nestle's plan for addressing the crisis that they have played a huge roll in creating, all I found was the "Extreme", quote. One direction our State, and Federal Governments could go would be to require the corporations that manufacturer the bottles, or use the bottles to establish policies to deal with the trash. Nestle's is at the forefront because they are so active in selling water in bottles, they use water from Mount Shasta in California for practically free.
  We take water for granted, without our huge water systems we would not have huge cities, Rome had to build a massive water transportation system. It resembled in a sense the water supply system to San Francisco, with the exception the Cities water is delivered in a tunnel running from the Hetch Hetchy dam underground. Every city in the country large and small have a water treatment system, our water is purified, piped, strained, and chlorinated, it takes a lot to supply millions of people with water. What would we do without our water systems? Where would we get water if the supply were to be interrupted?

Roman aqueduct, the system was gigantic, like ours are.

  There are two utilities we lose during virtually every wildfire, earthquake, tornado, and hurricane, we lose water, and electrical service. Many times the loss of electrical service is what causes the water to cease to flow, other times flooding stops the water. Regardless of the cause there comes a time when we will have to supply water from somewhere other than the faucet. Just walking out to the creek with a cup and grabbing a drink of cold, clear, and safe water. I did that while backpacking in the Sierra's, two weeks later I was laid low with Giardia intestinalis, some call it "Montezuma's Revenge", I compare it to the flu. I also contracted it in Mexico, I was wading in a creek, I'm fortunate I didn't contract a more serious illness. There are some nasty diseases in our waterways, some are naturally occurring, others from sources such as run-off during rainfalls, and irrigation. I live next to a slough, about 3 miles off the main San Joaquin River, (pronounced, San Wha-keen), it's a very hard working river. We are on a shared well type of utility system, I believe a number of these types of communal systems exist. They are useless during and after a flood, wildfire, and a number of other naturally occurring events. I have decided to use the word "Event" versus words of doom and gloom such as "Catastrophe", "Disaster", or "Emergency". I stopped using them due to they are "dead end" words, meaning there is no way out of it. The loss of water, power, or access is not a disaster, there are moments of emergency, and almost never a Catastrophic type of an event. The loss of water is not a Catastrophe, with a little preparation there is no need to think of it as such.

Taylor Slough, I won't drink this water unpurified.

  Here are a few things we can do to make sure we have water for at least 3 days during and after an event.
  To begin I will suggest planning for a 7 day period, FEMA, and other first responders suggest supplies for a 3 day period. I recommend a longer period because it won't hurt to have more than what we need, if we are without water I am confident some neighbors will have none, and one week after an event flies by. If the event is widespread, Hurricane Harvey comes to mind, the rebound to a sustainable point may last much longer than a week. What actions can we take?
  If you live in a large City, water storage is a good idea, there are several ways to store water.
  *  One 24 case of water will supply one person for a three day period if the guidelines of 1/2 gallon of water per person per day is adhered to. When I worked in the desert outside I and the crew I worked with each drank a gallon a day. The caveat is it was well over 100 degrees F, it was an extreme environment, I have been on the other end as well. I have lived in climates where below zero temperatures was not uncommon, during that time I drank very little water. Two 24 count cases of pint-size water bottles will be enough of a supply for one person for a 7 day period at 1/2 gallon a day. We need to stay hydrated, which translates to me as get a drink of water before we get thirsty, even at that 1/2 gallon is a heavy lift for most people. We still need water for hygiene, and first aid applications, I'm sure no water will go to waste. We should plan for our neighbors, some will not have water and there is a chance there will be a delay in first responders bringing in supplies, there will be a period of unknown length when we will have to supply our own drinking water. I don't know about others but there is no way I would refuse someone a bottle of water if I had some. Part of being self-reliant is being prepared to the point we are not merely "survivors" but responders also.
  *  We can place water-filled jugs in our freezers, used milk containers, zip lock bags, and plastic containers will all serve well. Left to freeze they will perform double duty, one is to keep the food in the freezer frozen longer, and the second is upon it thawing our the water may then be consumed. There are available commercially freezer containers made of plastic manufactured just for this. They range in size, some resemble milk jugs basically square bottles, others dimensions are such as 2 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches. Laying flat on the bottom of the freezer they live their lives undetected, most likely to be forgotten about during an event. It will take several days for the freezer contents to begin to thaw, leaving the door closed will extend that time period, use refrigerated food first, after 3 days throw it all in the trash, don't take the chance, then use the freezer food.
  *  Purchase several 5-gallon water jugs that are used in a bubble water dispenser, it works well, it is a good way to cycle water through supplies to be certain the water is always fresh and safe to drink. In our area to fill a jug of water at a water store costs $1.75, about 1/2 the cost of a case of pint bottles, and zero plastic waste. Tap water may be used to fill the 5-gallon bottles, it is best to circulate them through the household supply as well.
In a large city to have a water purification system with no naturally flowing water such as a river, creek, or lake would be fruitless, however, read on if there is a source.
  If you reside in an urban or semi-urban area there are other preparations that can be performed.
  *  Along with the City dwellers water should be stored in the same manner, we can also prepare to purify water, there are many different ways to realize this also. If you have access to a free-flowing water source the purchase of a purifying system may be worth the price. And that price is wide open, it is one of those items we can spend whatever we want on. A basic suction straw purifier for one person is around $20, a person lowers themselves close to the water source and draws the water with suction from the mouth just like a straw. To fill a 5-gallon jug would be difficult to say the least, for $200 more a pump system can be had. The pump style normally has a fine filter in them, filters for 10 microns and larger are common, 1 micron would be much better. Due diligence pays off when planning to purchase a filtration system, there are many available, it will take a while to figure out which one fits your pocketbook, and your lifestyle. In the $1500 dollar range, there are some very good pumping systems available. Check to make sure the impurities that need to be separated from the water is within the capabilities of the unit being looked at. I recommend straining, boiling, then purifying the water. (Follow this Link to learn about purifying water by boiling)
  *  Boiling, we can boil the water for 1/2 hour, allow it to cool then it is safe to consume. Strain the water first with a paint strainer bag, a nylon stocking, or a fine screen, chewable water is not a desired trait. There are many ways to boil water as well, Kelly Kettles  

A Kelly Kettle.

a normal cooking pot, a teapot, or coffee pot will work well. A heat source will be needed, that is a fairly easy bill to fill, pull out the camp stove, an open fire will work, and our everyday outdoor grill is fine. Purchase unscented bleach and add it to your water it will kill any impurities that may remain and will keep algae from growing in the storage containers. Keep the containers in the shade, most of them are clear and the sun will play havoc with them, life always finds a way, it holds true for stored water as well. Boiling will not remove all of the evil doers in water, Arsenic will not be removed, neither will Lead, along with other heavy metals.
  *  I am not a believer in the purchase of a generator, there is nothing wrong with having one but to me, it creates more supplies, oil, gasoline, and storing it. If a person does have a generator it may be prudent to purchase a big water purifier system, like a "Reverse Osmosis" system. Known as an "R.O" they are actually easy to build, or commercially built systems are available, R.O. systems remove most of the nastiness out of the water, including Arsenic. and correctly designed with the proper filters it will remove Lead also. Either a hand pump or an electric pump may be used, but with an RO a pump has to be incorporated in the system. Unless your water source is high on a hill and the head pressure is high enough to push it through the system, but that is a major water system to equal the one we normally use, it may be incorporated into a permanent system. As I stated above, a system can be had for a minimal amount, or the bank can be busted, we all need to determine what is in our best interest.
 Gravity systems are available, hand pump systems, electric systems, boiling water, filtering and the list goes on. It is best to start with a 7 day supply of water per-person, stored in the various ways I listed after the first 7 days is when purification will be started. Most events won't last a week, most won't last 3 days, a prediction is impossible so preparations should be made. Most households have enough food in the pantry and the refrigerator to sustain them for a week, so I did not mention food or any other supplies. Water is the most important item to prepare, we can not live longer than 4 days with no water, It is common knowledge we can survive 3 days only, I stated 4 because that is the day we will not make it through.

A homemade gravity system

  Thank you for reading my article (I'm dropping the word "Blog" also) we are entering the period of events in so far as Tornado, Hurricane, Wildfire, and Flooding seasons approach. Now is the time to make sure we have water on hand, a minimal amount is much preferable to zero, more than we need is preferred. Thanks again for reading, and sharing this article.
jacquesandkate
 Emergencykitsplus.com