Water Storage
Sanitized, Reconditioned, 55 Gallon Drums
Food Grade-approved for water storage
(previously used for fruit concentrate)
$22.00 each
or
3 for $55.00
To order your water storage containers or for more information contact:
Matt Nielson at (801) 451- 6693 or
Email: watercontainers@gmail.com
Æ¿The following Information is provided by the National Terror Alert Response Center And FEMA http://www.nationalterroralert.com/safewater/ http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/assemble_disaster_supplies_kit.shtm
Water storage is important. Having an ample supply of safe, clean water is a top priority in an emergency.
Whereas a quart of water or other fluid daily will sustain life, according to the Department of Defense and the Office of Civil Defense, it is recommended that a gallon of water per day per person be stored for food preparation and drinking. A gallon provides added comfort and accommodates increased fluid needs at higher altitudes or warm climates. An additional one-half to 1 gallon per day is recommended for bathing and hygiene, and to wash dishes.
How much water should I store? The rule of thumb is to store at least one gallon per person per day for at least 3 days (for earthquake preparedness). That’s 2 quarts for drinking and 2 quarts for food preparation and sanitation. A family of four should store a minimum of 12 gallons of water. Personally, I recommend at least a 10 day supply of water and a 30 day supply if it all possible (120 gallons for a family of four or three 55 gallon drums of water).
Guidelines When Storing Water
1. Store drinking water in carefully cleaned, non-corrosive, tightly covered containers. The drums supplied to you have been sanitized using a concentrated chlorine solution leaving the drums in ready condition for filling.
2. Store containers in a cool dark place. DO NOT store in direct sunlight. Polyethylene plastics (prepackaged milk and water bottles) are somewhat permeable to hydrocarbon vapors. Keep away from stored gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances. Do not store directly on cement floors. Use a barrier such as wood or rubber to store the water barrels on.
3. Stored tap water with no water conditioner added should be rotated every 6 months. Prepackaged bottled water should be rotated once a year. Check the pull date on the container. Be sure it didn’t sit on the store’s shelf for a year before you purchased it. Self serve bottled water should be rotated once a year, as long as the water treatment process includes ozonation. (see storing water in 55 gallon drums on the next page)
4. Rotate your stored water with the water you use on a regular basis. This practice helps insure you don’t have water stored longer than one year.
Food-grade plastic or glass containers are suitable for storing water. One-, three- and five-gallon water containers can be purchased from most outdoor or hardware stores. Any plastic or glass container that previously held food or beverages such as 2-liter soda bottles or water, juice, punch or milk jugs, also may be used. Stainless steel can be used to store water which has not been or will not be treated with chlorine; chlorine is corrosive to most metals.
Clean used containers and lids with hot soapy water. Once the containers have been thoroughly cleaned, rinse them with water and sanitize the containers and lids by rinsing them with a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Leave the containers wet for two minutes, and then rinse them again with water. Remember to remove the paper or plastic lid liners before washing the lids. It is very difficult to effectively remove all residues from many containers, so carefully clean hard-to-reach places like the handles of milk jugs. To sanitize stainless steel containers, place the container in boiling water.
(Please Note: All containers supplied by Matt Nielson have been pre-cleaned and sanitized with a chlorine solution to meet water storing requirements.)
Water Storage in 55 gal drums: Drums designed specifically for water storage can be difficult to transport, if the need arises, but are of a tremendous value in an emergency .When looking for additional food grade containers, the bottom will be stamped with HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) and coded with the recycle symbol and a “2″ inside. HDPE containers are FDA-approved for food. Containers without these designations aren’t OK because of possible chemical interactions between the water and the plastic.
Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the tap water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean. If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to each gallon of water (or 7-8 teaspoons to a 55 gallon drum). Tightly close the container using the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your finger. Place a date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place. Keep stored drums elevated on wood to ensure they are off cement floors. Replace the water every year if not using commercially bottled water.
Siphon pumps, cap wrenches and other preparedness supplies are available at WalMart, Macey’s Grocery and on-line.
