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Should
I store drinking water in case of emergencies?
Yes.
You should store one gallon per day per person to last at
least 72 hours. If you have pets, you might consider
storing additional water for their needs as
well.
How
will I know if my drinking water is safe to drink after
an earthquake?
Listen
to information over the emergency broadcast system on the
radio and TV (or other official communications) and
carefully follow their directives. For example, you may
be instructed to disinfect your water before using
drinking or to boil it. Information about sites where
emergency supplies of drinking water may also be
announced. (As you can see, having a portable radio with
extra batteries is extremely important!)
In
an emergency where the drinking water may be unsafe, what
can I do to make it safer to consume?
Boiling
water for one minute (after it reaches boiling) is the
most effective way you can self treat water. Before
boiling, strain it through a clean cloth to remove any
sediment, floating matter or glass. Of course, great care
should be taken to prevent burns or fires when boiling
water. (Hint: Pouring the water from one container to
another can improve the taste.)
In
the above situation, what should I do if I cannot boil
the water?
Boiling
water should be your first choice. You can, however,
disinfect water with common household liquid chlorine
bleach. This will kill bacteria in the water. Add eight
drops of bleach per gallon for clear water and 16 drops
per gallon if the water is cloudy. Shake and let stand
for 30 minutes before using. A slight chlorine odor
should be detectable in the water. If not, repeat the
dosage and let stand for an additional 15
minutes.
If
what alternative sources of drinking water can I use in
an emergency?
Water
from available ice cubes, canned vegetables and
commercial bottled water can be consumed.
How
should I store emergency drinking
water?
Storing
commercial bottled water is probably the best way to
store emergency supplies of drinking water. Emergency
drinking water should be stored in a cool, dry space,
away from direct sunlight. Though commercial bottled
water should be your first choice, strong plastic
containers (not glass) with tight fitting caps can also
be used to store drinking water. Note: Do not use plastic
milk bottles (they disintegrate over time). Sterilizing
the containers and pre-disinfecting the water before
filling (as describe earlier) can slow-down possible
bacterial growth that can occur in stored water and would
be wise. Make sure to label and date the containers. To
be safe, stored emergency drinking water should discarded
and replaced every three to six months (including
commercial bottled water).
Can
water from a hot water heater be used in an
emergency?
Generally
yes, but this water can also become contaminated and it
may require boiling or disinfecting before being
consumed. As mentioned earlier, follow the directives of
your government disaster officials as to whether
self-treating your water through boiling and/or chlorine
disinfecting is necessary.
Can
I use water from a toilet tank, spa or pool for drinking
purposes?
This
water should be considered your supply of last resort.
Pools or spa water should be used only if it is first
boiled (disinfecting chlorine bleach is probably not an
adequate safeguard by itself). As mentioned earlier,
don't forget to strain the water through a piece of clean
cloth before treating.
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