Make A Plan Monday: Water Storage

"April Showers brings May flowers."  For the month of April I will be focusing on water safety, storage and such.  Today, I will simply start with the current guidelines found in the All Is Safely Gathered In pamphlet as found in the March 2009 Ensign or here:  https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/language-materials/04008_eng.pdf?lang=eng

Guideline 2:  Store Drinking Water

1. Store for times clean water supply is interrupted or non-existant
2. Ways to accomplish:
1. If water comes from a trusted source (pretreated) then no additional purification is needed—simply put into the container you will be using.
2. If water isn’t purified:  need purify first.
3. Containers:  use sturdy, leak-proof/break resistant and clean containers.
1. 2 or 3 liter pop or juice bottles work well
2. Those blue water barrels
3. Milk jugs will only work for a short time—the plastic eventually begins to break down, so it isn’t wise to store in these for long periods of time.  But would be ok for short term water storage.
4. Do not use bottles or containers that had chemicals in them (i.e. bleach bottles)
4. Storage:  store away from light, heat and the floor (cement floors particularly).  If using large barrels, place on wood or something, water is heavy so you will need to have it in an area that you won’t have to move it (hopefully).  If using large barrels, remember you will need a bung wrench and pump.
1. If you don’t have the “ideal” situation (dark, cool), you can cover the container with those black yard waste bags to decrease the light.  Bacteria needs light and heat to grow.
3. Rotation:  if stored & purified properly in completely leak proof containers, it could technically store indefinitely, but generally, plan on rotating every 1-5 years.  Check your storage periodically for leaks, or other noticeable changes (odor, color, etc.).  To rotate you can use it for drinking and cooking or for watering plants and gardens.