Following my first blog post this morning about new threats to our water supply, I've had a couple of e-mails pointing out that I didn't address the topic of water purification.
That wasn't the point of the post, of course: if you don't already have water, you can't purify or filter it, after all! However, I've addressed the topic of water purification in previous posts. Here are two of them:
Emergency Preparation, Part 12: Water, hygiene and sanitation
Your questions answered on emergency water purification
Both go into a lot of detail about the subject. The first dates from 2012, the second from last year. I think you'll find the answers you need in one or both of them.
I'd also like to add two more points to this morning's discussion. First, if you live in an apartment, particularly where there are lots of stairs to be climbed to get to your residence, make sure you store water while it's easy to get it up there (i.e. the elevators are working!). If the power goes out, there won't be elevators any more, and you'll lift every pound of water the hard way. It's worth doing that ahead of time.
Second, if storage space is very limited, look for nooks and crannies in which you can store 16oz. or 20oz. plastic bottles of water. If you put one or two into back corners of a kitchen cupboard or clothes closet, you might be surprised how many you can fit into your living space. Store them upright, to prevent leaks! Put a couple more flats of water beneath your bed (setting them inside a shallow waterproof storage tote, to contain any leaks and stop the water soaking other things). You won't be able to store as much water as you might like, but anything is better than nothing.
Hope this helps.
Peter
(EDITED TO ADD: To the people who e-mailed me saying "What about me/us? We can't lift a full 5-gallon bucket!", I can only say "Buy smaller buckets!" Standard size 3½ gallon buckets use the same lids as 5 gallon buckets, and 2 gallon buckets have their own smaller lids [although some complain that they don't fit very well - in which case, make temporary covers out of cling wrap or some other material if necessary]. There's always a way!)
11 comments:
And rotate that storage! A lot of retail water containers are designed to self-destruct over time.
Just a quick comment in the water-making discussion. In the 2023 post you mention the high price of the Royal Berkey style filter.
Another alternative for this type of filter is offered by a TX company, Pure Water Products.
They offer one of the candle filters with a bit of hose attached. Simply place the filter in a container of 'dirty' water higher than the receiving container and start a siphon. The water will continue to flow so long as the source container has water. This system will produce water faster than the standard gravity fed unit.
Pretty neat solution...
YMMY - Good luck to us all.
I've been refilling juice and soda bottles with water, as the plastic is usually of a higher grade than standard water bottles. A little bleach shaken into the mix and its good for a fairly long time.
Additionally, those bottles are the right size to fit in a lot of places. Spots we don't think of include; Under the couch (You might have to remove the lining), Under the bed (Again, a box spring has a lot of room inside of it if the lining is removed), in the back of closets and (as was mentioned) in the back corners of cabinets and pantries.
Additionally, the two liter soda bottle, or comparable juice bottle are of a more convenient size to carry, should you need water on any excursions from the home base.
I'm going to plug Sawyer water filters. 3 videos by Dan Becker explain why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvqdnFgr5Fg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLk4Pb2trxg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKyjvj83kAE
Short version: Sawyer spends a lot of time and money providing filtration products to 3rd world areas. See also https://thebucketministry.org/
Hi Peter
Sort of O/T but goes with your look at food prices etc -
FWIW
"What a brilliant move when food prices are ridiculous"
Much more stringent waste water rules on food processing plants
https://tomknighton.substack.com/p/what-a-brilliant-move-when-food-prices
I bought a few bottles of water purification tabs and a pair of Lifestraws for my Dad and I.
For the price of two Life Straws, you can buy a Sawyer Mini right now, a much, much better deal, given the amount of water it will filter, up to 100,000 gallons. It's currently available on Amazon for less than $18.00.
Warning: Once you use it, water will remain trapped inside, so don't let it freeze.
We’ve used the different Berkeys for years. Definitely not cheap. I never followed it through, but something about the charcoal filters have been “outlawed” now sometime last year?
CIII
Much solid matter can be removed from raw water by letting sit 24-48 hours in a bucket. The solids will fall to the bottom. All but the last couple inches can be carefully syphoned out and treated/filtered.
Love my Big Berkey, but I would go a size larger for more than two people.. The supplemental fluoride filters had a problem leaking aluminum?, never used mine. I've got seven 55gal FG barrels with tops that I could use for water but the Gulf is at the end of the block and they're primarily for keeping my Collins HF radios and my speakers and amps and turntables dry in a flood.
If you're not too far from a waterway, learn how to dig an Injun well.
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