tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post6588919948602281340..comments2024-03-28T16:03:02.583-05:00Comments on Bayou Renaissance Man: A useful tip for storing emergency water suppliesPeterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10595089829300831372noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-92107608155605775382017-09-16T22:28:39.879-05:002017-09-16T22:28:39.879-05:00We used this method and I have posted this several...We used this method and I have posted this several times through the years<br />For potable water storage,<br />1. New 30 gallon garbage cans with lids.<br />2. New 55 gallon trash bags.<br />3. One gallon plain bleach.<br />4. One measuring tablespoon.<br />5. Duct tape.<br />Place trash bags in garbage cans, fill bags with tap water, add 1 tablespoon of bleach, tape bag shut and place cover on garbage can.<br />You then have about 28 gallons of potable water per can that should stay potable for longer than a week.<br /><br />Another thing, a good camping / hiking water filter with spare parts.<br />Katadyn makes some of the best. jon spencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10886632644249920124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-58097584154477751452017-09-15T07:20:08.565-05:002017-09-15T07:20:08.565-05:00I agree with tsquared about carboys. As a brewer a...I agree with tsquared about carboys. As a brewer and wine maker I have quite a collection of them in 3 gal, 5 gal and 6 gal. I keep them filled with water for emergency situations when they are not in use for the purpose that I purchased them for. I've never gotten any off flavors from the plastic ones since they are specially made to not impart them to wine or beer. You can buy special carrying handles for them at wine making/brewing supply stores. While I am able to carry them I prefer to slide them onto a small dolly and wheel them into the garage. Work smart, not hard. Another nice thing is that the plastic caps from Polar water jugs will fit on all of them. I used to bring them home from work from the empties. You can also purchase a little battery or hand power pump that attaches to the to of a carboy to make it very easy to get water out without handling a heavy container........taminator013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-48990119390566226452017-09-15T03:51:22.773-05:002017-09-15T03:51:22.773-05:00Bottled water companies will deliver the 5-gallon ...Bottled water companies will deliver the 5-gallon carboys; order enough at once they'll discount and waive the delivery fee. Wire rack shelves (Home Depot, $99 reg, $79 on sale, 48"X18"X 6 shelves) will hold 4 5-gallon carboys per shelf (I assembled mine with 4 shelves to hold 16 carboys). Yes, 5 gallons of water is heavy; gravity sucks. Live with it. Amazon has a wire rack and a clamp-on valve to hold one at a 45 degree angle for use. No pumping, no power required.<br /><br />Use a Sharpee to put month/year on the caps when you get them so you FIFO. <br /><br />Potable water hoses - get 3/4" plastic threaded plugs and caps to close the ends when not in use. Keeps dirt and bugs out. Pour 50/50 bleach & water (or 50/50 vinegar and water) through the hose followed by <i>known</i> clean water and drain out before capping. You'll use the hose, set it aside for days/weeks/months then discover at next use it's got all sorts of stuff that likes dark, damp places growing in it. <br /><br />Pro Tip 1: Put two valves in the water line between your water meter and your dwelling - closest to the meter is a manual drain valve, immediately next to it and between the drain valve and your house is a manual shutoff. When SHTF, turn off incoming water at the meter and at your second control valve so contaminated water doesn't get past the meter and into your home system (which includes the line from the meter). When SHTF is past and "regular" water service returns, check with the utility and see when they'll add extra chlorine to make sure the distribution lines are clean. Near the end of that cycle, make sure control valve #2 - the manual shutoff you installed between the meter and the line to the house - is off, then open the manual drain upstream from the meter and let it run for a while to make sure undesirable stuff is purged from the delivery line connected to the water main in the street.<br />Pro Tip 2: If you're on public sewer consider installing a shutoff valve in your sewer line; make it upsized (3 inch standard sewer line, install a 4 inch or 5 inch valve). It means you won't be able to use any plumbing fixture in the house that drains, but it also prevents sewage backflows into the house.<br />Pro Tip 3: When building or remodeling, put your toilets on a completely separate manual valve-controlled water distribution line, with a one-way valve (backflow preventer) between that water line and the potable water line in your house and a shutoff valve at each toilet, plus a way to supply pressurized water to the toilet water lines. If you have a non-potable water source yiou can shut off the valve between the toilet water line and the potable water line and non-potable water can be manually or electrically pumped into the toilet water line to refill the tanks without contaminating the potable water distribution system in the house. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-61637324149452316452017-09-14T22:44:25.005-05:002017-09-14T22:44:25.005-05:00Be sure to cut power to a water heater if you draw...Be sure to cut power to a water heater if you draw down the water level.clark myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04087642063181620051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-21249331055645814672017-09-14T22:30:51.788-05:002017-09-14T22:30:51.788-05:00Do not store plastic water containers on wet groun...Do not store plastic water containers on wet ground, especially the clear bottled water type or soda jugs. Contaminants will leach through over time. Something they learned with bottled water after Hurricane Andrew. <br /><br />They aren't cheap, but if you think you'll need some help moving/lifting heavy items, such as water storage, consider a hydraulic table cart. Still requires a short lift, but far less than a counter to get height for flow or siphoning. <br /><br />This one from Harbor Freight is $170, but will lift 500 lbs. Might be an opportunity for someone to make one with less weight capability but at a cheaper price. <br />https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle/lifts-stands/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-table-cart-61405.html<br /><br />Also, you can get a foldable hand truck for about $25. JK Brownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-91111375877713545522017-09-14T19:41:17.606-05:002017-09-14T19:41:17.606-05:00If I am worried about possible water outages, I pu...If I am worried about possible water outages, I pull out my wading pool, put it together and fill it. That will keep us going with non-pot and potable (after it goes through the Berkey) for quite a while.<br /><br />In an emergency, your hot water heater holds quite a bit of water. tweellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164718561825615886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-14205305973466360402017-09-14T19:36:39.388-05:002017-09-14T19:36:39.388-05:00Folks don't think about water which is scary. ...Folks don't think about water which is scary. Think of your water system and how little of it will work without electricity!<br /><br />If you plan on using the water in your water heater you need to flush the tank regularly and inspect it when changing the anode. You may have 10 gallons of water and 40 of sediment if it has gone un-maintained.<br /><br />Flush toilets use a lot of water, a small portable one or even a field expedient one in the back yard can save a lot of water you can then use elsewhere.<br /><br />If you have nothing else to store water in trash can liners will convert almost anything to a water storage container. You may not want to have that as your primary water supply but if you get really thirsty your standards will be a lot lower.<br /><br />A couple trash bags in your tub or even a plastic drop cloth will keep anything from coming back up from the sewer into the tub. With no liner both the drain and overflow can become a problem if the sewer backs up. Again many places depend on electricity to keep the sewage flowing so it can become a problem once their pumps fail.<br /><br />Keep a few buckets handy, used dish or other water is fine for flushing the toilet or many other tasks. Don't dispose of any water until it can't be reused for something.<br /><br />We live in Phoenix and if the water goes out, with about 5 million people in the area, water is going to be a huge problem. Folks that have prepared are going to be making some tough calls when the neighbors who haven't come knocking on the door.Stan_qazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16177236446865672828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-48449785159101767282017-09-14T18:57:56.654-05:002017-09-14T18:57:56.654-05:00Glass carboys - they are usually 5 to 7 gallons. A...Glass carboys - they are usually 5 to 7 gallons. A homebrew supply place will have them in stock along with handles and caps. I fill the 2 six gallon ones I have anytime I see a storm approaching.tsquaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02737130316088634658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-60493422412949174922017-09-14T16:28:32.741-05:002017-09-14T16:28:32.741-05:00used food grade IBC totes about $100 for 330 gallo...used food grade IBC totes about $100 for 330 gallons. buy a small hand pump $20 at Walmart. various suppliers, a DFW below<br /><br />https://www.repurposedmaterialsinc.com/ibc-totes/dfw-330-gallon-ibc-tote-food-grade/<br /><br />if you have a yard, you should give thought to buying a cistern. sink it, fill it and it will always be there. cost is more, quantity is more. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-60660220188941067042017-09-14T15:12:40.284-05:002017-09-14T15:12:40.284-05:00For weight calculations, figure 8 lbs/gal for wate...For weight calculations, figure 8 lbs/gal for water. <br /><br />Consider closing your water valve that feeds the house as soon as trouble occurs. A break in the city service could drain all your water, or if it gets contaminated, that can end up in your house. Also close any sprinkler system valves and garden hose faucets at the same time, as they can also drain the house. Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722792638246578812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-617572605163035202017-09-14T15:01:47.977-05:002017-09-14T15:01:47.977-05:002-liter soda bottles are also good for water oncel...2-liter soda bottles are also good for water oncell youc rinse them out.John Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07512292512993140028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-87217545811114788582017-09-14T14:30:30.263-05:002017-09-14T14:30:30.263-05:00I've started using empty milk jugs (or even ol...I've started using empty milk jugs (or even old bleach jugs - Thoroughly washed, obviously, and don't buy flavored bleaches) for water storage: They're a convenient size, have an easy-carry handle built it, they're food-grade plastic, and best of all they don't cost anything extra.<br /><br />The only downside is that they don't stack well.Feather Bladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16295997298154977506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-23245885000146081932017-09-14T14:13:23.289-05:002017-09-14T14:13:23.289-05:00Good points! Reminds me, I need to get more flats ...Good points! Reminds me, I need to get more flats of water... sighOld NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-28684302686409758902017-09-14T14:02:01.031-05:002017-09-14T14:02:01.031-05:00One other thing: Even once you've done the ble...One other thing: Even once you've done the bleach and/or vinegar procedure, if you decide to keep water in the containers as part of your preps but in a particular situation you have enough advance warning of a potential need for the water, use the water in your garden or for cleaning and refill with fresh. <br /><br />The jugs continue to leach plasticizers into the water they contain almost indefinitely (in a lab I once worked in we verified it in carboys in service for over 10 years) and <i>if you have a choice</i> it's probably better not to consume it. <br /><br /><br />Peter Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-66674961578176945332017-09-14T13:24:11.955-05:002017-09-14T13:24:11.955-05:00An editing check: You discuss a water/ vinegar mix...An editing check: You discuss a water/ vinegar mixture, but then refer to a water/ bleach mixture - I think you meant vinegar both places; might want to double check.Jonathan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10476185257203343474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244999628674918029.post-41523368361371973192017-09-14T13:24:04.177-05:002017-09-14T13:24:04.177-05:00For those who have weight or dexterity restriction...For those who have weight or dexterity restrictions, buying 1 gallon jugs pre-filled is easier. Not too expensive (like a buck or less) and they can fit in smaller places than huge jugs.<br /><br />Something I've done for disaster prep is using heavy duty, 33 gallon or larger, totes for non-potable water. Place 1 in the kitchen, 1 or 2 in each bath, fill with water. Use this water for washing and flushing (you can even have a waste kitchen water tote and use that for flushing, if necessary.) After the disaster period is over (storms, fire season, rabid ninja rabbit attacks, whatever) you can dump and clean out the totes, and save for the next period of craziness. This works really well in small apartments where you need floor space during normal times, but don't mind cramped quarters during 'hunker down' times.<br /><br />Doing this and using water jugs of whatever size gives the single bathroom person the ability to use the bathtub for bathing and sheltering. Those BOBs are great for multi-bathroom houses.<br /><br />You can also find plastic totes big enough that the BOBs will fit in, if you are space restricted, thus giving some portability to your water storage system.<br />Andrewnoreply@blogger.com