Water Storage & Rotation

One of the most common questions I get from my friends is, “How do I store water?”

My first reaction is usually something like, “Um, put it in a container?” Unfortunately, it’s a bit more complicated. The type of container, storage location, and even what you include in the water are all important to make sure you have the best water possible.

How much water do you need to store?

You need at least one gallon per person per day. So, if you have a family of five and you want to store enough water for two weeks, 5 times 14 equals 70 gallons. This is the absolute minimum and will only give you enough water for drinking, cooking, and very basic hygiene, such as washing dishes and brushing teeth. If you can, store more.

Type of Container

Ideally, you will want the following for your water storage containers:

• Material. Make sure that the container is BPA free. In some cases, BPA can seep into the water and create some problems. If you are concerned, please spend some time learning about BPA and the potential problems associated with it.
• UV coated. You don’t want light getting to your water. It can increase the possibility of contaminant growth, such as algae, inside the container or barrel. Darkness is your friend here.
• Quality. Each container needs to be durable. Make sure they won’t warp, crack, or split easily.

Other options to consider:

• Commercial water containers are the most popular storage tanks. They come in a wide variety of sizes (from 1 gallon to 55 gallon water barrels) and prices. These are convenient, safe containers – but do require a small financial investment.
• 2-liter soda bottles make great storage containers. They are strong, light, and designed to hold liquids. Simply clean them out and fill with fresh water. Don’t forget that light can easily ruin your stored water so store your 2-liter bottles in a dark, cool location.
• Food grade plastic containers that are marked with recycling number 1 of PETE or PET are safe to use. Do not use containers that have been used to store nonfood items. Before getting too crazy with plastic, remember that plastic containers will pick up any tastes and odors of chemicals and flammable liquids stored in close proximity.
• Beware of plastic milk containers. They break down and the lids do not seal well.

Clean your containers with mild soap and water. Rinse well. If your water is coming from a municipal water source (like a faucet at your house), no other treatment is necessary.

Some thoughts about bleach

In short, adding bleach to your water before sealing the storage containers is not necessary. If you are getting your water from a purified source, like your house, you don’t need to treat it. It’s already been treated and safe to drink! Bleach is an effective way to treat water from sources that might be contaminated but I would only use it as a last resort. My biggest problem with bleach is that it was never manufactured with the intention of human consumption. I know that there are dozens of sources that say otherwise. I encourage you to research the topic and make an educated decision for you and your family. There are some products available for water purification that are safe and if you are buying things to have on hand in case you need to purify water, why not get the stuff that’s been declared safe for human consumption?

How to store the containers

For the large barrels, and any container you plan to store on the ground, you need to place a wood board or block between the barrel and the cement. Toxins from the cement can seep into your water containers. Remember, don’t store water barrels directly on cement!
If you live in an area known for earthquakes, consider strapping your larger storage containers to the wall. This will prevent them from falling during a disaster.

Rotating the Water

You should rotate your water every 6-12 months. This will ensure that no bacteria or contaminants are growing in the water in your storage containers.

The next time someone asks you how to store water, you’ll know that the correct answer is indeed, “put it in a container” but the secret lies in the type of container.

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