Short term water storage methods and resources
In the event of an emergency or disaster you may have limited or no access to water. Being able to have an emergency water storage can be a great way to weather short term issues. Some great ways to accomplish this are small potable containers, large drums or cubes and even larger tanks that provide longer storage reserves.
The area you live in, available products and what storage space you have will all be factors in the size and type of water storage that works best for you.
How to choose the right container and location for storage
There are a lot of options available for all types of budgets but there are a few things to consider. Space: where and how you store water will depend on a lot of factors. Do you have closet space or even room under a bed? Climate: can you store outside or in a shed or garage? If you live in a place that gets too cold freezing is an issue. If your area has very hot summers this can also be a factor since bacterial growth can increase as well as leeching of contaminants depending on the container you are using. Budget: There are plentiful options for every budget but the quality of items will obviously be better if you want to spend more.
Storage containers, pros and cons
There are five gallon containers readily available in different shapes. Some containers can stack and others can lay flat for storage under beds. If you have space there are larger options such as IBC totes which are cheap and plentiful but could take more effort as far as disinfecting and cleaning before use. Whatever you buy there are a few considerations. Try to find containers that are BPA free to minimize the leeching of this chemical into the water. You also want to try and store in a dark place that will not see weather extremes.
When you fill your containers, try to fill with the purest water you can or at least use a filter if using a hose to fill. Another consideration is to turn over this water at some sort of intervals to keep it fresher. the larger the storage container is, the harder it will be to move. If using totes or even larger containers try to place somewhere that is easy to access for use and to make emptying and filling easier.
When you fill the containers be sure to add some type of disinfectant when you first fill it and keep some on hand to add before it is used to make sure no bacteria is present. Household bleach can work and is likely already available, the downsides to using bleach is that it degrades over time and the concentration can vary greatly depending on the brand. For better protection and long term storage something like Chlorine Dioxide is preferred.
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