Water, That Life-sustaining Liquid

We can't live more than a couple of days without it. It makes up more than 75% of our total body weight. Water, that critical life-sustaining liquid element. It comes into our houses just by turning a tap. We rely on it every day for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and sanitation. When we need it, we expect it to be there ready to quench our thirst at a moment's notice. We've just got to have it.

But what if there isn't any water available right when we want it? What if it takes a couple of days to complete a plumbing project in your house? What if your water meter or the water line in your neighborhood is being replaced? What if the source of your water is contaminated? Or what if there's a major disaster in your city, with water mains broken everywhere and all major services interrupted? What are you going to do to provide water for yourself and your family?

I can't emphasize enough the importance of having water storage in our homes. It's our responsibility, and not the government's or the American Red Cross's or our church's, to meet the physical needs of our family members. Those other groups are there to help us, but we don't want to have to wait days and possibly weeks for that help to arrive in a disaster situation.

So what do you need to know to start storing water in your home? In my public emergency preparedness presentations, I get a lot of questions about how to properly and safely store drinking water, especially about storage containers.

First of all, while glass containers may not leach any chemicals into the water, they could break during an earthquake, and there goes your water storage. Plastic containers are more durable and come in larger sizes to increase your total amount of water storage. That's important given the suggestion that you should store one gallon per person per day for as many days as you think you might be without water.

But here's where all the questions I get come in: which plastics are safe to use, and which plastics aren't? I finally did some research about that. Here's what I found out.

Most plastic containers are embossed with the recycling symbol, the three arrows chasing each other, and a number in the middle. Pay attention to that number. It tells you what you need to know to keep your family's drinking water safe. Look for a 2 (high density polyethylene), 4 (low density polyethylene), or a 5 (polypropylene). These plastics won't leach chemicals into the water and are safer for long-term storage. Unfortunately, it may be difficult to find storage containers with these numbers.

The majority of plastic liquid and beverage containers we buy, including bottled water, are stamped with a 1 (polyethylene terephthalate). Some studies have shown that these containers may leach toxic chemicals over time. So these are not the best choice for long term water storage. It also highlights the importance of rotating your water storage supply.

Avoid plastic containers with a 3, 6, or 7. Most studies concluded that these plastics will release dangerous chemicals after prolonged use. However, there seems to be some disagreement about plastics with a 7 (polycarbonate). Let me just say use it with caution.

As for rotation, the American Red Cross recommends that you rotate your water storage every six to seven months; while the Utah State University Extension Service advises rotating water every six to seven years, with a caveat that treated water (from a city water system) may be stored indefinitely.

Keep your water storage in a location that is cool, but always above freezing. Also, keep your water storage out of direct sunlight.

The bottom line is, no matter what, if you haven't already, start storing water now, along with food and other emergency supplies for your family. The next time you go to the sink and turn on the tap for a cold, refreshing glass of water, remember that you don't know when that life-sustaining liquid might not be there.