How and Where to Store Water
Learn where the water intake valve to your home is. If you hear reports of broken water or sewage lines, or if local officials recommend doing so, you would need to shut off water to your house at the incoming water valve to stop contaminated water from entering your home.
- In a cool, dark place in your home, each vehicle, and your workplace.
- Preferably in store-bought, factory-sealed water containers.
- Alternately, in food-grade-quality containers made for storing water and available from sporting goods and surplus stores and other retailers. These containers must be thoroughly washed, sanitized, and rinsed. The water you store in them, if it's from your tap, may need to be treated before being stored. Ask your public health service or water provider for information on whether and how to treat the water. Follow those instructions before storing any.
Safe Use of Water Containers
- Wash containers with dishwashing soap and rinse with water.
- Sanitize by swishing a solution of 1 teaspoon of liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water on all interior surfaces of the container.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water before use.
Avoid using
- Store-bought water past the expiration or "use by" date on the container.
- Containers that can't be sealed tightly.
- Containers that can break, such as glass bottles.
- Containers that have ever held any toxic substance.
- Plastic milk bottles and cartons. They are difficult to clean and break down over time.
Do
- Change stored water every six months.
References:
1. Emergency Preparedness and Response. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, May 18, 2011.
<http://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/kit/water/>
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