Water Storage

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Here are some quick tips regarding long term water storage.

For small quantities (like storing some water in your car) its best to use HDPE #2 plastic bottles. An example is filling a Nalgene 32oz bottle with 28oz of water plus 2 drops of Clorox bleach.

For larger quantities its best to use HDPE #2 or PP #5 containers. An example is filling a 5-gallon bucket with water plus 1/2 teaspoon of Clorox bleach.

Using bleach in these ratios (2 drops per quart, 1/2 teaspoon per 5 gallons, or 5.5tsp per 55 gallons) will keep the water sterile.

If the water is cloudy, use double the amounts of Clorox listed above. Remember to use regular household chlorine based bleach. Do not use scented bleach or hydrogen peroxide based bleach.

Its best to only use HDPE #2 or PP #5 containers. Other containers can leach chemicals into the water. Do not use 2-liter soda bottles (PET #1) for long term water storage !

A person should consume about 1.5 gallons of water per day and more if you are in a hot and dry climate. In any case, the liquid leaving your body should be at least 1/2 quart per day. If your breathing and heart rate are faster than normal its probably a sign that you are suffering dehydration.

If you are short on both food and water you should add 1/2 teaspoon of salt per quart of water to make up for electrolyte losses.

For extreme survival situations where you have a limited amount of water and want to use an absolute bare minimum amount, you can add 2 teaspoons of sugar per quart of water and drink about 1/2 quart of per day. This isn't the healthiest way to do things but it should keep you alive.

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