7 Ways To Store Emergency Water

Today, I have 7 ways to store emergency water for your family. I have been receiving a lot of comments and emails about storing water. Let’s make this as easy as possible. I may have shared this statement with you before: you can survive without water for three days (you need water or you’ll perish).

I do not recommend going without water for three days, but it does make us think about why we need to store water. I realize we all have budgets, no matter what our income may be. It’s frustrating where I live because I will contact a store to get water containers at a discount and send out at least three dozen emails, two or three times to people who live near me.

7 Ways To Store Emergency Water

I make it clear in the email I am not making any money on the tanks or containers, I just found a great discounted price for the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, only one other family bought the 250-gallon water tank that was available at a great price. The supplier was even willing to deliver the unit to our homes. I was a little luckier with the WaterBricks, three families purchased them.

I even got to help two of the families fill the WaterBricks with my lead-free hose. I get it, these products can seem expensive. I try to explain to people, to buy a set of the WaterBricks once a month, and split the cost between friends, family, and neighbors.

I talk about buying one extra can of food a week or a month, start thinking of one container (not the pricey 250-gallon one) a week or once a month. Please write it down: W A T E R, we can only survive three days without water and this is at optimal temperatures. Let’s get started with just a few ways I have for you today. Just choose one and do it.

1. Gallon Jugs

These are not my first choice, but hey, you can wash clothes with the water you store in these, or use it for personal hygiene. Plus, the price is practically FREE if you buy milk in one-gallon jugs. The next time you empty your plastic milk cartons clean them out with a drop or two of bleach (unscented). The problem with drops of soap are the bubbles, but you can use either one.

2. 2-Litre Soda Bottles

Now, I do not drink soda, except for an occasional A & W rootbeer, but if you know someone who drinks it regularly or you are at a party, snag the empty bottles. You do the same with these bottles, wash the sticky stuff out with a drop or two of bleach (unscented). The problem with drops of soap is the bubbles, but you can use either one. As I said before, just make it easy for yourself.

Now, keep in mind these are not for long-term storage. Yes, they will eventually leak. Yes, you need to keep them off the concrete in your garage on 2 by 4’s, they can work great under the right conditions. Put a drop or two of the unscented bleach in each bottle and rotate the water every six months.

3. Mason Jars

I have personally never “canned” water and doubt I ever will, but I have heard of people who like to store water this way. I don’t have space to store glass jars, plus, I live on the Wasatch Fault, as in EARTHQUAKE territory.

24 Ball Quart Wide Mouth Jars

4. 55-Gallon Barrels

I have seen the exact barrels that are blue in color at Walmart for almost half the price of the ones I had purchased from well-known emergency preparedness stores. I actually turned the barrel upside down at Walmart to see if they matched the ones I had at home. Yes, I’m that crazy lady with gray hair on aisle 11, what can I say?

I wanted to make sure they were BPA Free and were made by the same company as the ones that were more expensive. They were identical. Now, I have four of these gems on the side of my house with UV protector covers because of the heat here, as in 110+ degrees in the summer. Please remember these accessories, you need a pump and bung wrench.

I use one whole bottle of Water Preserver in these. 55 Gallon Water Preserver Concentrate 5 Year Emergency Disaster Preparedness, Survival Kits, Emergency Water Storage, Earthquake, Hurricane, Safety BUNG (tightens the lid): Duda Energy wrench Aluminum Drum Wrench for Opening 10 gal, 15 gal, 20 gal, 30 gal and 55 gal Barrels Standard, 2″ Bung Racing Fuel Methanol, 2″

Please note, I bought like 20 bung units for a class I was teaching and one friend said, “I don’t need one of those, I will use pliers.” She ended up borrowing mine, just giving you the heads up here. Be prepared with your own bung wrench.

You will also need a pump. You can usually find a pump located on the same shelf where you buy your 55-gallon barrels. BPA FREE – TERAPUMP(TM) TRDRUM20 Drum Barrel Manual Siphon Pump PLEASE NOTE: the Water Preserver is great because we only have to rotate the water every 5 years rather than six months. Keep in mind, we can use the water to water our garden if you exceed the safe water period of 5 years.

Please remember to keep space available in the tank for freezing temperatures, because the water will expand if it freezes and could possibly damage the storage tank. This would apply to all the containers you use, large or small if you are located in an area where temps get cold in winter.

5. WaterBricks

You may know I have several of these and I love them. They are pricey, but I only had to buy them once. I bought two sizes, but my favorite ones are the 3.5-gallon size. They come with handles and a screw lid that makes them easy to haul for camping or evacuating your home. I use 1/2 teaspoon of the Water Preserver stated above and rotate them every five years.

Please use a lead-free hose to fill ALL containers outside. NeverKink 8612-50 Boat and Camper Hose, Drinking Water Safe, 5/8-Inch-by-50-Foot I like the WaterBricks because they stack on top of each other, or under beds if you have enough space. I have 16 WaterBricks under a queen-size bed.

6. 5-Gallon Water Jugs

You can buy this size just about anywhere in emergency preparedness stores or camping outlets. There is a big difference in weight between the 3.5-gallon WaterBricks and the 5-gallon containers. I can’t lift the 5-gallon jugs so these have never been an option for me.

I’m just not strong enough to haul them and they are not easy to store unless you have a lot of room to place them on 2 by 4’s in the garage or patio to keep them off the concrete. All water containers inside the house, garage, or outside must be at least 2 inches off the ground to keep them from leaching bacteria or other material that is not safe to consume. 5-Gallon Jugs

7. BLUE Cans

Yes, these are very expensive and they come in cans the size of a soda can. Each case has 24 cans of water packed neatly in boxes that stack easily. I have had a lot of people think the price is outrageous. I get it, I saved for two years to buy 12 cases. I have them stacked behind a dresser. Here’s the deal, these can withstand temperatures of 145 degrees. I try to give a case to each daughter for Christmas as I can afford them.

I call these my stack and forget water cans. They state they will last for 50 years. The water is placed in scientifically formulated cans. For more information check out this website: BLUE CAN WATER If you live near a distributor you can pick them up there.

I tried to buy a pallet of these but I couldn’t get anyone to split it with me. Water is critical to our survival. Period. These do not need to be rotated ever and do not require any water preserver.

An awesome reader told me that this website: Brownell’s has the best buy on Blue Cans. I bought several cases for my daughters for Christmas from them.

Please note below, you can see several cases of 24 cans of Blue Cans behind this dresser turned on an angle, it works great to store emergency water.

Final Word

I hope this post about 7 ways to store water for your family gets you started on the road to storing water, one container at a time. I know the American Red Cross states that one gallon per person per day is adequate, I disagree, I like 4 gallons per person per day, but that’s how I roll. Please remember to store water for your pets.

I have stated in my book Prepare Your Family For Survival on page 21, that our pets need approximately 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day. If your dog weighs 40 pounds, you will need to store 40 ounces of water for your dog per day. Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless you and your family. May God Bless this World, Linda

Copyright Images: Close-up of Water in Glass AdobeStock_159675117