An elderly woman once said to me a jar takes up just as much space if empty as it does full so if you have empty canning jars, can water in them. The water is sealed and sterilize until needed. So now every canning jar not filled with food in my home has canned water in it that won't turn.
Do NOT leave water in a plastic bottle in heat/sun, not even in your car on a warm/hot day. The heat leeches the chemicals from the plastic into the water
True but if you are dying of thirst, you aren’t worried about the chemicals. Plus, when things stabilize, the chemicals can be detoxed out of the body. Medical medium (Anthony William) has great detox protocols. Work like magic.
We lost power and water for almost three days because of Hurricane Helene. I was so thankful that we had a full rain barrel. We used it to flush the toilets.
For hurricanes and such, freezing water in gallon bags, or having a bathtub full are pretty easy prep methods for hurricanes in the event your power goes out and you need water or ice.
@Thezenken420 I was blessed to have a pool last time I was in that situation. Scooped the water out of there for my poops, lol. Otherwise just take it outside if you can.
When I was a kid, hurricane Andrew took my whole neighborhood out. My mother had stocked up on canned foods with water in them (pineapple tidbits, tuna in water, etc) to help us stay hydrated in addition to bottled/ boiled water.
If one has a freezer, freeze a few gallon jugs of water. You might have to empty a little out of a full container just to prevent it from cracking as the water freezes. Water won"t go bad when it is ice. The ice also makes sure you have ice in the event of a power ourage to keep food cold.
Thats a really good idea. We have two freezers, a chest type and an upright. Neither one is ever completely full. The jugs of water, once frozen, would make them more efficient as well. I'm going to do this....Thanks!!
I freeze 1/2 liter water bottles ,then break in half with back of heavy knife for drinks...with no " freezer flavor" Also throw a bunch in coolers for the beers/sodas for camping...the plus is also having good drinking water should you run outta beer!
@drcarriemills8772 store bought distilled water leaches chemicals from the plastic jugs it is in. I would prefer to filter my own water and freeze it right away. I do not even come close to using the capacity if my filters before I replace them. It does not matter how cheap distilled water is.
College students did a project in Patagonia in which they made "sails" to catch moisture from the air. They used sheets suspended oved plastic pipes. The pipes were at a slight angle and led to large barrels. They region went from being an arid desert to a farming community with an abundant supply of water. I think I saw this on Discovery Channel.
Additional water sources in a pinch: - Standing water in clogged gutters. - Morning dew on grass (I get 1 gal per 5 minutes with a cloth towel) - Plastic bag over living plant leaves. - Clear plastic sheet over a hole in the ground, condensing the soil moisture. ! Create water catchment systems for all your roofs now while the grid is still up !
Don't drink your pool water. But DO flush your toilet with it. I would NOT recommend leaving water in the sun in plastic bottles, as that leaches phthalates and other chemicals into the water.
@@waterfilterguru I read that lifestraw is not able to filter viruses. so lifestraws are still a gamble. after water is filtered, boiling before drinking is still the safest.
@@alexlee1319Thank you, yes this is an absolutely correct. If you are unable to boil the water, having water sterilization tablets, They're like little iodine things that you would put in about a quart of water and it will sterilize it after about 10 minutes of microorganisms. I highly recommend trying to acquire a large quantity of these tablets as sometimes boiling is not an option in certain scenarios. So a funnel a life straw and some iodine tablets may be able to provide you with the decent amount of water.
Every time I run my pressure canner I fill empty spaces with jars of water. As I stock things requiring water I include a jar. The water stays good for a long time, is useful for medical purposes and easy to dump if you need the jars for food.
If you drink bottled water save the jugs, fill them with tap water and label them and store them. They can be used when water or the grid prevents usage or if there isnt any.
Yes - I use spring water to brew my coffee. The minute the last drop goes into the coffee maker I'm at the sink refilling the jug. I label it with the date and into my water storage closet it goes. This works better for me than saving the jugs and then refilling them all at the same time later - as I never seem to get around to refilling them. 😊
I have a PAP machine so use distilled. I refill the jugs with tap water and 5 drops of bleach. Then I write NP on them. They are in my emergency supply as non potsble, but can be used for flushing, cleaning, and washing. I've kept them for over acyearcwith no algae or other problems. Jugs filled with clear tap water go in the freezer for drinking, or I buy commercially bottled water.
@kathleenredick275 Smart. Having water to clean with is often over looked in these kinds situations. But the second you needa wash your hands and your sink don't work, you realize how valuable water really is. Especially clean water, but im pretty sure most soap with dirty water would work perfectly fine, atleast until you have to rinse them, lol.
Wines and fruit juices come in disposable 3 and 5 litre boxes.... The bladders in these boxes can be washed and sterilised ...the tap is removable...refill with water and placed back in the box...easy stackable free water storage containers..
Brilliant video! I’m from St. Thomas originally. Used to having 30K gallons in the “basement” of our required cisterns. Have never felt secure in the US. Always kept about 6 gallons in the house, and it’s come in handy four times where I didn’t skip a beat, made coffee, breakfast, washed, brushed teeth, did the dishes. Never, ever thought of the water heater! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Very simple and clear “how-to” that so many people don’t know or do. H2O is taken for granted by soooooo many and it’s one of the most important pieces of the survival puzzle.
Very important to note. When it comes to plastic it must be a bpa free container otherwise it will leech major chemicals that can be detrimental to health. Of course in a survival scenario this is likely better than the chemicals found in dirty water. But if your watching this, you likely are watching to prepare for the future. I’m currently sitting in hurricane milton hoping it passes without needing any special method to stay safe. Hope all of you stay safe prayers out to all west coast Floridians.
I saved those plastic kitty litter containers. When i wash my dishes in the sink, i collect the rinse water and place in these containers for my plants. I just used two of them and put yeast and sugar in them to use as fertilizer for my plants. I guess in states that reach 100° temps, yeast water helps them with stand the high temperature.
@waterfilterguru if we have no fridge, how do we keep boiled water fresh?? Do i have time boil and wait every single day and not use it the next day because it got warm and gross? I don't like water that's been sitting out. but with no fridge/ electricity, what else do we do?
Having just gone through Debbie, Helene and Milton I'm so glad I had my water prep in place. I lost electricity for several days and because I'm on a well I had no water. For those of you who are unfamiliar, wells use electric pumps to get the water to the house. My septic tank uses no electricity so I was able to use buckets of rainwater for flushing. In my emergency kit I have three water purification treatments. I live just south of Tampa, and hurricane prep is a must. Every spring I go through my kits and replace what's needed. There's a lot to this, and water purification is right at the top. Thank you so much for your knowledge and sharing that. It's incredibly important.
Am updating my water supply system on my tiny apartment. Kitty litter that comes in pour containers, I am feeling maybe a need for a few more. During the twice year changing of the clock times, I make sure to refresh the water by pouring out first in my twin tub wash machine. Have been using different sizes to place under and in the back bottoms of my kitchen, bathroom, storage and bedroom closets. Am also planning to purchase a toilet over the sink. Should help both conserve water now, allow a prewash of smaller items like socks washcloths. And if off grid, I will need to premeasure my 1.2 level of water needing to refill my toilet tank. Currently, I purchase about five gallon jugs of bottled water from the store to help with water for the cat bowls and for my electric tea kettle. That covers about a months supply, and so there will be some fresh drinking water on hand, especially in an off grid situation. Every morning I take my cats old water bowls and water my houseplants, or the outsidr plants and garden areas of my apartment complex because the water rates are too high. My neighbors with pets are starting to do the same.
I have an old style glass 5 gallon Sparkletts water bottle. I place it outside, and direct a large mirror towards it, and the UV effectively kills the micro-critters.
@@mrmicro22The WHO may not have mentioned that most types of plastic will dissolve harmful chemicals into the water much faster when the plastic is warm or in direct sunlight. The taste is awful and the long term effects are pretty scary too. Even plastics that are called "food grade" are only safe when using water that is not too warm. Glass containers are definitely worth the extra trouble!
If you have warning water may become scarce (incoming hurricane) fill up the bathtub. For bathing, consider a quart size pump up sprayer and use it in the shower. Or, a bowl of soapy water and a wash cloth will get the job done with less water used. You can use vinegar to clean dishes and reduce water usage. Just a few ideas to consider should a problem hit the fan. Good video. Thanks.
Bleach has a shelf life of about 9 months. Best to get swimming pool granules that are pure Sodium Hydroxide if possible. Then mix your own as needed. To make the ceramic filters last longer, prefilter your feed water as best as possible. Ceramic filters are very slow at gravity filtration.
I would plan to let water settle undisturbed for hours first, then pre-fillter using Pillow cases and/or Millbank Bags. Then either ceramic filter or treat with chlorine Dioxide or fresh mixed bleach made from pool shock.
I haven't had to use raw water, fortunetly, but I know people that have BEFORE, the recent events, sticks and leaves and dirt in their berkey. I also keep GSE on hand for emergencies like this, it's a nutricbiotic, - a few drops will kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and safe to drink, and gargle with a few drops, if coming down w throat, flu, cold sickness.
I have two unused garbage cans with lids…if a disaster is coming I fill them up.… for non potable water use…flushing toilets, washing dishes, cleaning. Also I have Red Cross bladder that fits in the tub to store more water. For same usage. For drinking water I have other systems.
I have a metal 4 ft shelf. I keep my water on that. I wrapped the shelf with 2 - 3 table cloths to protect it from light. I had to keep it on my porch. I chk it spradickly. Small place.
Dehumidifier water is acidic, but should be drinkable. For sediment you could use a piece of cloth from a a full glass to an empty glass. Very informative video, definitely learned some things
I have started freezing water in my empty water bottles, used milk containers & empty jars for the approaching storm Milton. I move them to the fridge and then I freeze more. You can also freeze water in a ziplock. Keeps the fridge cold for many days with things you already have at home, and you’ll have plenty of water around to boil later if the bottled water runs out. I also fill the bathtubs pre-storm.
Before even watching the video, I'll say this. Sawyer squeeze, sawyer tap, 6 extra gaskets, 2 couplers, msr dromedary bag, cnoc vecto x, cnoc vesica bottle, brown bag filter (millbank bag), and a stainless bottle nesting cup set. Properly used this is all you need for a decade or longer.
I’ll look that up. Another thing few people talk about is how plants roots clean water… just saw some fascinating stuff about natural pools. It’s not something one can do quickly but people should know about it.
Not one mention of using a coutertop R0 system like the one i use...it can easily be powered by a car battery inverter...great because it only takes 5 minutes to purify over a quart...Great as long as you have plenty of stored water...Yes in severe lack of water conditions for a long time your othet methods would be best,since RO system i use is 3 to one ratio,which means it takes 3 gallons to fully purify 1 gallon...that being said you could also run the discarded water through machine again which basically will lesson the filters overall life..but in any case since my filter normally lasts 12 months and makes 280 gallons before it needs replacement.using it this way for a week or two should be fine....but of coarse filter will need to replaced sooner...these machines also show you tds levels which is great.
Although reverse osmosis is one of the best methods for purifying water, it's not the first recommendation for treatment in emergency situations for a number of reasons, including those you mentioned such as electricity requirement and water waste. RO systems have specific operating parameters that sometimes require pretreatment. These systems should absolutely never be used as primary treatment for microbiological contaminants which will foul the membrane and pose additional risk.
Ok i know this video is 5 months old. Keep in mind that you can use larger guage copper tube and lower temperature to actually speed up the process. Also proper distilation removes all impurities even benificial ones. For your own well being you should also brew it into a tea or drink mix. Some examples Regular liptons style Juice or light syrup from canned fruit Herbal or floral tea ( hibiscus, rose lavender etc. )
@@debrageddie8821 - A piece of a cypress tree limb about 1 1/2” long, and big enough to be whittled or sanded into a plug shape to fit the hole in the bottom of the flower pot. Cypress, because it’s anti-bacterial, and not degraded by water.
@@MrMarylandMike Aquatru countertop RO geni.us/chlQv5o is portable and easy to use, and continues to hold its top position in our data-driven scoring system. If you plan to use this for emergency prep, keep in mind reverse osmosis systems have specific operating parameters (check the user manual of any systems you are considering), and should *not* be used as primary treatment for water that is microbiologically unsafe
I began using a gravity fed water filter unit I made about 10 months ago. I use the ceramic filters because I wanted something that filters out bacteria and viruses as well as chlorine and other contaminants. To me, there's no reason to use a filter if it doesnt filter out bacteria and viruses, which most filters don't do. Most are only about chlorine and other things that affect the taste. But if you're in grid down scenario, you're going to need to filter out bacteria and viruses. I also love that with regular cleaning these ceramic filters last for 6-9 mos! I buy the ones that have charcoal in the middle to help with the taste and as an extra filter and also the filter is impregnated with silver for extra bacteria killing power. My system is similar to the Berkey system for a cost thats a fraction of what a Berkey costs. Its easy to make and I use it every day. My system filters about 3 gals in a few hours. I also began storing water in long-term water storage containers. I rotate the water every 6 months.
Pool water//Hot tub water//Toilet water can be used as "Grey water" or cleaning water. Provided it's not excessively contaminated. Humans use way more water than just for drinking. You only need ~2.5qts for drinking water daily. (food-water)
So we had a power outage for something where I live, and it was out for like a week. Are poor neighbors and stuff were complaining about not being able to shower. I told them the water in your water heater is still warm. While you can use it to bathe do so sparingly so that you'll still have water for a couple more days. This only works if you still have running water though.
I'm very skeptical of "water preservative." What are a few drops of some chemical going to do to "preserve water for up to 5 years"? If it does anything, it is most likely bleach which will kill microorganisms, and you should just use bleach. If the container is clean, sealed, kept at room temperature or below, in the dark, then sterile water should keep effectively forever. In fact, many microorganisms will simply die out over the years in such conditions. Some won't! (such as cyst forming bacteria) Because water can be hard to sterilize and hard to keep sealed, you should replace it every now and then and 5 years seems like a good window regardless of pre-storage chemical treatment, especially if it looks or smells bad or has evaporated. If you have stored water that didn't get changed out, I'd look at it and treat it appropriately before use, but I wouldn't stress about it. The containers shown in the video... I've never had good luck with them. They are difficult to seal completely, and they aren't particularly rugged. NATO spec 20L bottles are better. Not cheap. Figure your per-volume storage cost. 55 gallon barrels are much more economical and large tanks even more so. My barrels don't seal well but kept in my cool, dark basement the water seems to stay good indefinitely (10+ years). I also have a 2500 gallon tank which was delivered for less than $2500. It doesn't seal well either but I did stuff copper wool in the lid vents. 😂 For a non-chemical way to store water indefinitely, you can bottle clean potable water in glass bottles using a water bath canner and then it will keep as long as it stays sealed.
Friend, don't be fooled, the "preservative" is just 5% bleach solution, essentially it is chlorinating the water again. You can use a capful of regular bleach if you don't intend to drink it immediately, as it will dissipate over time. Other options is chlorine tablets from camping stores
Keep in mind the SODIS method for water disinfection is intended for use during an emergency/ survival situation. The goal being to make water potable for the short term by killing microbiological contaminants that pose risk of immediate illness.
Well a 40 pack of bottled water, half liter bottles, will last you about 5 days for your water needs. Technically though if you're using canned goods and have other sources of water intake for your food, then you will not need to take eight bottles a day in your consumption. There is the idea of using the canning process to can water. In which you basically sterilize water by putting jars in a boiling pot and fill those with water which I suppose would be better if you boiled that too before letting it sit and that hot ass pot with a lid on it for a bit so it creates a seal. You can set that aside. Least that way you have a lot of bottles of water so to speak. For instance like a jam jar is 12 oz or something like that and that's one can of water so to speak. Then you can add your suggestion of leaving out and sun as long as you're using glass jars. You don't want to use plastic simply due to the facts that the plastic has chemicals that are very not healthy for a person to consume when exposed to UV radiation. That's where you get that plastic flavor from water that's been left out in the sun or warmed up in your car. Some people would say use one of those filter straws. The problem with filter straws is they'll get out sediments and physical things. They will do nothing from microorganisms. The only way to really help with microorganisms is to use boiling or iodine tablets that will sterilize the water. So I guess it wouldn't hurt to just keep a large supply of iodine tablets on hand then you can filter the water and then sterilize it chemically.
Recently in the past couple years, I've been using PUR brand water filter that attaches to the sink faucet for 'clean' water, but I'm not sure how clean that is really. I am not a fan of using Water Pitchers with filters like my family have done in the past with the Brita brand. I refill large Simply Juice bottles from the grocery. I regularly store two with water in the fridge, and I tend to drink from those. I occasionally switch out and replace these bottles every 1-3 months since I don't buy Simply juices that often. My idea might not be good but I'd like to see what everyone thinks about the water filter in the sink-idea.
The PUR faucet filter is the most extensively certified faucet filtration system I'm aware of, so that's the good news. But whether or not its the best option for your situation depends on what contaminants are in your water. It may or may not be sufficient - and it most definitely won't address microbiological contaminants in the case of a boil water advisory or other emergency situation where water quality is compromised
I make my own filter for Britta water filters. Fill coffee filter with a table spoon of activated charcoal or Diatomaceous earth. Wrap in the filters a couple of times. Stuff some filters in the bottom of the filter cage then add wrapped filter to the top making sure no holes can be seen. Runs slow but put the Britta picture on my knife block and a glass mason jar under and let it pour out while I do other things. ❤
Thank you for the informative video. Very grateful. I have about 10 cases of water stored, as well as a Sawyer Mini and a Life straw. I also have 2 small bottles of AquaPure tabs. Bleach is a great alternative but does not store well. Also, a Silcock key is very helpful to procure water from larger buildings. I have tested the key and found a few large buildings with access to clean water near my home. Great information I have subscribed and left a like.
@@susannautterback6815 Great idea to use your Silcock key now… and at more then one place, as standard Silcock Keyes have 4 different options. Also there is at least one other type of Silcock key. I have two, with 8 options total. I am not sure if there are more types. I have both of those in my get home bag. Another set of Silcock keys stays at home.
A bit late as this just popped in my feed, but I store water in glazed pottery with wax seals. The thing about storing water is you really only need to store it to keep out debris. Even if biological contamination gets in (bacteria, mold, etc), simply boiling that water for 10 minutes will remove all that.
Great video. I recently bought a lifestraw pitcher for times like this. Hopefully it’s a good one that does what it says it does. I have been storing water for a few years now. Unfortunately, many have expired now. I’m sure these could be used for bathing in bad times, but maybe not to drink. I need to rebuild my water supply with new bottles for drinking. Thank you for the tips and the reminder!
Sounds like you're already well prepared! The Lifestraw Home pitcher (this one geni.us/7Nrnhtm if anyone else is reading and curious) should be a solid choice for emergency preparedness, their lab testing has been completed by accredited labs (WQA, ANSI) which is reassuring - however I've not personally tested this one yet so don't have any firsthand data as of now.
we keep every used gallon container and store tap water, adding a a bit of hydrogen peroxide to keep bacteria at bay, and use it for toilet water. it's been a game changer when power goes out ...
Water needs to contain minerals or the water pulls them out of your body, which is not good. Distilled water is only water as all the minerals get left behind in the distillation process. Do some Google research on this for better information than I can give here.
Buying a dehumidifier. It makes a gallon of water every four or so hours. If you have a generator it can be powered. Or solar “generator”. Or figure out how to run it off a car battery. Then filter it and boil for several minutes.
So in a case where you're stuck drinking water that's untreated, like a pond, you'd have to try to account for every contaminant possible. I'm thinking that would involve multiple steps. Can you recommend an emergency water treatment plan? I'm thinking something like, coffee filter then Berkey (or not? Pro one?) Then boil or UV. Would that work?
You did not mention using a branch of a pine tree or any nut tree to purify water. Put the bottom end of the branch in the dirty water in a jar and the top into another container for clean water. The dirty water gets taken up by the branch and goes through it to the clean jar. I watched a youtube video about it. You can too
I, as I am sure many people do, have a shingle roof. The reason I haven't installed a gutter catchment system is because I heard that the shingles are made with dangerous chemicals which will contaminate the water. Anyone have any input on this?
Before refrigerators ice was cut from ponds. I read that this ice could be used in drinks as well as ice boxes.Q: How was that safe?❓Did freezing kill the bacteria?❓Can you use icicles or as a safe water source?❓
That's a great question! People used to cut ice from ponds to keep things cool before refrigerators. Probably even using it for drinks. But here's the thing: that ice was far from safe. Theres a reason life expectancy was much shorter in the past. Freezing doesn't always kill all bacteria that can make you sick. Icicles wouldn't be safe either, as the roof of the building poses risk of contamination, including bacterial contamination.
@@waterfilterguru Then what about rain water catchment systems? I saw on PBS "This Old House" that in Bermuda every one uses rain water from their roofs because there's no other source of water there.
Gravity filters are designed to remove certain pathogens from perfectly clear water such a mountain stream. If there is any silt in the water they will plug up and not allow water to flow through. You can scrub the cartridge, but soon you will reduce the thickness of the media and then it will not remove pathogens. YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST PRE-FILTER THE WATER UNTIL IT IS PERFECTLY CLEAR. This can be done by a combination of settling, flocculation, sand filtering, and/or common cartridge type sediment filters that are easily available. If you don't believe this, take out all but one of your ceramic cartridges, plug the other holes, add some dirty water like what you will have to use during a crisis, see how long it takes to plug up your ceramic cartridge. You will ruin one cartridge but you will know the truth! Another issue: if there is water in a ceramic cartridge, even a little, and that cartridge is allowed to freeze, a fine crack can occur that will allow pathogens through. You may not know it as you cannot see the crack. NEVER ALLOW YOU CARTRIDGES TO FREEZE!
The best way to prepare for water needs is with an atmospheric water generator. We got one that, depending on humidity, can make up to 75 gallons a day-so no matter what happens, our water supply is secured!
Yeah I've seen those! I'd love to test them. I'd be interested to find out how region impacts efficacy. How many gallons will you get in a dry climate vs humid, for example
@ Ours makes about 75 gallons daily since we’re in a humid area, but in dry climates, it might make around 25-30 gallons a day. It all depends on the air’s moisture!
What about the use of UVC source for disinfecting water. I also have a MIOX CHEMICAL generator. Add salt and a shot of water and hit the switch and it will create a chlorine chemical to add to your source. This company made these chemical creators for the military originally but today focus their technology on creating a chlorine source for pools and public water systems with the cheap source of salt and one can use solar or wind power for electricity. How does one determine the concentration of chlorine if it is not marked on the container? Living in an EU country they are not bound by law to list concentrations within these products.
UV is discussed at 4:47 Thanks for sharing about the chemical generator, I'll have to look into this. I'd recommend finding a product that states the % concentration of disinfection chemical on the packaging.
Yes, but the best place to start is to determine exactly what type of water filter you need. I made an entire video about the process, I think it will be really helpful for you th-cam.com/video/JU4sPer1944/w-d-xo.html
An old gas water heater can be turned in to a wood fired water heater and distiller with some copper pipe and cooling tank,just leave it a open system to avoid bursting ,you can dig a hole and set water heater on for burn box ,after you take out gas burner,make sure the tank is good not busted.
Friends heated all of their water using a wood fired water heater because they lived off grid. It’s surprising how well they work with a small amount of wood.
After hurricane we were without for nine days. We had bottled drinking, tap in buckets, and rainwater. Rainwater was for flushing. At the end we (wife and I) used a total of 72 gallons. There was still a boil notice after all was restored.
How does this channel not have more subs!? Great video! Timely and vitally important! I'm going to be using this info to keep prepared. We just had a water main break the other week and it was a huge disruption.
get a (big berky) gravity fed water filter. It makes (stagnet pond water) into sweet water. A little expensive, it's about $500. But, evenso that it might be "slower" than a person wants. It does have a 5 gallon reservoir . Fill it up at night, and in the morning. Then you have a 5 gallon buffer of clean water. Worth every penny. Evenso, be sure to get the "priming" kit. Off the shelf they intend you to use the faucet to prime your new filters up. In the wood, no faucet. You need the kit. I think it was $20 about. enjoy.
Berkey (and similar gravity fed filters) alone is not sufficient protection for filtering untreated surface water that is microbiologically unsafe. The water should be properly disinfected either with chemicals prior to filtration or boiling or UV post-filtration. I'm currently working on a video diving deep into the deception companies like this have used to sell their filters as sufficient for emergency preparedness and filtering untreated surface water. Stay tuned
@@waterfilterguru OK, so Berkey is feeding me a line of horse poop. I believe you. What they are telling me ((stagnet pond water will be good for drinking). Their pitch does not quite sound right. I mean, yeah. It, "IS" possible. But not for a "gravity fed" system. And not for $500. I am excited to hear your insights. carry on.
Actually, berkeys were used long before there was plumbing in places like Africa. Pretty sure it would be fine, however, in a grid down situation, I would boil all of it first. The original filters are silver impregnated. Silver kills bacteria. That's why it's safe.
@@wolf-ls7jx the silver impregnated into the filter is to prevent bacteria growth in the filter itself - not disinfect the water. It's vital to understand the difference. Always use a proper method of disinfection, such as boiling like you said
@@wolf-ls7jx {Silver kills bacteria. That's why it's safe.} woohoo, that's what I was thinking. That's also why those filters are so very expensive. But it works, and it's fast (couple hours is fast to me 'i'm old")
Calcium Hypochlorite pool shock powder stores longer than bleach and doesn't lose it's effectiveness after 6 months like bleach does. Also, water is very heavy in volume, about 8 pounds per gallon. Best not to store a lot of it on upper floors. Small amounts, sure, but not a 55 gallon barrel of it.
Can we get an update for this video, specifically for good methods for urban/subruban/industrial areas? Its much more simple to clean water from a forest creek with no humans upstream than to have to clean water from pools. city pothole puddles, and water that has brake dust or industrial contaminants. Most people will live in areas where these are just as important as trying to kill the micro organisms that cause beaver fever.
The methods described in this video apply to both urban and rural areas alike! In an emergency situation, microbiological contaminants pose immediate risk, and should be the primary concern., no matter the location.
At least if there is a known event moving through, fill your bathtub with water. It'll give you roughly 70 gallons or so if the pipes shut off. If your bathtub is gross, you can always filter or boil the water for drinking.
Remember if you have fluoride in your water when you boil the water the fluoride goes through a chemical change and becomes fluorine which is more poisonous than fluoride.
It's also good to note that concentrations of contaminants that can't evaporate with water will increase after boiling as the overall volume of water will decrease
"Steven Slott, a spokesperson for the American Fluoridation Society, said fluoride "is a negatively charged atom of the naturally occurring element fluorine. Fluoride can therefore not be turned into fluorine as it is already a component of that element." Boiling water doesn't turn fluoride into fluorine.
You can also store water in glass canning jars. We have stored them empty until used, but why not use the same space and have filtered water ready to use?
I got a tub of pure bleach tablets from amazon, because as mentioned liquid bleach has a shelf life.Also if you don't have ground storage space, run out, a strong rail hanging from the ceiling of a cupboard or hooks going over doors or up or round a wall & storage water bags for hanging is another option.
Truthfully, there are so many discrepancies regarding the water filter system to use & what method to treat ur water leaves us wondering what is true or not & who is telling the truth? That solar method using plastic holding the water sitting in the sun, what? I thought plastic is bad for us? That idea does not sit right for me.
@GHE2005 when your thirsty enough ask around and see who cares. Thus giving you motivation to try the many options purifying water. You'll know which ones to complain about. Providing your among the living. No one owes you nothing. Nothing
Been prepping since 2014 and all these methods are well known for acquiring potable water. The guy in this video is merely providing info to those with a normalcy bias towards being prepared. These tips work with a few caveats. One being, you should do several methods to insure potable (drinkable) water. Example: prefilter your water with a cloth like a handkerchief before running it through a filter to extend the filter life. Then boil (learn how to make a fire) your water or treat with bleach or iodine. Another caveat is that bleach isnt effective against Crypotosporidium - a nasty parasite. Likewise, iodine isnt effective against Giardia - an equally nasty parasite. I have over 250 gallons of clean potable water stored in my home, yet I still plan to filter and boil it before use. Waterbourne sickness is vital to avoid. My rain barrel water is prefiltered before going into the barrel by using an Intex pool pump filter. I just use foam filters and let it flow into the barrel by gravity - no power needed. This keeps the rain water from getting rank from sludge accumulation. In the matter of heated plastic, yes, in the long run the microplastics will have an adverse effect on your health. But remember the average human can only live 2-3 days without water. So we are talking about saving yourself from immediate death from dehydration as opposed to months to years of drinking microplastics. If plastic is that concerning to you, just use a glass container - it's commonsense. What would be even better for you is if you started storing clean water TODAY instead of waiting to use this knowledge in an emergency instead of contending with some random guy on YT thats just trying to inform people. Do your own research and be prepared. Finally, another way to filter water that wasn't touched on is by using a cloth between 2 buckets or containers. Drape half the cloth into the bucket or container with dirty water and then drape the other half into the clean empty bucket. By utilizing surface tension and capillary action, the water will drain from the dirty bucket and into the clean bucket, producing rather clear looking water. The clear water should still be filtered and/or boiled or treated before drinking. Most of the methods in the video will take time. Preparation and planning is the key.
Fair warning, do not drink distilled water. You have to add minerals back into it for it to be safe, as drinking distilled water can remove minerals from your body, which is a very bad thing.
I believe that risk is associated with consumption of demineralized water over a period of time, but I could be wrong. Can you share a resource with this info?
The water in the toilet tank I would just leave for using the toilet. We had no electricity for a year and no running water for four years. When it was warm we would get water from the lake and use that for flushing the toilet as usual, you have the option of pouring the water directly in the bowl or in the tank itself and flushing as usual, I can't remember but with one of those ways it started to smell and we switched to the other and it was good to go. 🤔 In the winter we used an outhouse (get a styrofoam seat for cold), made sure all the water was drained out of all plumbing including water heater and washing machines, then put antifreeze in toilet and down sinks.
I haul water in plastic jugs at the moment. I use Arizona 1 gallon juice jugs because they are easier to carry than milk jugs and milk jugs always smell funny if you don’t wash the heck out of them. Are they safe to use to store a few gallons for shtf if the water is changed every few months? Even just for washing water. I don’t have a lot of extra money to buy those 5 gallon storage jugs. Broke a water pipe a while back and it’s not fixed yet so I have a few containers for different things. I have some cat litter jugs for flushing (2 small) and 3 large for washing dishes and stuff and nine Arizona jugs for drinking and cooking. I do laundry at my son’s house. I have a Zero water pitcher but I need a new filter, is that one ok or should I get something different? Wondering 🤔
ZeroWater provided strong contaminant reduction in our testing, but of course it all depends on what contaminants are present in your water. It's essential to replace the filter according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Let's not forget bleach tablets. They will last 3-5 years if stored properly (cool, dark place, sealed container); whereas liquid beach lasts from 6-12 months.
This was excellent, thank you! A one stop shop for Emergency Water Prep. Have been overwhelmed with how best to compile water for emergency, which inevitably is going to happen, too many warnings they are giving...love your channel, sir, and thanks for the links! And very organized notes/description of the video and breakdown with time stamps for later viewing...
Don't rely on one form of purification of water. Ensure you have at least three forms of water purification. One for a static situationa (at home), one for when your on the move (in you car, bike etc.) and one form for when your on foot (literally hicking on foot or walking distances). On top of that I always ensure we have water purification tablets on hand as they will cover any situation, especially when you first become deprived of city or town water treatment plants for drinking water. The draw back of the tablets is they do have an expiry date so periodically they need to be replaced. It pays to keep a file of tablets in your work bag etc in case you get stuck away from home. I trust no water treated from city or town supplied water particularly with the increase fracking that's being carried out. Not all bottled water can be trust by what the label claims. Water will keep indefinitely but it will go flat but, it will still save your life if its uncontaminated. If your stranded in your car, particularly in hot weather, DON'T use the radiator water in your car as it normally has a coolant mixed in with it. Research how to get water when stranded without any water and desperately need water staying in one place overnight. You can find a way to do so in survival skills in the Australian bush or outback. Frankly even when times are good, we never travel by car, without spare water for us and the car radiator, just in case. In normal circumstances but during either physical labour in hot temperatures or successive days of high temperatures, keep a form of electrolytes on hand, paying attention to young children or the elderly. You can now buy commercial Electrolyte drinks in shops. Replacement powdered electrolyte to mix at home with water is good to have on hand. Again they have an expiry date so need to be aware. If extreme dehydrated, drink room temperature water initially. Saving cold water until you no longer need to replace your bodies electrolytes. A sure way of telling you need to replace electrolytes is if you feel headachy, light headed and or dizzy and can't understand why, in hot weather. The elderly will likely tell you they aren't thirsty, just get them to sip the electrolyte replacement. Children do well if you give them a ice block or icy pole replacement, which you can do yourself or buy from a pharmacy. If your Pharmacy doesn't carry electrolyte replacement preparations you can buy the powder style online. Dehydration is dangerous for all living creatures so don't forget to keep your pets water station clean and filled, but kept it in the shade and never leave your children, the elderly or pets in a car with all the windows up. It's highly likely you may need to replace a window if the Police are called as they won't hesitate to break the window to save anyone or anything in a parked vehicle.
I had a counter top distiller when we lived in town, it was gross how much brown scum was left in the distiller from town water, but still couldn't use the finished product because it tasted metallic. 🤷♀️ I've tried storing those small jugs from the store as well and had problems with them randomely rupturing, usually after a year.
Not downplaying this video at all, but if SHTF, you know what I'm not worried about? PFAS or microplastics. Clean water that I don't have to treat will be the best thing ever!!
Quick question; You recommend storing water gallons up to 2 years. I have several gallons about 5 years old. Will the bleach method be safe to sanitize before drinking? Also, I appreciate any extra tips you can give me. Im a senior been prepping for a few years. Thx for a great video!
Bleach or water treatment tablets will sterilize the water if it is microbiologically unsafe. There are lots of good tips from others' comments in the description! Otherwise, just watch the video again 😉
Something I think no one is really talking about is don't use your toilets or sinks in a long term grid down if you are hooked to town sewer. Short term is ok though. With power out and everyone using sinks and toilets it will soon back up the system if the water and sewer end up stopping. Natural disasters like flooding can also do this. Sewage can and will start backing up into peoples homes through all the pipes making it impossible to live there. I suggest looking into a main line shut off valve outside the home. When everything backs up it won't be your home also. As many go to shelters to live, you won't need to leave. Not to mention you will also be able to help your neighbors that didn't listen to your advice about getting a shut off valve. I wouldn't waste any water from your stores to flush the toilet. Might as well have some kind of outdoor setup to do all your business if possible. Not sure what to tell people living in a big city apt complex. I guess consider moving now.
An elderly woman once said to me a jar takes up just as much space if empty as it does full so if you have empty canning jars, can water in them. The water is sealed and sterilize until needed. So now every canning jar not filled with food in my home has canned water in it that won't turn.
Do you need to boil the water in the jars too like canning?
@@414-ForSuch-A-TimeAsThis yes. It sterilizes and seals them
That's a brilliant idea!!
Hi, I'm new to canning. Do you recommend a pressure or water canner?
🤟/👍/🙏
Do NOT leave water in a plastic bottle in heat/sun, not even in your car on a warm/hot day. The heat leeches the chemicals from the plastic into the water
You make a good point, but keep in mind the tips in this video are intended for emergency preparedness and survival situations
In an emergency you'll die of dehydration before plastic poisoning. Stop being ridiculous.
True but if you are dying of thirst, you aren’t worried about the chemicals. Plus, when things stabilize, the chemicals can be detoxed out of the body. Medical medium (Anthony William) has great detox protocols. Work like magic.
Yes, I had some cases of water on the back porch with Temps in the 90's, now the water tastes like crap!😲😲
@@wallychambe1587I taste plastic in all the plastic water bottles
I'd leave water out in the Sun in a clear GLASS bottle, rather than plastic.
Good call out. A clear glass bottle would be better than plastic, if it's available
Most glass blocks at least some UV, which is what kills the pathogens in the water.
Pick your poison 🤷
When fresh water is more precious than gold, you may care more about a secure container than a very easily breakable one.
Glass blocks the UV that does the sanitization.
Plastic as the volume that people need 🥂 I'd prefer glass
We lost power and water for almost three days because of Hurricane Helene. I was so thankful that we had a full rain barrel. We used it to flush the toilets.
Glad to hear you're safe and have your utilities back on. Thanks for sharing about your experience, rain barrel to the rescue!
Next time think about having a camper toilet so no wasted water... 5 gallon bucket, cheap toilet seat, good trash bags that fit.
I wouldn't waste water on flushing a toilet, that's pretty crazy just take a dump in a bucket lol
For hurricanes and such, freezing water in gallon bags, or having a bathtub full are pretty easy prep methods for hurricanes in the event your power goes out and you need water or ice.
@Thezenken420 I was blessed to have a pool last time I was in that situation. Scooped the water out of there for my poops, lol. Otherwise just take it outside if you can.
When I was a kid, hurricane Andrew took my whole neighborhood out. My mother had stocked up on canned foods with water in them (pineapple tidbits, tuna in water, etc) to help us stay hydrated in addition to bottled/ boiled water.
thanks for sharing 🙏 everyone in Florida stay safe
Flush your hot water tank from the bottom twice a year to clean out the sediment and also preserve the life of your tank.
Good tip!
Great 😊 Information, thank you !!
@@QRZ-s3sI would say liquid bleach and water. Then let air dry before filling.👍
I should be doing this, we've already gone through one tank and have very hard water.
If it's older, don't, may release some rust and will create more problems
If one has a freezer, freeze a few gallon jugs of water. You might have to empty a little out of a full container just to prevent it from cracking as the water freezes. Water won"t go bad when it is ice. The ice also makes sure you have ice in the event of a power ourage to keep food cold.
Thats a really good idea. We have two freezers, a chest type and an upright. Neither one is ever completely full. The jugs of water, once frozen, would make them more efficient as well. I'm going to do this....Thanks!!
I freeze 1/2 liter water bottles
,then break in half with back of heavy knife for drinks...with no " freezer flavor"
Also throw a bunch in coolers for the beers/sodas for camping...the plus is also having good drinking water should you run outta beer!
Distilled water near goes bad and cost the same as filtered.. just saying
@drcarriemills8772 store bought distilled water leaches chemicals from the plastic jugs it is in. I would prefer to filter my own water and freeze it right away. I do not even come close to using the capacity if my filters before I replace them. It does not matter how cheap distilled water is.
@@drcarriemills8772
Goes bad!?
College students did a project in Patagonia in which they made "sails" to catch moisture from the air.
They used sheets suspended oved plastic pipes. The pipes were at a slight angle and led to large barrels.
They region went from being an arid desert to a farming community with an abundant supply of water.
I think I saw this on Discovery Channel.
Cool thanks for sharing
That was invented in my country actually, "Chile" The fog catcher system, in Atacsma desert, the driest desert in the world.
I’ve seen examples of that being done in Kenya, too🙌🏽
I think tight netting works better.
@@dont.ripfuller6587You're right. Rhat's what's generally used.
Additional water sources in a pinch:
- Standing water in clogged gutters.
- Morning dew on grass (I get 1 gal per 5 minutes with a cloth towel)
- Plastic bag over living plant leaves.
- Clear plastic sheet over a hole in the ground, condensing the soil moisture.
! Create water catchment systems for all your roofs now while the grid is still up !
Love this! Thanks for the additional tips 🙏🙏
Water heaters & toilet tanks
Do you run the tool over the grass for 5 minutes? I assume to hang the bowl over a bucket - but would the water just evaporate from the towel?
@user-uy8nw9zm6b just run a towel on top of the grass in 1 or 2 swipes, wring it out into a bucket, move a few feet down, and repeat.
@@thatguychris5654Ty.
Don't drink your pool water. But DO flush your toilet with it.
I would NOT recommend leaving water in the sun in plastic bottles, as that leaches phthalates and other chemicals into the water.
The SODIS method is for emergency preparedness/ survival situations, not everyday use
@@waterfilterguru phthalate-ridden water is better than NO water. This is true.
I bought a LifeStraw water filter for camping. It is small but super handy for any emergency. $20
I keep one in my car
@@waterfilterguru I read that lifestraw is not able to filter viruses. so lifestraws are still a gamble. after water is filtered, boiling before drinking is still the safest.
@@alexlee1319Thank you, yes this is an absolutely correct. If you are unable to boil the water, having water sterilization tablets, They're like little iodine things that you would put in about a quart of water and it will sterilize it after about 10 minutes of microorganisms. I highly recommend trying to acquire a large quantity of these tablets as sometimes boiling is not an option in certain scenarios. So a funnel a life straw and some iodine tablets may be able to provide you with the decent amount of water.
Every time I run my pressure canner I fill empty spaces with jars of water. As I stock things requiring water I include a jar. The water stays good for a long time, is useful for medical purposes and easy to dump if you need the jars for food.
Thanks for sharing the your tip!
Brilliant!
@@waterfilterguruThere are some places that have running springs. Some people stick some type of pipe in and the water runs out through the pipe.
If you drink bottled water save the jugs, fill them with tap water and label them and store them. They can be used when water or the grid prevents usage or if there isnt any.
Yes - I use spring water to brew my coffee. The minute the last drop goes into the coffee maker I'm at the sink refilling the jug. I label it with the date and into my water storage closet it goes. This works better for me than saving the jugs and then refilling them all at the same time later - as I never seem to get around to refilling them. 😊
I have a PAP machine so use distilled. I refill the jugs with tap water and 5 drops of bleach. Then I write NP on them. They are in my emergency supply as non potsble, but can be used for flushing, cleaning, and washing. I've kept them for over acyearcwith no algae or other problems.
Jugs filled with clear tap water go in the freezer for drinking, or I buy commercially bottled water.
@kathleenredick275 Smart. Having water to clean with is often over looked in these kinds situations. But the second you needa wash your hands and your sink don't work, you realize how valuable water really is. Especially clean water, but im pretty sure most soap with dirty water would work perfectly fine, atleast until you have to rinse them, lol.
Wines and fruit juices come in disposable 3 and 5 litre boxes.... The bladders in these boxes can be washed and sterilised ...the tap is removable...refill with water and placed back in the box...easy stackable free water storage containers..
Great tip! Thanks for sharing, love the info
Good idea
(hiccup🍷)
How do u sterilize the bladder?
@@sandyshephard4571I use a little bit of bleach solution and let it stand for an hour or two..rinse out and fill with water..
Have you ever tried this? I have. The water comes out flavored like the original product. Do you have a way around that?
Brilliant video! I’m from St. Thomas originally. Used to having 30K gallons in the “basement” of our required cisterns. Have never felt secure in the US. Always kept about 6 gallons in the house, and it’s come in handy four times where I didn’t skip a beat, made coffee, breakfast, washed, brushed teeth, did the dishes. Never, ever thought of the water heater! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks for your comment and sharing your experience. Love to hear about it! I'm glad you found the video helpful
Very simple and clear “how-to” that so many people don’t know or do.
H2O is taken for granted by soooooo many and it’s one of the most important pieces of the survival puzzle.
Thanks for the feedback, you're right on point. Water is essential!
Very important to note. When it comes to plastic it must be a bpa free container otherwise it will leech major chemicals that can be detrimental to health. Of course in a survival scenario this is likely better than the chemicals found in dirty water. But if your watching this, you likely are watching to prepare for the future. I’m currently sitting in hurricane milton hoping it passes without needing any special method to stay safe. Hope all of you stay safe prayers out to all west coast Floridians.
Hope you and everyone else in Florida is safe 🙏
I hope you're safe ❤
I saved those plastic kitty litter containers. When i wash my dishes in the sink, i collect the rinse water and place in these containers for my plants. I just used two of them and put yeast and sugar in them to use as fertilizer for my plants. I guess in states that reach 100° temps, yeast water helps them with stand the high temperature.
Thanks for sharing!
I live in SW Florida, where we get frequent hurricanes. This video provides very practical, useful information. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the feedback and comment
@waterfilterguru if we have no fridge, how do we keep boiled water fresh??
Do i have time boil and wait every single day and not use it the next day because it got warm and gross?
I don't like water that's been sitting out. but with no fridge/ electricity, what else do we do?
Having just gone through Debbie, Helene and Milton I'm so glad I had my water prep in place. I lost electricity for several days and because I'm on a well I had no water. For those of you who are unfamiliar, wells use electric pumps to get the water to the house. My septic tank uses no electricity so I was able to use buckets of rainwater for flushing. In my emergency kit I have three water purification treatments. I live just south of Tampa, and hurricane prep is a must. Every spring I go through my kits and replace what's needed. There's a lot to this, and water purification is right at the top. Thank you so much for your knowledge and sharing that. It's incredibly important.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!
Am updating my water supply system on my tiny apartment. Kitty litter that comes in pour containers, I am feeling maybe a need for a few more. During the twice year changing of the clock times, I make sure to refresh the water by pouring out first in my twin tub wash machine. Have been using different sizes to place under and in the back bottoms of my kitchen, bathroom, storage and bedroom closets. Am also planning to purchase a toilet over the sink. Should help both conserve water now, allow a prewash of smaller items like socks washcloths. And if off grid, I will need to premeasure my 1.2 level of water needing to refill my toilet tank. Currently, I purchase about five gallon jugs of bottled water from the store to help with water for the cat bowls and for my electric tea kettle. That covers about a months supply, and so there will be some fresh drinking water on hand, especially in an off grid situation. Every morning I take my cats old water bowls and water my houseplants, or the outsidr plants and garden areas of my apartment complex because the water rates are too high. My neighbors with pets are starting to do the same.
I have an old style glass 5 gallon Sparkletts water bottle. I place it outside, and direct a large mirror towards it, and the UV effectively kills the micro-critters.
Love it!
The WHO says that is effective with glass or clear plastic.
@@mrmicro22The WHO may not have mentioned that most types of plastic will dissolve harmful chemicals into the water much faster when the plastic is warm or in direct sunlight. The taste is awful and the long term effects are pretty scary too. Even plastics that are called "food grade" are only safe when using water that is not too warm. Glass containers are definitely worth the extra trouble!
@321RGB In my humble opinion, use ... ONLY GLASS when using the Sun to clean your water. 🇺🇸
@@mrmicro22The WHO also wants you ⚰️🫣
If you have warning water may become scarce (incoming hurricane) fill up the bathtub. For bathing, consider a quart size pump up sprayer and use it in the shower. Or, a bowl of soapy water and a wash cloth will get the job done with less water used. You can use vinegar to clean dishes and reduce water usage. Just a few ideas to consider should a problem hit the fan.
Good video. Thanks.
Thanks for the additional tips!
Can also use a water bladder that fits in the tub - about 15$
Bleach has a shelf life of about 9 months.
Best to get swimming pool granules that are pure Sodium Hydroxide if possible. Then mix your own as needed.
To make the ceramic filters last longer, prefilter your feed water as best as possible.
Ceramic filters are very slow at gravity filtration.
Great tips!
THIS. Yes to all of this.
If you have chlorine, it will gas off
I would plan to let water settle undisturbed for hours first, then pre-fillter using Pillow cases and/or Millbank Bags. Then either ceramic filter or treat with chlorine Dioxide or fresh mixed
bleach made from pool shock.
@@socom2173 A middle step would be to sand filter with carbon then use ceramic.
A grape vine will filter water from a creek or swamp...whatever you got. Look it up on the tube, its really interesting.
Thanks for the info & idea for a future video 🙏
After the N.C. Helene aftermath this is so important.
Yes! Please share 🙏
My travel Berkey has been a blessing
Using it to filter raw, untreated water (like from a lake, river or stream)?
I haven't had to use raw water, fortunetly, but I know people that have BEFORE, the recent events, sticks and leaves and dirt in their berkey. I also keep GSE on hand for emergencies like this, it's a nutricbiotic, - a few drops will kill bacteria, viruses and other pathogens and safe to drink, and gargle with a few drops, if coming down w throat, flu, cold sickness.
Me too!
7:40
And know if you are in a very low humidity place like Phoenix that distiller will never work.
Same where I live in outback Australia.
Make sure you're prepared with another, more suitable option for disinfection then - like chemical disinfection tablets 😉
But glass jars in the sun will work. I bet you could boil water in them. 120 degrees should heat them up!!!!!
I have two unused garbage cans with lids…if a disaster is coming I fill them up.… for non potable water use…flushing toilets, washing dishes, cleaning. Also I have Red Cross bladder that fits in the tub to store more water. For same usage. For drinking water I have other systems.
Thanks for sharing your setup! What is your plan if the water shuts off unexpectedly before you can fill each of these from the tap?
@chrisbirch2002 I totally agree with you and those barrels! They are easier but they don’t send them to Hawaii. Lol
@chrisbirch2002 I’ll look into it. Thanks!
I have a metal 4 ft shelf. I keep my water on that. I wrapped the shelf with 2 - 3 table cloths to protect it from light. I had to keep it on my porch. I chk it spradickly. Small place.
Dehumidifier water is acidic, but should be drinkable. For sediment you could use a piece of cloth from a a full glass to an empty glass. Very informative video, definitely learned some things
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and your comment
Be sure to treat it first to make it safe to drink. If you don't you can get Leigonnaires Disease.
I have started freezing water in my empty water bottles, used milk containers & empty jars for the approaching storm Milton. I move them to the fridge and then I freeze more. You can also freeze water in a ziplock. Keeps the fridge cold for many days with things you already have at home, and you’ll have plenty of water around to boil later if the bottled water runs out. I also fill the bathtubs pre-storm.
Great tips thanks for sharing! Stay safe
Before even watching the video, I'll say this. Sawyer squeeze, sawyer tap, 6 extra gaskets, 2 couplers, msr dromedary bag, cnoc vecto x, cnoc vesica bottle, brown bag filter (millbank bag), and a stainless bottle nesting cup set. Properly used this is all you need for a decade or longer.
Thanks for the tip!
Complicated much? LOL
@@PulpParadise comprehensive and life long. Covers all bases. And provides options. And it all doesn't weigh much or take up much space.
I’ll look that up. Another thing few people talk about is how plants roots clean water… just saw some fascinating stuff about natural pools. It’s not something one can do quickly but people should know about it.
@@OfftoShambala a good video demonstrating that is on clay hayes channel.
Not one mention of using a coutertop R0 system like the one i use...it can easily be powered by a car battery inverter...great because it only takes 5 minutes to purify over a quart...Great as long as you have plenty of stored water...Yes in severe lack of water conditions for a long time your othet methods would be best,since RO system i use is 3 to one ratio,which means it takes 3 gallons to fully purify 1 gallon...that being said you could also run the discarded water through machine again which basically will lesson the filters overall life..but in any case since my filter normally lasts 12 months and makes 280 gallons before it needs replacement.using it this way for a week or two should be fine....but of coarse filter will need to replaced sooner...these machines also show you tds levels which is great.
Although reverse osmosis is one of the best methods for purifying water, it's not the first recommendation for treatment in emergency situations for a number of reasons, including those you mentioned such as electricity requirement and water waste. RO systems have specific operating parameters that sometimes require pretreatment. These systems should absolutely never be used as primary treatment for microbiological contaminants which will foul the membrane and pose additional risk.
Fire, Pressure cooker, a hose and a catch container to distill water.
Ok i know this video is 5 months old.
Keep in mind that you can use larger guage copper tube and lower temperature to actually speed up the process.
Also proper distilation removes all impurities even benificial ones. For your own well being you should also brew it into a tea or drink mix.
Some examples
Regular liptons style
Juice or light syrup from canned fruit
Herbal or floral tea ( hibiscus, rose lavender etc. )
Thanks for sharing! There are other ways to remineralize as well, check it out waterfilterguru.com/how-to-remineralize-reverse-osmosis-water/
A terra cotta flower pot with a cypress plug in the drain hole will filter water to potable very well, but it’s achingly slow.
Thanks for sharing!
What is a cypress plug?
@@debrageddie8821 - A piece of a cypress tree limb about 1 1/2” long, and big enough to be whittled or sanded into a plug shape to fit the hole in the bottom of the flower pot. Cypress, because it’s anti-bacterial, and not degraded by water.
@@tubularguynine Thank You!
@@debrageddie8821 - 👍🏻✌🏻🖖🏻
What mobile / countertop system would you recommend for RO / desalination of pool water (from salt water pool)?
Reverse osmosis or distillation
@@waterfilterguruRO appliance you recommend? Will use your link
@@MrMarylandMike Aquatru countertop RO geni.us/chlQv5o is portable and easy to use, and continues to hold its top position in our data-driven scoring system.
If you plan to use this for emergency prep, keep in mind reverse osmosis systems have specific operating parameters (check the user manual of any systems you are considering), and should *not* be used as primary treatment for water that is microbiologically unsafe
I have been wanting to watch ONE video that nailed every aspect about water storage and you nailed it!!! Great job.
Glad to hear it!
I began using a gravity fed water filter unit I made about 10 months ago. I use the ceramic filters because I wanted something that filters out bacteria and viruses as well as chlorine and other contaminants. To me, there's no reason to use a filter if it doesnt filter out bacteria and viruses, which most filters don't do. Most are only about chlorine and other things that affect the taste. But if you're in grid down scenario, you're going to need to filter out bacteria and viruses. I also love that with regular cleaning these ceramic filters last for 6-9 mos! I buy the ones that have charcoal in the middle to help with the taste and as an extra filter and also the filter is impregnated with silver for extra bacteria killing power. My system is similar to the Berkey system for a cost thats a
fraction of what a Berkey costs. Its easy to make and I use it every day. My system filters about 3 gals in a few hours. I also began storing water in long-term water storage containers. I rotate the water every 6 months.
Hey thanks for sharing! It's cool to hear folks' DIY stories. Do you use the British Berkfeld Ultra Sterasyl filters? These ones geni.us/eiAvEH8
Pool water//Hot tub water//Toilet water can be used as "Grey water" or cleaning water. Provided it's not excessively contaminated. Humans use way more water than just for drinking. You only need ~2.5qts for drinking water daily. (food-water)
AKA. POTABLE
If we put potable tabs in pool water, can we drink it?
So we had a power outage for something where I live, and it was out for like a week. Are poor neighbors and stuff were complaining about not being able to shower. I told them the water in your water heater is still warm. While you can use it to bathe do so sparingly so that you'll still have water for a couple more days. This only works if you still have running water though.
FYI we had an electric water heater because of the way our townhome community is set up. We don't have gas in our units.
I'm very skeptical of "water preservative." What are a few drops of some chemical going to do to "preserve water for up to 5 years"? If it does anything, it is most likely bleach which will kill microorganisms, and you should just use bleach.
If the container is clean, sealed, kept at room temperature or below, in the dark, then sterile water should keep effectively forever. In fact, many microorganisms will simply die out over the years in such conditions. Some won't! (such as cyst forming bacteria) Because water can be hard to sterilize and hard to keep sealed, you should replace it every now and then and 5 years seems like a good window regardless of pre-storage chemical treatment, especially if it looks or smells bad or has evaporated. If you have stored water that didn't get changed out, I'd look at it and treat it appropriately before use, but I wouldn't stress about it. The containers shown in the video... I've never had good luck with them. They are difficult to seal completely, and they aren't particularly rugged. NATO spec 20L bottles are better. Not cheap. Figure your per-volume storage cost. 55 gallon barrels are much more economical and large tanks even more so. My barrels don't seal well but kept in my cool, dark basement the water seems to stay good indefinitely (10+ years). I also have a 2500 gallon tank which was delivered for less than $2500. It doesn't seal well either but I did stuff copper wool in the lid vents. 😂
For a non-chemical way to store water indefinitely, you can bottle clean potable water in glass bottles using a water bath canner and then it will keep as long as it stays sealed.
Friend, don't be fooled, the "preservative" is just 5% bleach solution, essentially it is chlorinating the water again. You can use a capful of regular bleach if you don't intend to drink it immediately, as it will dissipate over time. Other options is chlorine tablets from camping stores
1:23 Rain water system
3:00
3:51
3:35
Glass, not plastic.
Keep in mind the SODIS method for water disinfection is intended for use during an emergency/ survival situation. The goal being to make water potable for the short term by killing microbiological contaminants that pose risk of immediate illness.
Well a 40 pack of bottled water, half liter bottles, will last you about 5 days for your water needs. Technically though if you're using canned goods and have other sources of water intake for your food, then you will not need to take eight bottles a day in your consumption.
There is the idea of using the canning process to can water. In which you basically sterilize water by putting jars in a boiling pot and fill those with water which I suppose would be better if you boiled that too before letting it sit and that hot ass pot with a lid on it for a bit so it creates a seal. You can set that aside. Least that way you have a lot of bottles of water so to speak. For instance like a jam jar is 12 oz or something like that and that's one can of water so to speak. Then you can add your suggestion of leaving out and sun as long as you're using glass jars. You don't want to use plastic simply due to the facts that the plastic has chemicals that are very not healthy for a person to consume when exposed to UV radiation. That's where you get that plastic flavor from water that's been left out in the sun or warmed up in your car.
Some people would say use one of those filter straws. The problem with filter straws is they'll get out sediments and physical things. They will do nothing from microorganisms. The only way to really help with microorganisms is to use boiling or iodine tablets that will sterilize the water. So I guess it wouldn't hurt to just keep a large supply of iodine tablets on hand then you can filter the water and then sterilize it chemically.
If iodine has isopropyl alcohol it can't be made non poisonous. Only food grade iodine can be used .
Recently in the past couple years, I've been using PUR brand water filter that attaches to the sink faucet for 'clean' water, but I'm not sure how clean that is really. I am not a fan of using Water Pitchers with filters like my family have done in the past with the Brita brand.
I refill large Simply Juice bottles from the grocery. I regularly store two with water in the fridge, and I tend to drink from those. I occasionally switch out and replace these bottles every 1-3 months since I don't buy Simply juices that often.
My idea might not be good but I'd like to see what everyone thinks about the water filter in the sink-idea.
The PUR faucet filter is the most extensively certified faucet filtration system I'm aware of, so that's the good news. But whether or not its the best option for your situation depends on what contaminants are in your water. It may or may not be sufficient - and it most definitely won't address microbiological contaminants in the case of a boil water advisory or other emergency situation where water quality is compromised
I make my own filter for Britta water filters. Fill coffee filter with a table spoon of activated charcoal or Diatomaceous earth. Wrap in the filters a couple of times. Stuff some filters in the bottom of the filter cage then add wrapped filter to the top making sure no holes can be seen. Runs slow but put the Britta picture on my knife block and a glass mason jar under and let it pour out while I do other things. ❤
Thank you for the informative video. Very grateful. I have about 10 cases of water stored, as well as a Sawyer Mini and a Life straw. I also have 2 small bottles of AquaPure tabs. Bleach is a great alternative but does not store well. Also, a Silcock key is very helpful to procure water from larger buildings. I have tested the key and found a few large buildings with access to clean water near my home. Great information I have subscribed and left a like.
Thanks for your comment and I'm glad it was helpful - sounds like you're doing all the things to be prepared!
I have a silcock key as well but I need to test it to make sure I know where the buildings are and how to use it.
Have two cases in case family kids stupid
@@susannautterback6815
Great idea to use your Silcock key now… and at more then one place, as standard Silcock Keyes have 4 different options.
Also there is at least one other type of Silcock key.
I have two, with 8 options total. I am not sure if there are more types. I have both of those in my get home bag.
Another set of Silcock keys stays at home.
A bit late as this just popped in my feed, but I store water in glazed pottery with wax seals. The thing about storing water is you really only need to store it to keep out debris. Even if biological contamination gets in (bacteria, mold, etc), simply boiling that water for 10 minutes will remove all that.
Thanks for sharing, much appreciated
Great video. I recently bought a lifestraw pitcher for times like this. Hopefully it’s a good one that does what it says it does. I have been storing water for a few years now. Unfortunately, many have expired now. I’m sure these could be used for bathing in bad times, but maybe not to drink. I need to rebuild my water supply with new bottles for drinking. Thank you for the tips and the reminder!
Sounds like you're already well prepared! The Lifestraw Home pitcher (this one geni.us/7Nrnhtm if anyone else is reading and curious) should be a solid choice for emergency preparedness, their lab testing has been completed by accredited labs (WQA, ANSI) which is reassuring - however I've not personally tested this one yet so don't have any firsthand data as of now.
The water that is expired is still good clean water. All you need to do is run it through your purifying pitcher..
@@tennesseeterri I have some bottle water that was in storage for a year, has a plastic taste, what filter would you recommend???
@@wallychambe1587 I can only tell you that I would pour it into my Berkey filter and then taste it. You could also try a charcoal filter, too.
we keep every used gallon container and store tap water, adding a a bit of hydrogen peroxide to keep bacteria at bay, and use it for toilet water. it's been a game changer when power goes out ...
Great tip, thanks for sharing! Love to hear success stories from you guys
What is the best water to buy? Distilled? Spring water? Osmosis? Purified? Ty
To store away for drinking purposes? Anything but distilled, really.
Water needs to contain minerals or the water pulls them out of your body, which is not good. Distilled water is only water as all the minerals get left behind in the distillation process. Do some Google research on this for better information than I can give here.
If you have a water softener for well water, would it be safe to store water in 45-55 gallon food safe plastic barrels & for how long?
Sure, it you'd follow the same water storage processes described starting at 7:53
When leaving a clear bottle (both glass and plastic) in direct sunlight be aware of fire hazard.
good call out
Buying a dehumidifier. It makes a gallon of water every four or so hours. If you have a generator it can be powered. Or solar “generator”.
Or figure out how to run it off a car battery.
Then filter it and boil for several minutes.
Great for humid climates
@@waterfilterguru yup. Agreed.
So in a case where you're stuck drinking water that's untreated, like a pond, you'd have to try to account for every contaminant possible. I'm thinking that would involve multiple steps. Can you recommend an emergency water treatment plan? I'm thinking something like, coffee filter then Berkey (or not? Pro one?) Then boil or UV. Would that work?
Yes! I made an entire video all about that, check it out th-cam.com/video/Btqqwd_cLiA/w-d-xo.html
You did not mention using a branch of a pine tree or any nut tree to purify water. Put the bottom end of the branch in the dirty water in a jar and the top into another container for clean water. The dirty water gets taken up by the branch and goes through it to the clean jar. I watched a youtube video about it. You can too
Thanks for sharing! I'll make a specific video about this
I, as I am sure many people do, have a shingle roof. The reason I haven't installed a gutter catchment system is because I heard that the shingles are made with dangerous chemicals which will contaminate the water. Anyone have any input on this?
Not yet, but you gave me an idea for another project 😉
@@waterfilterguru i have heard this also about wate that's been on certain shingles.
Before refrigerators ice was cut from ponds. I read that this ice could be used in drinks as well as ice boxes.Q: How was that safe?❓Did freezing kill the bacteria?❓Can you use icicles or as a safe water source?❓
That's a great question! People used to cut ice from ponds to keep things cool before refrigerators. Probably even using it for drinks. But here's the thing: that ice was far from safe. Theres a reason life expectancy was much shorter in the past.
Freezing doesn't always kill all bacteria that can make you sick. Icicles wouldn't be safe either, as the roof of the building poses risk of contamination, including bacterial contamination.
@@waterfilterguru Then what about rain water catchment systems? I saw on PBS "This Old House" that in Bermuda every one uses rain water from their roofs because there's no other source of water there.
@@barbaraferron7994they have water treatment systems in place to make the water potable
Excellent video! Appreciate all the water tips!
Thanks for the feedback, glad it was helpful!
BPA free plastic still has some toxic chemicals that can leach into water and anything moist that's stored in them.
Jeepers, you really are a knowledge bank when it comes to clean potable water 👍🏽👍🏽
Thanks 👍
Gravity filters are designed to remove certain pathogens from perfectly clear water such a mountain stream. If there is any silt in the water they will plug up and not allow water to flow through. You can scrub the cartridge, but soon you will reduce the thickness of the media and then it will not remove pathogens. YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST PRE-FILTER THE WATER UNTIL IT IS PERFECTLY CLEAR. This can be done by a combination of settling, flocculation, sand filtering, and/or common cartridge type sediment filters that are easily available. If you don't believe this, take out all but one of your ceramic cartridges, plug the other holes, add some dirty water like what you will have to use during a crisis, see how long it takes to plug up your ceramic cartridge. You will ruin one cartridge but you will know the truth!
Another issue: if there is water in a ceramic cartridge, even a little, and that cartridge is allowed to freeze, a fine crack can occur that will allow pathogens through. You may not know it as you cannot see the crack. NEVER ALLOW YOU CARTRIDGES TO FREEZE!
Thanks for sharing!
Anyone that has a well and septic have to deal with this during EVERY power outage.
The best way to prepare for water needs is with an atmospheric water generator. We got one that, depending on humidity, can make up to 75 gallons a day-so no matter what happens, our water supply is secured!
Yeah I've seen those! I'd love to test them. I'd be interested to find out how region impacts efficacy. How many gallons will you get in a dry climate vs humid, for example
@
Ours makes about 75 gallons daily since we’re in a humid area, but in dry climates, it might make around 25-30 gallons a day. It all depends on the air’s moisture!
Pool and hot tub water is great for cleaning and flushing toilets.
Great point!
What about the use of UVC source for disinfecting water. I also have a MIOX CHEMICAL generator. Add salt and a shot of water and hit the switch and it will create a chlorine chemical to add to your source. This company made these chemical creators for the military originally but today focus their technology on creating a chlorine source for pools and public water systems with the cheap source of salt and one can use solar or wind power for electricity.
How does one determine the concentration of chlorine if it is not marked on the container? Living in an EU country they are not bound by law to list concentrations within these products.
UV is discussed at 4:47
Thanks for sharing about the chemical generator, I'll have to look into this.
I'd recommend finding a product that states the % concentration of disinfection chemical on the packaging.
Do you have any Amazon links to some good water filters we can use on a daily basis, instead of in emergency?
Yes, but the best place to start is to determine exactly what type of water filter you need. I made an entire video about the process, I think it will be really helpful for you th-cam.com/video/JU4sPer1944/w-d-xo.html
Btita pitcher with filters at walmart.
@@Nunya-t4b don't rely on Brita for emergency preparedness
An old gas water heater can be turned in to a wood fired water heater and distiller with some copper pipe and cooling tank,just leave it a open system to avoid bursting ,you can dig a hole and set water heater on for burn box ,after you take out gas burner,make sure the tank is good not busted.
Interesting idea, thanks for sharing the tip!
@@waterfilterguru yur welcome
Friends heated all of their water using a wood fired water heater because they lived off grid. It’s surprising how well they work with a small amount of wood.
Consider having 3 gallons of water a day per person. 1 to drink, 1 to shower, 1 to cook food.
you dont need sterilized water to bathe. if its clean enough to swim in its clean enough to bathe in.
And at least a 1-2 week supply of drinking/ cooking water would be ideal
After hurricane we were without for nine days. We had bottled drinking, tap in buckets, and rainwater. Rainwater was for flushing. At the end we (wife and I) used a total of 72 gallons. There was still a boil notice after all was restored.
3 gallons per day is a lot more realistic than the recommended 1 gallon per day a lot of people subscribe to.
In the UK people are told something like 1.5 liters a day per person. Must be just for tea.
would it be possible to buy the gallon water jugs and immediately pour them into a proper water container?
If you're going to do that might as well leave them sealed.
@@waterfilterguru ok, thank you
How does this channel not have more subs!? Great video! Timely and vitally important! I'm going to be using this info to keep prepared. We just had a water main break the other week and it was a huge disruption.
Thanks for the feedback, happy to hear you found it helpful! Please share with others who might also 🙏
I have collected clear jugs, but rhey are kept in a cool, dry place so hopefully it does not affect anything.
Did you sanitize them before filling them?
@@waterfilterguru bought them from the store, so plan to put them thru my water filter pitchers when they are needed first before use.
@@19karrey75 Right on
get a (big berky) gravity fed water filter. It makes (stagnet pond water) into sweet water. A little expensive, it's about $500. But, evenso that it might be "slower" than a person wants. It does have a 5 gallon reservoir . Fill it up at night, and in the morning. Then you have a 5 gallon buffer of clean water. Worth every penny. Evenso, be sure to get the "priming" kit. Off the shelf they intend you to use the faucet to prime your new filters up. In the wood, no faucet. You need the kit. I think it was $20 about. enjoy.
Berkey (and similar gravity fed filters) alone is not sufficient protection for filtering untreated surface water that is microbiologically unsafe. The water should be properly disinfected either with chemicals prior to filtration or boiling or UV post-filtration. I'm currently working on a video diving deep into the deception companies like this have used to sell their filters as sufficient for emergency preparedness and filtering untreated surface water. Stay tuned
@@waterfilterguru OK, so Berkey is feeding me a line of horse poop. I believe you. What they are telling me ((stagnet pond water will be good for drinking). Their pitch does not quite sound right. I mean, yeah. It, "IS" possible. But not for a "gravity fed" system. And not for $500. I am excited to hear your insights. carry on.
Actually, berkeys were used long before there was plumbing in places like Africa. Pretty sure it would be fine, however, in a grid down situation, I would boil all of it first. The original filters are silver impregnated. Silver kills bacteria. That's why it's safe.
@@wolf-ls7jx the silver impregnated into the filter is to prevent bacteria growth in the filter itself - not disinfect the water. It's vital to understand the difference. Always use a proper method of disinfection, such as boiling like you said
@@wolf-ls7jx {Silver kills bacteria. That's why it's safe.} woohoo, that's what I was thinking. That's also why those filters are so very expensive. But it works, and it's fast (couple hours is fast to me 'i'm old")
Calcium Hypochlorite pool shock powder stores longer than bleach and doesn't lose it's effectiveness after 6 months like bleach does. Also, water is very heavy in volume, about 8 pounds per gallon. Best not to store a lot of it on upper floors. Small amounts, sure, but not a 55 gallon barrel of it.
Thanks for the comment and additional tips!
An unglazed piece of ceramic pottery with gravel and sand on top can be helpful.
Great DIY ceramic option! It's good to note that efficacy of all ceramic filters depends on pore size which can vary depending on the ceramic
Thanks!
Thank you!! 🙏
Can we get an update for this video, specifically for good methods for urban/subruban/industrial areas?
Its much more simple to clean water from a forest creek with no humans upstream than to have to clean water from pools. city pothole puddles, and water that has brake dust or industrial contaminants.
Most people will live in areas where these are just as important as trying to kill the micro organisms that cause beaver fever.
The methods described in this video apply to both urban and rural areas alike! In an emergency situation, microbiological contaminants pose immediate risk, and should be the primary concern., no matter the location.
At least if there is a known event moving through, fill your bathtub with water. It'll give you roughly 70 gallons or so if the pipes shut off. If your bathtub is gross, you can always filter or boil the water for drinking.
Thanks for the tip
Remember if you have fluoride in your water when you boil the water the fluoride goes through a chemical change and becomes fluorine which is more poisonous than fluoride.
It's also good to note that concentrations of contaminants that can't evaporate with water will increase after boiling as the overall volume of water will decrease
Which means every time I've boiled water to make a cup of tea, or make pasta, etc. I've been ingesting fluorine?
Yikes
"Steven Slott, a spokesperson for the American Fluoridation Society, said fluoride "is a negatively charged atom of the naturally occurring element fluorine. Fluoride can therefore not be turned into fluorine as it is already a component of that element."
Boiling water doesn't turn fluoride into fluorine.
You can also store water in glass canning jars. We have stored them empty until used, but why not use the same space and have filtered water ready to use?
I got a tub of pure bleach tablets from amazon, because as mentioned liquid bleach has a shelf life.Also if you don't have ground storage space, run out, a strong rail hanging from the ceiling of a cupboard or hooks going over doors or up or round a wall & storage water bags for hanging is another option.
Great idea! What is the active ingredient? You mention it's "pure" bleach - what is the % of active ingredient, out of curiosity?
Dollar Tree had bleach tablets this year. I got some for my bug out bags.
Truthfully, there are so many discrepancies regarding the water filter system to use & what method to treat ur water leaves us wondering what is true or not & who is telling the truth? That solar method using plastic holding the water sitting in the sun, what? I thought plastic is bad for us? That idea does not sit right for me.
These are tips for securing clean water in preparation for or during an emergency situation.
@GHE2005 when your thirsty enough ask around and see who cares. Thus giving you motivation to try the many options purifying water. You'll know which ones to complain about. Providing your among the living. No one owes you nothing. Nothing
Been prepping since 2014 and all these methods are well known for acquiring potable water. The guy in this video is merely providing info to those with a normalcy bias towards being prepared. These tips work with a few caveats. One being, you should do several methods to insure potable (drinkable) water. Example: prefilter your water with a cloth like a handkerchief before running it through a filter to extend the filter life. Then boil (learn how to make a fire) your water or treat with bleach or iodine. Another caveat is that bleach isnt effective against Crypotosporidium - a nasty parasite. Likewise, iodine isnt effective against Giardia - an equally nasty parasite. I have over 250 gallons of clean potable water stored in my home, yet I still plan to filter and boil it before use. Waterbourne sickness is vital to avoid. My rain barrel water is prefiltered before going into the barrel by using an Intex pool pump filter. I just use foam filters and let it flow into the barrel by gravity - no power needed. This keeps the rain water from getting rank from sludge accumulation.
In the matter of heated plastic, yes, in the long run the microplastics will have an adverse effect on your health. But remember the average human can only live 2-3 days without water. So we are talking about saving yourself from immediate death from dehydration as opposed to months to years of drinking microplastics. If plastic is that concerning to you, just use a glass container - it's commonsense. What would be even better for you is if you started storing clean water TODAY instead of waiting to use this knowledge in an emergency instead of contending with some random guy on YT thats just trying to inform people. Do your own research and be prepared.
Finally, another way to filter water that wasn't touched on is by using a cloth between 2 buckets or containers. Drape half the cloth into the bucket or container with dirty water and then drape the other half into the clean empty bucket. By utilizing surface tension and capillary action, the water will drain from the dirty bucket and into the clean bucket, producing rather clear looking water. The clear water should still be filtered and/or boiled or treated before drinking. Most of the methods in the video will take time. Preparation and planning is the key.
"When someone hands ya a bottle a clean water, ya drink it. Even if ya ain't thirsty, ya drink it. Much as ya can anyway."
Why is there a time limit for storing tap water? if the container is sterilized, how does the water "go bad"?
Fair warning, do not drink distilled water. You have to add minerals back into it for it to be safe, as drinking distilled water can remove minerals from your body, which is a very bad thing.
I believe that risk is associated with consumption of demineralized water over a period of time, but I could be wrong. Can you share a resource with this info?
Thanks. Good to know
One or two grains of Celtic Salt under the tongue helps.
Absolutely wonderful and edifying video. So very helpful. Thank you
Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching and for your feedback!
Well Done!
Appreciate your concise, informative & Helpful Advice 💯
You're doing a GREAT SERVICE for Us All
Thank You ❤
You are so welcome, thanks for the feedback. I'm glad it was so helpful
The water in the toilet tank I would just leave for using the toilet. We had no electricity for a year and no running water for four years. When it was warm we would get water from the lake and use that for flushing the toilet as usual, you have the option of pouring the water directly in the bowl or in the tank itself and flushing as usual, I can't remember but with one of those ways it started to smell and we switched to the other and it was good to go. 🤔 In the winter we used an outhouse (get a styrofoam seat for cold), made sure all the water was drained out of all plumbing including water heater and washing machines, then put antifreeze in toilet and down sinks.
Thanks for sharing your experience
I haul water in plastic jugs at the moment. I use Arizona 1 gallon juice jugs because they are easier to carry than milk jugs and milk jugs always smell funny if you don’t wash the heck out of them. Are they safe to use to store a few gallons for shtf if the water is changed every few months? Even just for washing water. I don’t have a lot of extra money to buy those 5 gallon storage jugs. Broke a water pipe a while back and it’s not fixed yet so I have a few containers for different things. I have some cat litter jugs for flushing (2 small) and 3 large for washing dishes and stuff and nine Arizona jugs for drinking and cooking. I do laundry at my son’s house. I have a Zero water pitcher but I need a new filter, is that one ok or should I get something different? Wondering 🤔
ZeroWater provided strong contaminant reduction in our testing, but of course it all depends on what contaminants are present in your water. It's essential to replace the filter according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Small branches or even paper and plastic are around everywhere, you can cook water in glass.
Let's not forget bleach tablets. They will last 3-5 years if stored properly (cool, dark place, sealed container); whereas liquid beach lasts from 6-12 months.
Thanks for the comment! This is mentioned at 4:34 😉
what would bleach tablets be used for?
@@stephanieroberts1394 exactly as bleach.
@@stephanieroberts1394 Disinfecting the water
This was excellent, thank you! A one stop shop for Emergency Water Prep. Have been overwhelmed with how best to compile water for emergency, which inevitably is going to happen, too many warnings they are giving...love your channel, sir, and thanks for the links! And very organized notes/description of the video and breakdown with time stamps for later viewing...
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your feedback
i LOVE my Berkey. I hate they are in a battle
Glad to hear it - don't rely on Berkey filters alone to filter untreated surface water. Make sure to disinfect it properly
@@waterfilterguruhave you ever had to use one to live on? Have you lived in a third world country for a long time where you have to use it?
@@sarahwy13 Yes, my wife is from Guatemala, we visit frequently. We both disinfect and filter the water we use for consumption.
Don't rely on one form of purification of water. Ensure you have at least three forms of water purification. One for a static situationa (at home), one for when your on the move (in you car, bike etc.) and one form for when your on foot (literally hicking on foot or walking distances). On top of that I always ensure we have water purification tablets on hand as they will cover any situation, especially when you first become deprived of city or town water treatment plants for drinking water. The draw back of the tablets is they do have an expiry date so periodically they need to be replaced. It pays to keep a file of tablets in your work bag etc in case you get stuck away from home.
I trust no water treated from city or town supplied water particularly with the increase fracking that's being carried out. Not all bottled water can be trust by what the label claims. Water will keep indefinitely but it will go flat but, it will still save your life if its uncontaminated. If your stranded in your car, particularly in hot weather, DON'T use the radiator water in your car as it normally has a coolant mixed in with it.
Research how to get water when stranded without any water and desperately need water staying in one place overnight. You can find a way to do so in survival skills in the Australian bush or outback. Frankly even when times are good, we never travel by car, without spare water for us and the car radiator, just in case. In normal circumstances but during either physical labour in hot temperatures or successive days of high temperatures, keep a form of electrolytes on hand, paying attention to young children or the elderly. You can now buy commercial Electrolyte drinks in shops. Replacement powdered electrolyte to mix at home with water is good to have on hand. Again they have an expiry date so need to be aware. If extreme dehydrated, drink room temperature water initially. Saving cold water until you no longer need to replace your bodies electrolytes.
A sure way of telling you need to replace electrolytes is if you feel headachy, light headed and or dizzy and can't understand why, in hot weather. The elderly will likely tell you they aren't thirsty, just get them to sip the electrolyte replacement. Children do well if you give them a ice block or icy pole replacement, which you can do yourself or buy from a pharmacy. If your Pharmacy doesn't carry electrolyte replacement preparations you can buy the powder style online.
Dehydration is dangerous for all living creatures so don't forget to keep your pets water station clean and filled, but kept it in the shade and never leave your children, the elderly or pets in a car with all the windows up. It's highly likely you may need to replace a window if the Police are called as they won't hesitate to break the window to save anyone or anything in a parked vehicle.
Thanks for your very insightful comment!
Excellent information! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I had a counter top distiller when we lived in town, it was gross how much brown scum was left in the distiller from town water, but still couldn't use the finished product because it tasted metallic. 🤷♀️ I've tried storing those small jugs from the store as well and had problems with them randomely rupturing, usually after a year.
What was the vessel made from that the distilled water was captured in?
Thanks for making this.
Glad you liked it!
Not downplaying this video at all, but if SHTF, you know what I'm not worried about? PFAS or microplastics. Clean water that I don't have to treat will be the best thing ever!!
Of course, ensuring potable water is the first priority. Which is why having a proper method of disinfection is so vital!
Quick question; You recommend storing water gallons up to 2 years. I have several gallons about 5 years old. Will the bleach method be safe to sanitize before drinking? Also, I appreciate any extra tips you can give me. Im a senior been prepping for a few years. Thx for a great video!
Bleach or water treatment tablets will sterilize the water if it is microbiologically unsafe. There are lots of good tips from others' comments in the description! Otherwise, just watch the video again 😉
Something I think no one is really talking about is don't use your toilets or sinks in a long term grid down if you are hooked to town sewer. Short term is ok though. With power out and everyone using sinks and toilets it will soon back up the system if the water and sewer end up stopping. Natural disasters like flooding can also do this. Sewage can and will start backing up into peoples homes through all the pipes making it impossible to live there. I suggest looking into a main line shut off valve outside the home. When everything backs up it won't be your home also. As many go to shelters to live, you won't need to leave. Not to mention you will also be able to help your neighbors that didn't listen to your advice about getting a shut off valve. I wouldn't waste any water from your stores to flush the toilet. Might as well have some kind of outdoor setup to do all your business if possible. Not sure what to tell people living in a big city apt complex. I guess consider moving now.