Water in 72hr pack

[Mirium]

How much water for each person do you put in a 72hr pack?

Bearing in mind its heavy.Is it advisable to pack enough for the 72hrs or would you just carry some water and pack water purification tablets to make up the rest?

Edited January 1, 2009 by Mirium
Spelling

[gabelpa]

Depends on where you are. I've always treated the 72 hour kit s a "Bug out bag", something you use to get away from the local area, Food storage to stay put (Always stay put unless you must leave your house. Some recommend that you take the bare minimum you would need just to drink, and prepare food, under harsh circumstances. I can't remember how much that is, I think it is also heavily dependant on your fitness level, BMI and other factors.

Personally, we carry about 2 litres per person, and water purification stuff, but water is relatively easy to find locally,assuming what makes us need the 72 hour kit doesn't also taint the natural water supply. Things like floods that wash up sewage from the drains would taint local water supplies.

Here's a quote that came from someone who is more survivalist than realist

If your bag is too heavy, don't pack less,hike more

meaning, if your pack has all the essentials,and you still find it heavy, go on hikes with it, until it doesn't feel heavy anymore. Edited January 1, 2009 by gabelpa
spelling mistakes... did I get them all?

[BenRaines]

I buy the instant water packs. All you do is add water.

Ben Raines

[eternalpromise516]

lol i'm sorry, but that was hilarious ben :grin:

[Guest Alana]

I have the water in a separate bag. It was mashing the other stuff. I think I have two of the 16oz (or something around there) bottles for each person each day. I've also taken to keeping a few gallons in the trunk of the car.

[Captain_Curmudgeon]

I've also taken to keeping a few gallons in the trunk of the car.

I have a 7.5 gallon container inside (so that it doesn't freeze) next to the back door. In summer, it just lives in the car trunk. Every few months, I refill it to keep it fresh.

[Rico]

Sometimes water purification tablets just aren't easy to get. I think you can go to a specialty store, but two minutes at a local pharmacy is all it took for the me to get what I needed. For water purification, I bought a small 250 ml bottle of bleach(without additives), a small 5cc syringe. 1cc will purify one gallon of disgusting water.

Total cost? Less than $1 to have the ability to purify 250 to 500 gallons of water. It's much cheaper than water purification tablets.

[gabelpa]

Remember, with water purification, boiling, bleach, iodine tablets etc. only deal with the majority of nasty bugs. They do nothing for particulate, and more important, chemical contaminants.

[kemct]

FEMA recommends and it is oft quoted elsewhere that you should have 1 gallon of water per person per day. This is for drinking and hygiene.

It is best to keep water containers sealed properly at all times to limit bacterial contamination as much as possible.

If you use bleach to purify water, remember bleach has a shelf life of one year and loses effectiveness. As Rico mentioned, make sure it is unscented plain bleach.

Here is a great resource on how to purify water;

How to Purify Water - wikiHow

You can by a bottle of cheap tablets online for around $5 -$6, and much more expensive filters for under $100 at;

Nitro-Pak.com The World Leader in Innovative & Affordable Preparedness Gear

Water Filters & Water Purifiers - Emergency Essentials

Discount Emergency Water & Accessories - The Ready Store

[Mirium]

Remember, with water purification, boiling, bleach, iodine tablets etc. only deal with the majority of nasty bugs. They do nothing for particulate, and more important, chemical contaminants.

So if they don't work for everything is there any alternative?

[applepansy]

So if they don't work for everything is there any alternative?

Yes, there are water filters, battery powered, that cost somewhere around $100 (I'm not certain on the cost.)

My neighbors have one that they take on hiking trips instead of carrying water. No matter where they are or what the water source is the water filter cleans the water. My husband and daugther have both gone on hiking trips with their family and love the water filter. Its great! There are other filtration systems. Check your local camping supplier.

I'm hoping to get one for our 72-hour kit some day. Right now, we'll be lugging around heavy water.

applepansy

[BenRaines]

From when we lived in Las Vegas I don't know how much good a water purifier would do in the desert. I will pack water for my 72 hr kit and longer. :)

Ben Raines

[kemct]

To remove particulates and chemicals you need to filter. But that really only becomes an issue if you have a poor water source (which may be the case sometime). If you know you will have access to a relatively particulate free source nearby or can collect rainwater then you do not need a filter.

Here is a ad blurb on what an MSR Miniworks filter does.

The MiniWorks EX TWO STAGE filter fills a 1 liter container in just 60 seconds!

* The First-Stage of the Marathon 205™ filter element is made of Ceramic and designed to remove bacteria, protozoa (including crypto and giardia) and particulates.

* The Second-Stage inner carbon block core removes many chemicals, including pesticides, iodine, and chlorine. It also improves taste and removes odors.

[hankpac]

Regarding bleach (with our without additives).

Adding bleach to water will only kill some bacteria and viruses.

It won't kill prions (like mad cow disease which is found in infected brain material, but given only as an example of what the heck a prion is) nor will it kill giardia or some resitant bacteria. Nor will it purify chemically contaminated water, nor clear cloudy( ie muddy or dirty water) or brackish water (water mixed with salt, like near the coast).

A small handheld filter that does all of the above (not just a charcoal filter) is only about 150 bucks, available at REI, and light and easy to use. In an area with water, it makes up for what you cannot carry, and also makes the issue of replacement much easier to deal with.

Elemental iodine crystals are also an good alternative to bleach, since will kill almost anything, when used properly, don't expire like halazone tabs or tincture of iodine or degrade to H2O like bleach will, and is also used in treating radiation exposure.

I have a katydine filter that will filter contaminated water from a storm drain or a muddy hoof-print. Supposed to even be able to filter a septic tank, but I wouldn't put it to the test. In certain situations, the access to water in the city like Las Vegas can be mitigated if you are creative: Swimming pools, toilet tanks, decorative ponds, fire-fighting pools, casino displays (Bellagio, Venice, and that pirate thingy), fish tanks, storm drains, and even wells if you know the location and have a well dipper. Bug in, think locally (in advance) and form cooperative groups in your neighborhood (in advance). I wouldn't try walking to Lake Mead (for water) in summer from anywhere in the LV area. That sort of endeavor would require "Ranger level" skills, and conditioning in a SHTF situation. Stay home and preplan.

Edited January 3, 2009 by hankpac

[Rico]

You can also improvise a simple water filter with an old 2 liter soda bottle, some sand, some gravel and some cotton. Granted a simple water filter with bleach purified water isn't the best solution, but sometimes you have to make a tradeoff between what you want and what you can afford.

$150 water filter might be a nice thing, but when you are in a ward where that's 1 1/2 times the monthly salary of most members, it can be totally out of reach.

[PreparednessPro]

I came across this post and decided to post one of my blogs that I wrote a few months ago on this topic. I hope this helps! :)

Recently I’ve been inundated with requests from readers to know how I’ve personally prepared for the future. These requests have come about as a result of my blog post of Gerald Celente’s economic forecasts (see link here). In fact, I’ve even create an entirely new blog called Preparedness Pro, devoted exclusively to emergency preparedness in the categories of food (including cooking), water, first aid, self-defense, finances, and emotional preparedness. Be sure to add this one to your blogroll (Preparedness Pro) and check back often!

What makes me a pro? I’ve been practicing personal preparedness doggedly for over 9 years. Our house has 3 full rooms of necessary emergency supplies. Usually, instead of going to the store, I just go downstairs to our food storage room, grab what I need, and replenish about every 6 months or so. It will be up to you to decide whether or not what I share with you has merit.

First Things First—WATER!

If you have not started preparing for an emergency, do not start with food. Start with WATER! If you’ve already started a sufficient emergency supply food storage, you are probably like the majority of individuals and have put off storing water. “Where am I going to store those ugly barrels?” you ask? Believe me, that’s the last thing you’re going to care about when you need water.

How much water should I store?

You can go without food a heck of a lot longer than you can water. I know this may sound a bit overwhelming, but you really need to store enough water to provide you and your family with 1 gallon per day—minimum—for at least 3 months. Allow me to restate this. 1 gallon per person is MINIMUM. That’s a lot. But you don’t need to go back too far in history to realize that such a need could exist. Think of the hurricanes our nation has had in recent history. Is your area ripe for an earthquake? What if some moron crashes their chemical truck into your water supply?

Keep in mind that that one gallon of water is not just for drinking. It’s for hygiene, (and don’t even think that you’ll avoid bathing all together…this will foster serious illnesses, among other things) cooking, toilet use, laundry, and cleaning.

How do I store my water?

Store your water in NEW barrels. Please don’t store water you intend to use for drinking and cooking in barrels that have been used for something else. You will suffer, indeed. (It’s fine to use those kinds of barrels for water you will use exclusively for cleaning, etc.)

Please, please, please do not store your water in empty milk or soda pop bottles. They deteriorate. (Although is you have to choose one of them, pick the soda pop bottles instead. They last a bit longer)

Should I store purified water?

Don’t treat your water before storing it. Chance are very good that it’s already been sufficiently treated by your municipality. Besides, I would recommend treating your water prior to using it for drinking or cooking anyway. To do this you want to use 8 drops of pure Chlorox per gallon of water.

You can fill your water barrels through the garden hose. As long as you let the water run through the hose a bit and there aren’t any bugs sitting in it, you’re fine. Surely you drank out of a hose when you were little and you’re no worse for wear, right? If you’re a purist, you can purchase a marine hose that is lined with an anti-bacterial coating. Those are readily available at your local hardware store.

Keep in mind that the water in your water heater, water bed, and toilet tanks is usable as well.

Iodine tablets, colloidal silver, and quality camping water filters are also a good preparedness step in the event you’re required to use water from sources you’re not familiar with.

One of the things that I stock up on as well are the little Xooma water sachets. These small, tea bag like sachets contain minerals and such that can bring your water to a good non-alkaline levels and infuse minerals in them. I personally believe that doing so helps for better hydration to the body. So I keep stocked up on these for an emergency as well. You can check them out at Xooma Worldwide

How often do I replace the water?

We empty and refill our water barrels every two years. You don’t need to do it that often, but we’re a bit fanatical about things. You’re fine to go out 5 years prior to refilling them as long as it’s good water to begin with. You will want to aerate your water though prior to drinking it. Doing this is as simple as pouring it a few times from one container to another, such as a couple of pitchers.

Where am I supposed to store all this water?

If you’re in a small apartment, you will be pleasantly surprised how easily you can disguise a water barrel as an end table with a small round piece of plywood and a classy decorative tablecloth. We are fortunate enough to have enough space in our basement and have several of them lined up and then have plywood stacked on top of them to begin shelving for our food storage.

Note to wives: If your overzealous husband convinces you to store “an extra” eight 50-gallon barrels under one of the guest beds, you may want to think twice. It’s a family joke now when folks come to stay with us and sleep in the “water bed.”

Don’t buy into the myth that you can’t store your water barrels on cement. Clarification is that you should not store your water on cement that gets heated by the sun. So if you’re storing it outside, the sun will heat the cement, which will then heat your water. This makes water taste nasty. If you’re storing them outside, place the barrels on top of 2 x 4s.

You can store your water barrels outside in freezing weather, but you run the risk of them freezing and cracking. At the very least, you should not fill them up to maximum capacity to allow for the freezing expansion.

Conserving Water

Consider ways to conserve water in an emergency as well. Storing paper goods such as paper plates and cups will eliminate cleaning, and learning to cook with a pressure cooker which uses a minimum amount of water for cooking is also a good idea. (more on pressure cooking in a future blog.)

P.S. In view of some of the e-mails I’ve received, I just want to clarify…you only want to use HOUSEHOLD chlorine, such as Chlorox. And remember, don’t treat the water prior to storing it if you’re getting it from your tap.

[NeuroTypical]

Our car's 'get home bags' have a couple store-bought bottles in them only. We're preparing for an 8 hour walk through a town that had some sort of weather-related or man-mad disaster - water should be available along the way.

Our 'bug out bags' have a quality water filter, so we can pump it from wherever we find it.

Our food storage water is five 50-gal blue barells. We bought them used, they transported cola syrup once. Cleaned them out very thoroughly with soap, change the water every other general conference, add bleach.

LM

[hankpac]

A filter that filters not only visible grit, but particulates, and chemicals, and also bacteria and viruses and Prions. Expensive, but worth every penny.

Bleach only kills SOME bacteria and viruses. Those with a spore coat will survive. Boiling only kills SOME bacteria and viruses. Those with a spore coat will survive.

That isn't much of an issue under NORMAL situations like treating tap water that you are going to store, BUT>>>treating run off water, or creek water during a flood, or water from your curbside gutter (which is what you have to be prepared to do) is another matter.

[deseretgov]

Do if you had de-hydrated water would that leave you with just oxygen. Maybe get two paintball CO2 tanks. Fill one with pure oxygen then other with pure hydrogen. Open them so they spray into each other and BINGO water. Ok I just made that up. Liquid is probably the most compact form you can carry water in.

[pam]

One thing I've started doing is as I empty a bleach bottle or a liquid laundry detergent bottle I fill it up with water and mark it so. That way if I we were to lose water to our home I won't have to use good water to flush toilets etc.

[WyomingEMT]

22 years ago my wife and I purchased 20 5 gallon Mylar containers. This are flexable bags that fit into a small box that a women or large child could carry from the basement to the kitchen upstairs. I gave a prepardness presentation and passed around dixie cups with water out of one of these 22 year old, tap water filled Mylar bags. The water tasted great. The small 12 ounce mylar bags would be perfect for a bug out 72 hour bag. Mylar is the only way to store water.

[pam]

Did you have to put anything into the water to keep it that long?

[NeuroTypical]

Our car's 'get home bags' have a couple store-bought bottles in them only. We're preparing for an 8 hour walk through a town that had some sort of weather-related or man-made disaster - water should be available along the way.

Update: our get home bags now include small backpacking water filters. Further reflection makes it obvious that the wife/kids car is a 'stay put and wait for help' bag, and daddy's car is a 'take upwards of 3 days to get home' bag.

[WyomingEMT]

The question was ask if we put anything in tap water we placed in our mylar water containers. Nothing extra, the water in our area is treated, but thats it. Our basement is alway cool in Wyoming and dark. Hope someone else has had good luck with Mylar.

[pam]

Thanks for responding. I was curious. Unfortunately I don't have a basement so not sure if it is feasible to do this. I'll have to do some research.