Water Storage
By and large, water is more important than food to store for an emergency. The general recommendation is 1 gallon (3.7L) per person, per day. That amount varies based on individuals, climate, and levels of exertion.
While not intended for long-term storage, having a pack of disposable water bottles is generally a good idea. For bulk water storage, there are a few options -
- Buying and rotating disposable water packs:
This is generally not recommended due to the price, environmental impact, and need to constantly be used and replaced. (Not intended for long-term storage.) - Bulk water storage:
Having a dedicated water container is a bulky but effective way to store water. I personally use Aqua-Tainers that are 7 Gallons (26.5L). For individuals with time and the space to do so, 55-gallon (208L) barrels are a bulky but effective way to store large amounts of water.
Water storage should be kept in a cool location and out of the sun. Heat and Light are the two recipes for growing all sorts of nasties in a water supply.
Personal note: I found that out the hard way when I didn't bleach my secondary containers as often as I should have, being a Fire Lookout. Algae growth can make you feel horrific!
Now, water is heavy, so be sure to purchase containers you can lift to refill and rotate. Water that is filled from the tap doesn't need to be treated (if you are in a location that treats the municipal water supply.) Rotating the water every 6 months to a year is completely fine. If you don't want to rotate the supply, you can buy water treatment options to increase that time to a few years (or add the required amount of bleach, 1 tablespoon/gallon.)
If you are filling your dedicated storage container from a water source without municipal additives (such as from a well, etc,) then treating the water with bleach or other additives before storage is a must to prevent algae growth.
If you want to store water in your car for an emergency, I recommend lifeboat rations. They are made for fluctuating temperatures (both extreme heat and freezing temperatures.) They have a shelf life of up to (but realistically, more than) 5 years.
I would not recommend storing bottled water in your car unless it is regularly used and otherwise rotated. The sunlight and temperatures break down the plastic containers.
Personal note:
I found a bottle that had been in my car for a year or two. It looked like a snow globe due to all of the floating plastic particles that had been shed from the degrading bottle.
At Home/Emergency Use:
After hours of trying to find a filter that was NSF certified, I concluded that, while the Lifestraw isn't NSF certified, their contracts and utilization with the United Nations speak for themselves. There are very few filters that have such certifications within a feasible price range, and therefore, Lifestraw was what I finally settled on.
For at-home, water filtration options, you have a variety of options including Brita filters for common contaminants/taste. I personally use a Lifestraw Home Dispenser (the same method as a Pitcher, both have activated carbon filters) and plan on combining that with a Family/Community option (for viruses, bacteria, cysts,) in case of an emergency.
If the Lifestraw filters can perform in horrific conditions when used for charity work, that is good enough for me in case of an emergency, and they have an indefinite shelf life.
For camping or less-frequent use, I’d recommend a big-brand option, such as MSR, Sawyer, or Katelyn.
Additional water storage information: https://www.ready.gov/water