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Water - Keeping it Safe

Before a Disaster

Every home should have a supply of water stored for at least three days of emergency use. Store one gallon per person per day, and one quart per small pet per day.

If possible, store only municipal or bottled water, because these sources are inspected and tested regularly for many different contaminants. Water from a private well or spring is not safe to store.

If you choose to store bottled water, buy only water that has the IBWA or NSF seal, or an NYSDH certification number. These letters stand for International Bottled Water Association, National Sanitation Foundation, and New York State Health Department, respectively. These organizations require periodic water testing and inspections of the bottling facility. Only sealed, unopened bottles should be stored.

If you store municipal water, also known as "city water" or "county water", follow these instructions carefully. The container used for storing water must be clean, and made for food and water use. Thoroughly washed 2 liter soda bottles or plastic juice bottles are excellent choices. Milk jugs are not a good choice, because it is difficult to remove all milk residue.

If you choose to store well or spring water, treat it immediately before use.

Household bleach is a good disinfectant to put in the water for storage. Add one-quarter teaspoon, or 16 drops from a medicine dropper, per gallon of water to be stored.

Store the water in a dark place, away from substances like gasoline or kerosene, which give off vapors that can go through the plastic. Be sure the place where the water is stored can hold the weight of the water. Rotate or use the stored water supply regularly.

After a Disaster

The American Red Cross recommends the following steps to treat water after a disaster:

In addition to having a bad odor, and taste, water from questionable sources may be contaminated by a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria and parasites that cause diseases such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis.

All water of uncertain purity should be treated before use. To treat water, follow these steps:

• Filter the water using a piece of cloth or coffee filter to remove solid particles.
• Bring it to a rolling boil for about one full minute.
• Let it cool at least 30 minutes. Water must be cool or the chlorine treatment described below will be useless.
• Add 16 drops of liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water, or 8 drops per 2-liter bottle of water. Stir to mix. 5.25% sodium hypochlorite should be the only active ingredient in the bleach. There should not be any added soap or fragrances.
• Let stand 30 minutes.
• If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, add 16 more drop of chlorine bleach per gallon of water (or 8 drops per 2-liter bottle of water), let stand 30 minutes, and smell it again. If it smells of chlorine, you can use it. If it does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source of water.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services offers these tips:

• Unless you are absolutely certain your home water supply is not contaminated by flood water, purify all water before using it for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth, or dishwashing.
• If the water contains sediment of floating materials, strain it through a cloth before treating it.
• Water can be purified by boiling or by chemical treatment.
  • Boiling
    Boil water at a rolling boil for 10 minutes to kill any disease-causing bacteria in the water (note: the Red Cross indicates boiling for one minute; when in doubt, more is better). Add a pinch of salt to each quart of boiled water to improve the taste.
  Chemical Treatment
  Chlorine bleach such as Clorox or Purex may be used to purify water. Check the label to make sure that the active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is 5.25%. Do not use bleach which contains detergents. Use the directions above from the Red Cross to mix and test.
  
  • Iodine
    Household iodine from the medicine chest or first aid kit will purify water. The iodine should be 2 % U.S.P. strength. Add 20 drops per gallon of clear water and 40 drops per gallon of cloudy water. Seal the container and let stand for 30 minutes. The water supply will be safe for an indefinite period
  • Water Purification Tablets
    These tablets are sold at drug stores and camping supply stores. Use according to the manufacturer's directions.