Author Topic: Rotate Water Supply (Read 12980 times)

Chester32141 · « **on:** February 03, 2010, 07:02:03 PM »

Hey Y'all ... As part of my emergency kit I was going to buy a water filter that cost about $200 and then realized for the same money I could get about 1000 16 oz bottles in easy to store cases (50 cases) ... yeah it takes up a lot of space but it saves me from trying to dip water out of a ditch to run it thru a filter ... I may only set aside about 1/2 that quanity since it's just the two of us and stock up by picking up a couple extra cases a week when I see it on sale ....

My question is ... should I store it in such a way as to be able to rotate my stock or does water stay good indefintely ?

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2010, 07:05:50 PM »

The water you drink now was peed out by an australopithecine, and by a triceratops before him, and by a tetrapod before him, etc.

lee n. field · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2010, 07:14:21 PM »

I've read people to say that each bottle so stored should have a drop of bleach, to kill germs.

Regolith · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2010, 08:05:09 PM »

Quote from: Chester32141 on February 03, 2010, 07:02:03 PM

Hey Y'all ... As part of my emergency kit I was going to buy a water filter that cost about $200 and then realized for the same money I could get about 1000 16 oz bottles in easy to store cases (50 cases) ... yeah it takes up a lot of space but it saves me from trying to dip water out of a ditch to run it thru a filter ... I may only set aside about 1/2 that quanity since it's just the two of us and stock up by picking up a couple extra cases a week when I see it on sale ....

My question is ... should I store it in such a way as to be able to rotate my stock or does water stay good indefintely ?

Rotate it. It isn't so much a matter of germs, just that the plastic bottles can leach chemicals after some time. I don't think it's bad enough to become life-threatening, but it's probably a good idea not to drink it if you don't have to, especially if you have to rely on that water supply for an extended period of time.

The bottles usually have an expiration date on them for this reason. If you keep them in a cool, dark place, they should last longer than they would if they were in the sun or subjected to heat. Probably past the expiration date, though I couldn't say how long.

TechMan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2010, 08:28:31 PM »

I am considering product below for my emergency water supply. What do you think?
http://www.purpurifierofwater.com/products.html

Chester32141 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2010, 08:39:03 PM »

I've looked at several brands of bottles water and have not been able to find an expiration date ...

Fly320s · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2010, 08:58:35 PM »

If you want to buy bottled water, I think you would be better served buying 1 gallon jugs. They will be cheaper, nearly as easy to store, and have more uses once they are empty.

Regolith · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2010, 09:00:50 PM »

Quote from: Chester32141 on February 03, 2010, 08:39:03 PM

I've looked at several brands of bottles water and have not been able to find an expiration date ...

I've seen them on Aquafina bottles.

Balog · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2010, 09:23:46 PM »

I'd rather have a Berkey filter me-own-self. I imagine a bit of research on www.survivalblog.com might be in order.

PTK · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2010, 09:48:04 PM »

Here I was, thinking I was clever for having a reverse osmosis filter and many backup cartridges. I could literally filter sewerage and get drinkable water.

cassandra and sara's daddy · « **Reply #10 on:** February 03, 2010, 09:51:49 PM »

live on a river have filter if the generator goes tits up and i can't power well

brimic · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:03:34 PM »

Quote

http://www.purpurifierofwater.com/products.html

Spend the money on a Katydyn or Berkey filtration system.

I have a katydyn pocket microfilter and a stream (running from a spring fed lake a mile way) that runs right behind my house. I figure I have nearly a lifetime water supply to tap into if I ever needed it.

Headless Thompson Gunner · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:06:43 PM »

There are all sorts of nasty things that can get into ground water that a filter won't remove for you.

I make bottled water my primary source. I figure it's safer to rely on water that was safe to begin with, than to take water known to be unsafe and try to bring it back into spec.

Edit: To answer your question, the expiration dates printed on store-bought bottled water are intended as a retailer aid, to allow them to rotate their inventory as needed. They aren't an indication that the water has gone bad or is unsafe to drink. The various FDA requirements that apply to store-bought bottled water are supposed to be strict enough to ensure that the water is potable indefinitely, so long as you don't allow any chemical contaminants to leach in through the bottles.

I don't have any sources of cites for this info, so use it at your own risk.

Jim147 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:07:21 PM »

Just ran down to the cabin to look at some bottled water. Had to start keeping plenty on hand down here or I might reach for a cold one a little early on a hot summer morning. Mine expires 11-10-11.

I know that you get taste from the bottle sooner then that but if it was all you had it is still very drinkable.

The main problem I see is it is not moble. I have no plans for ever leaving here if something happens, but you can never say never.

jim

sanglant · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:38:53 PM »

~~you could build a real nice still for 200 bucks~~, umm bad idea

sorry

Balog · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2010, 10:41:41 PM »

Is mere possession of a still illegal, or does need to actually be making alcohol with it?

French G. · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2010, 12:25:46 AM »

I usually have purification tabs in any of my kits. The product won't taste good, but it won't kill you and the pills are light. I need to get a Katadyn, maybe a steri-pen too. Keeping tons of bottled water is never bad, a case in every vehicle is good, but I can carry a water filter that will make me several hundred quarts of water. Carry same several hundred, not so much.

Bipedalism really puts "stuff" in a sharp focus. I walked 20 miles up here one day. I had some snacks and water I bought at a store, misc. pocket litter,an airweight 642, and an unobtanium S&W 325. Somewhere about mile 15 and several straight miles of going up those little aluminum guns were entirely too heavy.

Chester32141 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2010, 01:10:37 AM »

Check this out ...

The Water Bob ... From Cheaper than Dirt ...

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/CAMP205-1.html

brimic · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2010, 08:27:28 AM »

Quote

Is mere possession of a still illegal, or does need to actually be making alcohol with it?

I would hope not, everyone would be guilty of owning a still under 'constructive possision' by the ordinary everyday objects that are lying around the home.

I wouldn't distill water anyhow. Its very energy intensive, and a lot impurities are not easy to remove by distillation- especially from water.

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Quote

There are all sorts of nasty things that can get into ground water that a filter won't remove for you.

I make bottled water my primary source. I figure it's safer to rely on water that was safe to begin with, than to take water known to be unsafe and try to bring it back into spec.

Therein lies the rub. If you need to be mobile, bottled water is very heavy, but a water purified is portable. If you are stayin in one place, your water stock will run out faster than you think. You need another way to get water pure enough to drink. It doesn't need to meet EPA or Clean Air Act standards, but good enough that contagions are removed to keep you from getting immediately sick.

If its a short term emergency, drinking water with some contaminants for a few days or a few weeks isn't going to matter much. If its a TEOTWAWKI situation, your lifespan is going to be cut in half anyhow, so the main thing you need to worry about is disease.

JonnyB · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2010, 10:08:45 AM »

Quote from: Fly320s on February 03, 2010, 08:58:35 PM

If you want to buy bottled water, I think you would be better served buying 1 gallon jugs. They will be cheaper, nearly as easy to store, and have more uses once they are empty.

I'd debate that...

The small bottles are typically made from better plastic, less gas permeable and more stable.

Gallon jugs are generally HDPE, which is less stable and allows lighter gasses to pass through it.

I'd use the clear PET(E) bottles for long-term storage. They're often identified by the "1" in the recycling icon on the bottom of the container.

jb

coppertales · « **Reply #20 on:** February 04, 2010, 10:22:54 AM »

I have thought about storing water for the big what if. I just keep a couple cases at home all the time and a case in each truck. I have my 50 gal water heater if things really go south. There is a flowing spring at my camp I can water up from and I have one of those pen jobs that kill all the bad stuff in the water. I have Brita filters to get rid of the chunky stuff first. chris3

Ben · « **Reply #21 on:** February 04, 2010, 10:31:32 AM »

Actually, I'll debate the debate on water bottle size. This may only be a CA environmental thing, but in the last month I noticed the small (1/2 liter?) bottles at Costco and other stores that sell by the case have changed. They are now incredibly flimsy to the point that they won't even stand up straight, and they have very thin caps that I don't think will take being opened and closed more than a couple of times, so totally non-reusable.

The liter and gallon (the one's Costco sells are the good, clear plastic) are still pretty heavy duty and would hold up well to storage and transport.

PTK · « **Reply #22 on:** February 04, 2010, 10:39:12 AM »

The .5L bottles "Kirkland" brand here, are quite good plastic still.

S. Williamson · « **Reply #23 on:** February 04, 2010, 11:37:14 AM »

Does adding pure grain alcohol (say, 1/4 cup) to water (say, a gallon) help in any way regarding microbe staunching, etc.?

I don't really like the idea of drinking bleach.

makattak · « **Reply #24 on:** February 04, 2010, 11:38:41 AM »

Quote from: Dionysusigma on February 04, 2010, 11:37:14 AM

Does adding pure grain alcohol (say, 1/4 cup) to water (say, a gallon) help in any way regarding microbe staunching, etc.? I don't really like the idea of drinking bleach.

Chlorine tablets.

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Author Topic: Rotate Water Supply (Read 12980 times)