G
Guest
·But not a drop to drink………
Like 90% of Americans my potable (safe to drink) water is delivered to me by a municipal water authority. We take this for granted. When we turn the valve water comes out that's the way it's always been. But it may not be like that in the event of an emergency.
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This municipal water is delivered by gravity feed from a tower a couple of miles up the road. To fill that tower it takes pumps powered by electricity. In the event of a "grid-down" situation those pumps won't work and eventually the supply of municipal water will end.
Then what?
Have you given it any thought?
A person must have water to survive. Experts disagree on exactly how much water it takes to survive but suffice it to say, you've got to have it and more is better.
Not just any water will do. Obviously salt water is a no-go. Dirty water will hydrate you but will kill you in a different way. Waterborne diseases kill millions in the third world and those same diseases will show themselves here during a prolonged emergency.
Storing water isn't really a solution because no matter how much you lay up eventually you'll run out. You need a plan to secure potable water perpetually.
Ponds, Lakes and streams are obvious sources of surface water but they are also the most likely to be contaminated. If this is your plan then you'll need to have on hand the means to purify that water.
You can use chemicals, you can boil it or you can filter it.
Filtering is by far the best course of action. Boiling requires time and fuel and chemicals make potable water taste awful.
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Water filters are so important that the "Two is One" rule should be applied. Pictured above are two gravity water filters. These should be high on the list of anyone serious about self-reliance and preparedness.
Ultimately the best solution to the problem of securing a perpetual supply of potable water is to have a well. Unless you live beyond the geographic limits of a municipal water supply you probably don't have a well. I didn't. But I felt that this was important enough to justify the expense to have one put in.
So a few years ago I had a 117-foot well drilled on my property and then installed a Monitor Model 11HD hand pump. This came on the heels of having the solar panels installed and the delivery of an 8'X20' wood shed. I took some ribbing from my neighbors about it with them asking if there was something coming that they didn't know about. I just laughed with them.
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There's a peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that you've checked an important item off your list.
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All God's creatures need water.
Like 90% of Americans my potable (safe to drink) water is delivered to me by a municipal water authority. We take this for granted. When we turn the valve water comes out that's the way it's always been. But it may not be like that in the event of an emergency.
This municipal water is delivered by gravity feed from a tower a couple of miles up the road. To fill that tower it takes pumps powered by electricity. In the event of a "grid-down" situation those pumps won't work and eventually the supply of municipal water will end.
Then what?
Have you given it any thought?
A person must have water to survive. Experts disagree on exactly how much water it takes to survive but suffice it to say, you've got to have it and more is better.
Not just any water will do. Obviously salt water is a no-go. Dirty water will hydrate you but will kill you in a different way. Waterborne diseases kill millions in the third world and those same diseases will show themselves here during a prolonged emergency.
Storing water isn't really a solution because no matter how much you lay up eventually you'll run out. You need a plan to secure potable water perpetually.
Ponds, Lakes and streams are obvious sources of surface water but they are also the most likely to be contaminated. If this is your plan then you'll need to have on hand the means to purify that water.
You can use chemicals, you can boil it or you can filter it.
Filtering is by far the best course of action. Boiling requires time and fuel and chemicals make potable water taste awful.
Water filters are so important that the "Two is One" rule should be applied. Pictured above are two gravity water filters. These should be high on the list of anyone serious about self-reliance and preparedness.
Ultimately the best solution to the problem of securing a perpetual supply of potable water is to have a well. Unless you live beyond the geographic limits of a municipal water supply you probably don't have a well. I didn't. But I felt that this was important enough to justify the expense to have one put in.
So a few years ago I had a 117-foot well drilled on my property and then installed a Monitor Model 11HD hand pump. This came on the heels of having the solar panels installed and the delivery of an 8'X20' wood shed. I took some ribbing from my neighbors about it with them asking if there was something coming that they didn't know about. I just laughed with them.
There's a peace of mind that comes with the knowledge that you've checked an important item off your list.
All God's creatures need water.
