DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS | BASIC Prepping 101 | Water Storage, Filtering, Purification | Shallow Water Wells | Prepping Books
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UPDATED: Aug 15, 2025
Water Storage, Filtering, Purification
Without Electricity... Can You Live Like It's 1880!?
THE MOST SERIOUS THREAT WE FACE IS...
The Power Grid being hacked/disabled if at war.
“If the grid went down for a long enough time…
90 percent of the U.S. population would die from starvation, lack of water, and social disruption. We are talking about total devastation.”
-- Ambassador Henry Cooper, Former Director of U.S. Strategic Defense
COMMON TERMS: a SHTF event (Shit Hits The Fan, i.e. a major disaster), HOMESTEADING (backyard garden/farm to a full family farm/ranch)
HOW MUCH WATER?
FEMA recommends 1 gallon of water / per person / per day.
The editor uses much less: about .7 gallons per day.
It would be a good idea for you to actually measure the amount you use in one day to know for sure and not guess.
SPRING, FILTERED, PURIFIED, and TAP WATER is only good for maybe 3 to 6 months and IS NOT A GOOD SOLUTION.
DISTILLED BOTTLED WATER is a good for 8 months to 1 year. Distilled water is easily available at most grocery stores and is a cheap and an effective starting point for new preppers. The process of distilling water (boiling, evaporation) eliminates bacteria and chemicals from the water making it store longer.
PORTABLE WATER CONTAINERS
Everyone should have a few of 3 to 6 gal water containers for hauling water (a set for clean water and dirty water for later filtering). Size depends on whatever YOU can carry, minimum 2, one for each arm. Water weighs per gallon: 8.33 pounds or 3.78 kilograms.
Personal Water Filter
Sawyer Mini [video] ~$25 (for individuals) and Sawyer Squeeze [video] ~$40 (larger/family use) with 2 Cnoc Water Pouches [video], 1 dirty water pouch and 1 clean water/drink pouch
Portable Water Containers
Igloo 6 Gallon Water Containers ~$20/ea at Walmart
I bought 3 total, 2 for gathering water (one for each arm/hand for balance), and 1 for salt-water conversion "distillation" use to fresh water.
Tub Water Bladder - The Water Bob ~$35 on Amazon [video]
Stores up to 100 gallons of water. Many of us who grew up in Hurricane Country know the first thing families did to prepare was to fill the tub with water. That water would more often be used to flush the toilet, but it could be used for other things too. The Water Bob and other similar products is a water bladder that sits in the tub. It can be filled above the tub rim and provides an interesting, advanced version of this classic hurricane tradition.
Bulk Water Storage
Emergency Zone 5gal Water Boxes ~$230 for 20 boxes (100 gallon storage) [video]
It's the most cost-effective bulk long-term (5+ years) storage solution I've seen. The concept repurposes the Restaurant-grade, industry standard liquid food box containers to store just water instead. These are really solid and strong units, quick and easy to put together and fill. Each kit comes with everything you need including the water treatment (Chlorine Dioxide - CL02), water-faucet attachment and hose. You can only stack these boxes 2 high - one on top of another. Consider large garage shelves if you need to fill a wall or storage area. I creatively hid my behind furniture and accumulated some in an empty space and through a black bed sheet over them.
WEBSITE: https://www.emergencyzone.com/collections/water-solutions/products/water-storagetreatment-set
Water Purification Chemical: CL02 [video]
My preferred Water Treatment Chemical: Aquamira Chlorine Dioxide (CL02).
Pressurized Water Bladder/Reservoir for Backpack
AquaMira 2L Pressurized Water Reservoir ~$50 (for individuals) [video]
Useful for having to leave the home during the day in a disaster and taking water with you. It's washable, so put dirty (connect to filter) or clean water in it, pump it up and it squirts water out through straw. Amazing product, the ultimate for backpacking and staying hydrated.
A MUST HAVE: PERSONAL WATER FILTRATION units/straws/filters FOR EACH PERSON.
These are often used by backpackers, hikers, and campers. They take dirty water from a lake, creek, stream, or even pond or ditch and filter it where you can drink it safely. They do not filter salt-water (there are actually other solutions for that).
As the ultimate backup, you should have one for every child, teen, and adult that they carry with them in their pocket at all times during a disaster. These are often very affordable (around $25 each, cheaper in quantity) and will most likely save that person's life in a disaster.
EDITOR'S PICKS: Sawyer Mini (for individuals) and the Sawyer Squeeze (for a family) with 2 Cnoc Water Pouches, 1 dirty water pouch and 1 clean water/drink pouch.
GROUP / FAMILY SIZE: There are larger filters available, some for very large groups [one example], but even if you have them, each person should still have their own personal water filter for ultimate safety because without water - you die.
THE BEST SOLUTION and ALTERNATIVE TO WATER STORAGE
SHALLOW WATER WELLS are actually very popular and are not regulated by city and county planning/zoning. Many who garden and/or keep a nice lawn often install a shallow well so that it doesn't impact their municipal water bill. Another reason is water systems include chlorine in the water that will actually kill the healthy bacteria in the soil which is required to grow healthy plants and grass.
IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY, adding a back yard shallow water well can be cheaper in the long-run and a vital key to your survival. Most cities and counties allow you to add a shallow well without any prior approval from their planning/zoning board. These are commonly installed and used for watering lawns and gardens without using and paying for municipal water rates, and which also have chlorine in it that kills grass and plants. Well pipes and pumps (electric, solar, and manual) can be bought and installed yourself. MANUAL HAND PUMPS have limitations of about 20 to 25 feet deep. Electric Pumps can draw water from further down even if solar powered. FOR DEEPER WELLS you will have to hire a well drilling company.
DIY - DO IT YOURSELF?
Save Money? Yes. There are many options. Do your own research on YouTube for more details.
MOST POPULAR DIY OPTION ARE STAND-POINT WELLS with an old-style manual hand pump. I
t is also the most affordable at about $600 to $1000 depending on options.
WATER WELL BASICS
How do Water Wells Work?
7 min
SAND POINT WELL
How to Install Your Own Back Yard Water Well
with Manual Hand Pump
8 min | Silver Cymbal
SAND POINT WELL
Adding an Electric Pump to a Manual System
9 min | Silver Cymbal
Over time, all stored water will start to taste bad, have an odor, and grow bacteria that makes it unhealthy and unpleasant to drink. Over a longer time, it will also start to build up slime which can grow bacteria also. The storage environment also effects the growth of bacteria. The cooler the better, since bacteria grows more quickly in hot conditions and most in direct sunlight. This is why the best water containers block the sun and are not transparent.
There are two types of water purification and storage strategies:
Short Term (3 to 12 months), and
Long Term (1 to 5 years).
Chlorine is cheap and commonly available and is often used to treat water for bacteria.
Clorox/Chorine (CL01 liquid) can purify ("kill bacteria") in water for 3 to 6 months of storage. Unfortunately, liquid CL01 itself expires after about 1 year and become ineffective.
CONS: CL01 can be much more dangerous to mix if you get things wrong. Chlorine (CL01) build-up can become toxic over time depending on how your mix it.
Calcium Hypo-Chloride Powder aka "Pool Shock" - breaks down to Chlorine (CL01) when added to water.
Cannot be used for long-term water storage. Can be stored in powder form for 10 years. After use, still only purifies water for 3 to 6 months.
Make sure to get one that is minimum 65% Calcium Hypo-Chloride.
PROS: Cheaply available, used in the Pool Industry, many preppers tend to recommend Calcium Hypo-chloride is because it is the preferred long-term storage form of Chlorine (CL01) since it has a shelf stable life (in dry powder form) of 10 years, while Chlorine and Bottled Clorox in liquid form only last maybe a year.
CONS: CL01 and Calcium Hypo-chloride can be much more dangerous to mix if you get things wrong. Chlorine (CL01) build-up can become toxic over time depending on how your mix it.
DANGERS: These chemicals are much more dangerous to store, are much more corrosive (can eat through metal shelves), and flammable upon interactions with other things. These chemicals are similar to the Chlorine Gas weapons used in World War 1. So, if you are educated in its controlled storage, mixing, and use then you are safe. If not, you can kill yourself and others.
Chlorine Dioxide (CL02) for long-term water storage of up to 5 years. a completely different chemical than CL01 (Chlorine)
PROS: Doesn't have the chlorine taste, is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and prevents slime build-up. Bacteria can grow in slime, so CL01 is not a complete solution against it. If you use city or municipal water, you've probably already been drinking CL02 in your tap water.
See AquaMira Chlorine Dioxide. This product is sometimes included in bulk water storage kits.
CL02 is the only 'complete' long-term solution against bacteria, slime build up, and odor.
OTHER USES: Also sold as a superior anti-bacterial and anti-virtual cleaner for use in clinical, hospital, restaurants, and the home kitchen. It was used to combat the spread of COVID. It is also used to properly kill molds and mildew without causing spores to spread - unlike with chlorine (CL01).
DAVE'S REPLY:
HEAT & SUNLIGHT: Keeping water out of sunlight and even warm environments does significantly decrease the odds of bacterial growth.
TAP WATER: Filling any type container with 'tap water' is okay, so long as you do a yearly flushing (empty, washing, refill). The warmer the water is stored, the more frequent you should flush it. I use a store-bought water filter in my kitchen and in filling water storage containers.
LONG-TERM STORAGE: Requires chemical treatment to prevent bacterial, taste, and slime problems. The most effective chemical treatment against bacteria, slime, and odor for long term water storage (easily 5 years) is Chlorine Dioxide (CLO2). While Chlorine (CLO1) is commonly used to treat bacteria in water, like in pools and spas, it does not address taste and slime build up issues like Chlorine Dioxide (CL02) does. Since bacteria can grow in slime, Chlorine (CLO1) is not the recommended for 'long-term water storage.'
DISTILLED WATER: Store-bought 'distilled water' jugs, the bacteria and impurities have already been boiled out of it/removed (as if you had done a long term chemical treatment). You can also buy and setup a water distiller in your kitchen to boil/purify your own water before storing.
For those who have more space, have a garage, and/or rent/own a home, this section will give a preview of the more advanced and more costly water storage options. All water still needs CL02 (Chlorine Dioxide) to be treated.
Other ideas include using a Backyard Pool to collecting rainwater from your gutters.
