Determine your family's daily water needs. Add up the following numbers to determine how much water you need to store (for at least 3 days, preferably longer) - each number represents a daily amount:

  • Each person will need 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of drinking water to drink.
  • For personal hygiene, each person will need 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of drinking water
  • For sanitary needs (toilet), each person needs an average of 2 to 7 gallons (7.6 - 26.5 liters), but this does not require drinking water. If it is possible to dig a pit latrine in your backyard, the amount of water required can be reduced slightly by providing water only for personal hygiene needs (washing hands and removing any faeces from the skin, such as those of infants or those suffering from diarrhea).
  • Don't forget about pets. They will also need clean drinking water.

Fill the water containers to the brim and then place the lid on top. Leave no air gap.

Find suitable ways to store water. It is desirable that you have a variety of containers of various sizes. While a tank or barrel can be a wonderful way to store large amounts of water, what if you suddenly need to take only what you can carry and go to another place where you are safe? What if old, weak or sick people are left on their own and have to carry large volumes of water? It is better to have containers of different sizes in stock, which will fit in any unforeseen circumstances.

  • Choose food-grade plastic water storage tanks or tanks made to store rainwater. Do not use plastic that will contaminate the water.
  • In the US, FDA approved #34 opaque containers may be used.

  • Store water properly. The shelf life of water may depend on the container used, temperature, access to light, etc. Polluted water will not do you any good, so stick to the following rules:

    • Use opaque water containers. If you buy bottled water in reserve, replace it every few months with new ones and either use the old supply for your needs or water your plants with this water.
    • Keep all water away from light. Don't give algae or other life forms the opportunity to develop, which is what they are waiting for.
    • Keep water away from anything that can contaminate it, such as pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, gasoline, paints, or any other chemicals.
    • Do not store water outside where it can freeze. An ice block is of no use when you don't have the heat to melt it. The only exceptions are those who live in regions with a very hot climate, they can store a small amount of water in the freezer, as it will melt in the heat.

  • Purify your water supply if you are going to store it for more than 6 months. If you do not want to purify the water, replace it with fresh water and get rid of the old one (or use it for watering).

    Apply labels and change the water periodically. You need to date each bottle of water so you know when it needs to be changed. The frequency of replacing old water with new water is quite suitable, which would coincide with the replacement of batteries in your fire alarm or with the clock change to winter / summer time.

  • Find out how to properly purify water if the need arises. Water from domestic and drinking pipelines does not need to be cleaned, in which case only replacement is suitable. Water from sources that do not carry out water purification can be purified as follows;

    • Add four drops of unscented household bleach per gallon of water (1 drop per liter of water).
    • Mix well.
    • On the other hand, you can use products from camping or disaster preparedness stores that are made specifically for this purpose - water purification. Research the market first to find the most suitable product for your needs and preferences.

    • In the issue of long-term storage of drinking water, two patterns are clearly visible. We have become more concerned about proper nutrition and the use of high-quality drinking water, and living conditions in a big city simply make us do this.

    Now, few citizens will risk drinking tap water, and using it without purification for cooking is even scary. Hence, the use of all kinds of home filters, the purchase of high-quality drinking water in supermarkets and stores, and the need to stock and store water at home are in vogue.

    In addition, urban residents, of course, visit public places of recreation: cafes, canteens, restaurants, where the need for clean drinking water is no less. But here, visitors have to take on faith the fact that pure drinking water is used to prepare first courses, and sometimes second or numerous berry drinks.

    How serious is the storage problem?

    Let's think... Clean drinking water is always needed at home. In addition to quenching thirst, cooking, proper and healthy "watering" of children, you can remember something else. For example, driving around the city in a car in the summer without some water is not always a joy.

    Traveling far and near... Trips to the country house, to the river, just to relax without a bottle of water will not do. And if 3-4 people go on such a trip? That's right, the number of liters of liquid should be more. And if - this is a trip by car to the southern regions, when it is not known what will be in roadside stores. Of course, it is better to travel with your proven water supplies.

    In general, how cheerfully they sang in one wonderful Soviet comedy film: “Because without water - neither there nor here!” And one cannot but agree with this.

    Proper storage

    For long-term and proper storage of drinking water, it is necessary to fulfill the conditions associated with lighting, ambient temperature and containers (or containers).

    Ideal storage conditions are:

    • dark place;
    • temperature from 15 - 25 C?;
    • glass or aluminum container.

    But, we agree that storing water or taking it with you in glassware is very inconvenient (it is heavy and the volumes are small). And the way out is seen in the widespread and massive use of plastic containers (bottles, bottles and bottles).

    Storage in plastic

    Containers in which water will be stored must be made of food grade plastic. The label of such a bottle should be labeled PET (polyethylene terephthalate - plastic is not dangerous to humans). There is also a PVC marking (PVC). is a material with toxic properties. The containers are suitable for storing detergents, but not for drinking water.

    Containers made of melamine, white dense plastic - are categorically not suitable for storing drinking water. Their purpose is to store technical liquids. Such containers are visually recognizable (especially by motorists) and when tapped on them, they emit a muffled low sound.

    If there is no information on the plastic bottle about what material it is made of, all this can be checked. It is enough to press and run your fingernail over the surface, the PET bottle will be restored, a characteristic white mark will remain on the PVC container.

    Additional storage conditions

    Drinking water often comes to us from the store, which means you need to carefully read the label and pay attention to the following:

    • conservation method. There are three of them: with an antibiotic, carbonation, ozonation. 1st well increases the shelf life, but this water can destroy human immunity. The other two are harmless, but after opening the container, the water must be used within a few days;
    • spill period. The closer it is, the more useful substances are stored in the water;
    • spill site. It is better if the water is harvested in your area, and the path to the store is not far, and in terms of shelf life, this is good.

    In general, drinking water in stores in sealed containers, under the right conditions (dark place, temperature 15-25 C?) can be from 6 to 12 months without loss of useful properties. If we approach the storage of drinking water with all seriousness, then we must remember that after the “store” container is unpacked and all the liquid has been used, it is not very desirable to use the same container for re-storing water. Since even PET containers, after about a week, they begin to saturate the water with a harmful substance: vinyl chloride. So, it would be more correct to use plastic bottles one-time or as containers for short-term storage of drinking water. It is better to contact trusted suppliers, for example, you can order water to the office at the Raiske Dzherelo company - the quality there is at a good level.

    Summing up

    Drinking water can be stored in plastic containers for up to 12 months, provided that the bottling and packaging was carried out in the factory. In order for the liquid to retain its properties, it is necessary to observe the storage conditions (darkness, and temperature).

    At home, it is permissible to store drinking water in "plastic" only for a short time (up to 10 days). When traveling, plastic bottles are suitable for water supplies, but, say, in a week you need to get rid of such containers. For long-term storage of water, glassware should be used.

    At first glance, any person, there is nothing easier than water! But at the same time, it is also the most complex liquid: having neither taste nor smell, it has a huge range of useful qualities, in the absence of which no living organism will survive.

    Each food product has its own shelf life, depending on many factors. There is, of course, such a period for water. Let's see how to properly store water so that its beneficial properties remain as long as possible. First, you need to make sure the quality of the water itself. It is also important that the factor under what conditions and in what container the beneficial properties of water will be preserved, if possible, for a longer period.

    Water of good quality in Kiev, first of all, should be clean. Therefore, it should not contain chlorine and various additional substances. As for the container, we can offer several types of it for storing water: plastic, glass, clay, metal and other vessels. It all depends on the quality of the water itself.

    Container for storing drinking water

    Recently, it has become very popular to use plastic or metal containers for storing water, which are subjected to special treatment before use. A small amount of liquid from twenty to fifty liters can be stored in ordinary plastic containers with lids. At the same time, do not forget that the storage temperature should not exceed twenty-five degrees. It is desirable that the containers do not fall under direct sunlight. When purchased water is used, its shelf life will be indicated on the container. If you follow all these recommendations, you will definitely retain your useful qualities throughout the entire specified period.

    We advise you not to store water in melamine containers. Although it looks attractive and durable, scientific studies have shown that melamine emits harmful substances. And therefore, such water can harm your body, and in some cases it can activate the action of cancer cells.

    The safest water storage materials are polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PE and PET). And one of the most dangerous is BPA (bisphenol A), which causes disruption of the endocrine system. Also remember that PVC (polyvinyl chloride) emits harmful toxic substances. And what is very important, please note: you cannot categorically use such a container again.

    You always need to know that water during long-term storage reduces its quality characteristics. Therefore, the terms of its storage in glass containers range from two to three years, and in plastic - from three months to one year. Any carbonated water, as well as mineral water, has a short shelf life.

    Water in large polycarbonate bottles from nineteen to twenty-five liters retains its beneficial properties throughout the year. The material from which the containers are made, even when reused, does not harm human health. But it should be remembered that only water is stored in such a container. Polycarbonate easily absorbs odors, and, accordingly, any other product will change its useful structure in such a container.

    If you consume water in large quantities, then it is best to order it in Kiev through the website.

    Spring water is dangerous
    — Igor Nikolaevich, can water from the spring be collected in canisters, plastic bottles?
    - It is best to collect spring water in glass containers. Plastic containers are not the best option, as under the influence of sunlight, plastic can release a dangerous substance - vinyl chloride. It is also necessary to monitor the labeling of plastic containers. For example, marking in the form of "PVC" or a triangle with the number 3 indicates that the bottle is made of harmful polyvinyl chloride and water cannot be stored in it. You can collect water in plastic containers from bottled water, but do not store it in the light.

    It is undesirable to store spring water in aluminum containers. Aluminum gradually passes into the water and adversely affects the kidneys. In addition, aluminum negatively affects the function of the parathyroid glands. Long-term consumption of water with a high content of aluminum is one of the main causes of Alzheimer's disease in the elderly.

    How to properly collect spring water?
    - It is not recommended to collect it in the spring, when the soil is saturated with water, and therefore with harmful substances that pass into the water. This is best done one and a half to two weeks after the end of the rains or after the establishment of dry weather.
    Before collecting water, the container should be rinsed with spring water, but pour it downstream of the spring.
    Water should be drawn from the stream, and not from the reservoir that forms under the stream.
    It is desirable to collect water from the horseback. It is necessary to pay attention to the external properties of water, indicating its poor quality: a musty smell, turbidity, the presence of foam.

    Shelf life - a week
    - How long can spring water be stored and how to do it correctly?
    - Spring water quickly loses its properties, so it should not be collected for future use. The acceptable shelf life of spring water (preferably in the refrigerator or just in the cold) is 3-4 days. The maximum storage time is one week. Further, irreversible changes begin in the water. Even if the water is clear, it does not mean that it is of good quality. Chemical processes take place in it, microorganisms multiply. This is evidenced by the appearance of a smell, an unpleasant aftertaste.
    In any case, spring water should be boiled before drinking. Especially if the source is unknown to you.

    If the water turns green...
    - Our readers complain that they took water in the spring, and it turned green ...
    - Spring water is "living" water. In addition to various chemicals, it contains various microorganisms and microalgae. In the light, they reproduce using light energy, as well as substances from the air and water. Therefore, the water turns green. This may also be due to dirty containers, which serve as a source of nutrients for microorganisms.
    - What can mean a black coating on the bottom of the canister, in which there was spring water?
    - The color of spring water and sediment can be associated with the presence in it of organic colloidal compounds of iron, sulfur, manganese, etc. Black sediment is most often formed by manganese compounds, the high content of which our soils are distinguished by. This is not industrial manganese, but natural. These are the characteristics of our soils.
    You can not drink water with a black sediment and take water from a source whose bottom has a black coating.
    In addition, the previous purpose of the canister should be taken into account. Maybe some chemicals or non-food products were stored in it.

    About bottled water
    — Igor Nikolaevich, at the end of our interview, please tell us why bottled water does not spoil? Is she going through some cleaning?

    How to store water? Until recently, such a question would have caused frank bewilderment and laughter. Why store water when it's always at the tap - crystal clear and refreshingly delicious? You can drink it as much as you like to your heart's content!

    The daily norm of water for an adult is on average 2-2.5 liters.

    Now we have come to the conclusion that tap water for drinking and cooking has to be purified by passing through a filter, or buying “spring” water in polymer bottles and bottles of various capacities. We keep it in them. Can water be stored in plastic bottles?

    Water from different sources can vary greatly in composition and content of various micro and macro elements, aerobic bacteria. To make it drinkable, tap water is purified in several stages: mechanical filtration, sedimentation, filtration through a layer of sand, aeration, sterilization. In this case, chemical reagents are used (calcium hydroxide, ammonium sulfate, ozone or chlorine), which help to purify water from the smallest suspended particles and almost all types of bacteria. However, the quality and taste of drinking tap water leaves much to be desired.

    With a long settling of tap water, floating flakes, hard sediment, and a greenish tint often form. It is simply dangerous to drink such water.

    How to store water

    Returning to the issue of plastic bottles, according to manufacturers, it is possible and necessary to store water in them.

    Plastic water containers are mainly made from PET(E) (polyethylene terephthalate) of the appropriate food grade, which is neutral, that is, it does not interact with water and is harmless to health. The plastic marking can be seen - it must be squeezed out on the bottle. Sometimes there are bottles made of plastic class PVC (it is toxic) or melamine (not suitable for storing water).

    Pay attention to the labeling of plastic bottles. The PET(E) mark means that the packaging is harmless to health.

    Water storage time in plastic bottles depend on its quality and average 6-12 months, so when buying it is advisable to pay attention to the date of the spill. For storage, it is better to choose a dark place away from batteries and heaters, the optimum temperature is 20-30 ℃. Water in open bottles should not be kept for more than 5-7 days.

    tap water for storage, it is recommended to pre-filter and pour into a glass, enameled or plastic (PET) container, let it stand for several hours (leave overnight), without closing hermetically so that chlorine vapors disappear. Then the water containers should be tightly closed and stored at room temperature (no more than 2-3 days) or in the refrigerator.

    If you prefer to drink only boiled water, then it is better to keep it in an enamel bowl under a tightly closed lid in small volumes, that is, do not boil for future use. How much boiled water can be stored depends on its initial composition and quality, the degree of preliminary purification. Boiling kills all bacteria that exist in water, including beneficial ones, and when boiled water sits for a long time, microorganisms enter it from the external environment, so the effect of boiling is reduced to zero.

    Do not store boiled water for more than 12 hours.

    Well or spring water it is best to store in glass or ceramic (clay) containers. In hermetically sealed form, it can retain its natural beneficial properties for up to 3 years. Metal canisters or barrels for storing water should only be taken enamelled or coated with another neutral layer from the inside.

    What is structured water, how to get and store it

    Now many people talk about the benefits of structured water and its beneficial effects on the human body, down to the cellular and gene levels.

    Structural changes in the composition of water occur as a result of freezing or heating. Thus, British physicists recently stated that at a temperature of 40–60 ℃, water changes its properties and there is reason to consider this the second state of aggregation of liquid water.

    At home, structured water is prepared by freezing in several stages:

    1. First, clean filtered water in an enamel bowl is placed in the freezer for a short time, until a thin top layer of ice appears. This edge is removed and thrown away, as it contains deuterium and tritium - heavy water that freezes at temperatures of 0.28-3.8 ℃.
    2. Next, the water is frozen to 2/3 of the volume, the remaining unfrozen water is drained. It contains ultra-light isomers that freeze at temperatures below -1 ℃, all salts and chemical impurities.

    The remaining ice will be pure structured water, which is convenient to store in the freezer or bottle defrosted and refrigerate. What bottles can you store water in? For defrosted structured water, it is preferable to use glass bottles, since plastic does not maintain the structural state of water and destroys it during storage.

    The ideal conditions for structured water are the presence of diffused sunlight and storage in a metal container with an admixture of silver or stainless steel. The experiments of Russian scientists revealed a significant increase in the effect of structuring water in silver dishes under the influence of light - by 7.35% in 2 hours.