Welcome!
Welcome to week #2 in the “72 Hour Kit Ideas: A week by week approach” series.
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Last Week
I hope all of you were able to gather some water you can carry to your 72 hr kit supplies last week.
Week #3: Making Water Safe
If during an evacuation of your area you were able to take your car, it would be very reasonable to take three or more gallons of water per person for your family. You should have at least this much water ready to throw into your car at a moment’s notice.
But what if you are forced to evacuate your area on foot? It’s simply not realistic to carry that much water over any real distance. So, the fact is, you can’t carry enough water for three days in your actual pack.
But, it is highly likely you will come across alternative water sources in one form or another: a lake, pond, backyard pool, stream, river, rainwater, etc. If you come across other vacant homes, you may be able to use hidden water sources there: ice cubes, hot water tanks, pipes, toilet reserve tanks, etc.
However, since you will be uncertain of the source or cleanliness of these water sources, you will need a way to make them safe to drink. This week, add supplies to your kit that will allow you to make alternative water sources safe to drink.
There are many methods of making water safe to drink. There are pros and cons to each method. No one method will work well for everyone in all situations. Choose what works best from the following suggestions for your family right now!
Suggestion#1: Bleach
If you choose this method, you will need to keep bleach in your 72 hour kit (find a small container at a dollar store or in the travel section). Make sure to rotate it every few months! You may also want to consider adding a drink mix to make treated water more palatable. Print out the following instructions from FEMA and keep them with the bleach:
Use only regular household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented bleaches, colorsafe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners. Because the potency of bleach diminishes with time, use bleach from a newly opened or unopened bottle. Add 16 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of bleach per gallon of water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight bleach odor. If it doesn’t, then repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes. If it still does not smell of bleach, discard it and find another source of water.
Suggestion #2: Boiling and Distillation
If you choose this method, add a large pot with a handled lid (see illustration below), a small cup, string, and a small stove (with fuel) to your 72 hr kit. Print these instructions from FEMA and keep them with your pot:
Distillation involves boiling water and then collecting the vapor that condenses back to water. The condensed vapor will not include salt or most other impurities. To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hang right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water), and boil the water for 20 minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled. (see illustration)
Suggestion #3: Water Purification Tablets/Treatment Solutions
If you choose this method, make sure that the option you purchase includes directions and be sure to include them in your kit. If you can’t get some at your grocery store, here are a few options: Aquamira water treatment , purification tablets. You may also want to consider adding a drink mix to make treated water more palatable.
Suggestion #4: Water Filtration Bottle
If you choose this method, you can get two different bottles: One for around $20 and one for around $30. You can also get a Seychelle bottle for just over $30.
Suggestion #5: SteriPen
If you choose this method, purchase one (or more) of the SteriPens and add it to your kit.
Suggestion #6: Water Filters
If you choose this method, purchase one (or more) water filters and add it to your kit (here are those available through me at THRIVE Life and a few more that are available through Amazon.
What We Have Done in Our Family
When we first started our 72 hour kits, we used just purification tablets because they were cost effective. I still keep some in our kits. We have since added four filtration bottles: one in each kit. I like the convenience and familiarity the filter bottles provide. Plus, they are light and will allow us to filter 120 gallons of water without changing any filters.
How about You?
Leave me a comment and tell me how you’ve decided to add the ability to purify/filter water to your kit.
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| Week #1: Water To Carry | Week #3: Plan Your Food | Series Into: 72 Hour Kit Series, A Week by week approach |
Becky is a wildlife enthusiast and pet and livestock care expert with a diploma in canine nutrition. With over a decade of experience in animal welfare, Becky lends her expertise to Simple Family Preparedness through insightful info about pets, livestock, bee keeping, and the practicalities of homesteading.
Last time through we added bleach and a pack of purification tablets. We were able to increase our supply of tablets this time, we now have 2 bottles in each backpack. We are still looking at a steripen, and it is still out of the budget lol/
Yay for adding a bit each time!
I found bleach on sale for $1 a gal a while back and we also have the berkey sports bottles and a berkey here at the house with extra filters. I would also use YL lemon oil if it came down to it. I still need to find small eye dropper bottles to put bleach in for our BOB but I am thinking about that. I have empty essential oil bottles that drop one drop at a time so I am thinking about using that.
I’ve also used the droppers that come with infant pain meds (after they are well-rinsed of course)
That’s okay, Misty! Glad you had a good time and hope you learned more good information
I purchased a water bottle from a big box store but didn’t realize until I got home that it is designed to be used along with purification tablets, not on its own. So I don’t really have any additional potential water, just another layer of safety. The store was out of more purification tablets, but I will check when I am there again. Are the water bottles in this post designed to be used alone or with the tablets? Thanks!
Oh, no good! The ones I’ve link to above do not need additional tablets.
Hi,
I like your blog site, I just ordered some long term storage foods and I’m looking at getting the Sawyer point zero two water purifier and a carbon water filter.
Thanks,
Mo
Sounds great Modesto!
Wonderful, this answers my question from week 2. I think we will go with purification tablets and purification bottles if I can find them. This is a great site, so glad I found it on pinterest.
I’m glad too Linda!
I’m just starting to prepare. Thank you for helping me not feel so overwhelmed. I’m concerned about the safety of the water supply. Thank you so much for explaining the various water purification tools that we could take should we have to evacuate. You sound so prepared. I’m looking forward to that sense of calm that being prepared will bring me!
Welcome to the site Kathryn! And just so you know, I still have a LONGS ways to go myself! Every little bit counts! (-:
Misty, have you seen these filters before? https://www.sawyer.com/sawyersaves//products-pointone.html
I volunteer with Compassion International, and they just started providing these point-one systems to families in third world countries. You can attach the hose/filter set-up to any bucket you already have. What I love about it most though is that instead of needing to replace the filter every so often, it comes with a plastic syringe you use to backwash it with clean water and keep using it! We were told these filters can last up to a million gallons of water! I got to try it in person at an event and I loved it so much that I went to their website and bought one to add to our kit.
I just found your site through Pinterest….it is amazing. I have been collecting things for our 72 hour bags by using various web site lists. Yours is the first to be so thorough and organized. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to review your site and figure out what I still need. Thank you so much for taking the time to help us get organized. It is a bit overwhelming.
On the topic of water, I read that if you are using a water filter it is a good idea to pour the water through a coffee filter into a jar first to take out lots of particles….then use your filter. It will extend the life of your filter considerably.
Thank you for your kind words Susan! I’m glad it has been helpful!
And yes, pre-filtering is a fabulous idea! I should mention it in the post. (-:
I love all of your ideas. You have given us some terrific things to consider for your BOB kits. A thought I had was to include a few coffee filters in your 72- hour kits. That way you could easily filter sediment from your water before purifying it and they wouldn’t add much weight at all.
GREAT idea eNVy! I will add it to the list!
I would love to be able to purchase a water purifier for all family members. May take a while to get the ones that can filter several hundred gallons before needing to be replaced.
Yes, I had to save up for quite a while! (-:
Do you have information on purifying water from a pool or spa? We live in an area with lots of pools, and we have a spa treated with bromide, but having trouble getting info on purifying it. jI’ve also heard once the power goes off, the filter stops, so alge can build up quickly.
The Aquapail! Seriously! The largest will treat 5000 gallons of sewer water: even more pool water! It is a fantastic product. If you have a pool, you have a HUGE supply of emergency drinking water!
Purification tablets turned out to be much less expensive than I expected, and one package will treat enough water for the two of us for three days. I will add filtration bottles as we repeat the series.
Sounds great Aimee! Isn’t it fun when things are less than we expect? (-:
Love your survival kit series!
I put some Aquamira tablets in my Amazon cart. I’ll also be ordering water filtration bottles from my co-op.
Fabulous Erin!
im going to add a small bottle of bleach and water purification tabs. then work up to getting 4 or 5 water filtration bottles and eventually getting a aquapail
Good thing the series repeats every six months, right? (-:
We have bleach, but I should get more; and I have with and the filtration bottles. I hadn’t thought of the purification drops. I will start saving for the aquapail though. The Aquapail so cool, I didn’t know about those. Thanks!
LOVE the Aquapail Hilary!
We’ve decided that our best approach will be having more than one method. Our first is bleach, and an eye dropper. We will also be getting a steripen.
When you can afford it, more than one effort is always the best approach!
I just found your site through Pinterest and I am excited to get our emergency kits up to date and effective. Thanks!
You are welcome Rachel!
I am just getting started, like many others, and have filters on my list. I would like to get some portable water bottle filters as well as a household filter.I will start setting aside some bleach, then go from there.
Sounds like a great plan Barb! Every little bit helps!
Just found this site. So much great information and we are right in disaster alley so I’m going to get started!
Welcome Karen!
I am looking at getting both water filtration bottle and a steri pen.
Sounds fabulous Deidra!
I just found your website and am adding to my emergency kit that I had already created. I’m hoping to get some water purifying tablets and a couple water filtration bottles. I think that will work best for us at the moment.
Both are great options Natalie!
i bought pouches of water for my bug out bag. i have 12 to start with and i also have a steel water bottle. that way i can boil water in it if i have to
Steel bottle is a fabulous idea Chonte!
I think I will have to start small with the purification drops, and the filtration bottles. I hope to work up to the water filter and the aquapail though. The Aquapail so cool, I didn’t even know about those. How big is the smallest Aquapail?
It is 0.6 gallons and about 7 inches tall Erin.
I just started this journey. Right now I have a case of water in my car, a few gallons in the garage. I think I will start saving for one of the water filtration Aquapail.. Thanks for all of your helpful suggestions!
Welcome to the journey Pam! Sounds like you have a good start! The Aquapail is fabulous, WHEN you can afford it! (-:
This is incredibly helpful and I’m so glad you are putting together all of these tips for us! My family has a kit for hurricane preparedness, but I was troubled by the water preparation. This is invaluable information. Thanks a bunch!
You are welcome Ashley!