Storing and preserving water

[Hammock Hamster]

Hi all,

Since the influx of doomsday/prepper sows on tv I have decided to start prepping on a small scale. Not so much for Armageddon but in case of local power failures, floods etc... That would leave us either cut off or unable to buy supplies for a period of time.
I'm fine with the usual food supplies that can be easily stored however I would struggle with clean water if the mains supply went.

I have read that water can be bottled in old (sterilised) pop bottles and kept for long periods by adding a few drops of bleach and agitating them occasionally.

What I am trying to find out is if anyone does this as the info I have found is mainly from America and it says to use chlorinated laundry bleach.
I had a quick look at the local supermarket but nothing was labelled as simply "chlorinated bleach" and I didn't trust the likes of domestos not to be full of other chemicals.

Does anyone know of a uk brand of bleach that would be suitable for the process above?

Cheers all and I hope everyone had a great Christmas.

Hamster

 

[Bucephalas]

I know nothing about water treatment but I wouldn't want to drink water which had bleach added.
I keep water hidden away in my local woodland for months on end. As long as its kept out of the sun (hidden underground in my case) its been just fine.
If I had any worries I would just boil it for a few minutes.

I'll watch this thread with interest though.

 

[wicca]

The water in the tanks on my boat (I live aboard) is very often in there for long periods of time, especially for a trans ocean voyage. I carry spare water when going far offshore and I then use army surplus 25 litre water containers. As Bucephalas says, if you allow light to get to the water it will fairly quickly turn an attractive shade of pale green with algae and tastes like drinking water from a fish tank... So, use black (or dark green) surplus containers not white/translucent, to help keep the water drinkable longer, and try to stow them out of direct sunlight anyway.

Periodically I flush the boat's tanks and the 25 litre containers with water and 'Milton', that's the baby bottle sterilising product in either tablet or solution form, it tells you the correct concentration to use on the packet/box.

When I fill the tanks I then drop a few 'Milton' tablets in, and that proceedure has always been successful in providing drinkable water after many weeks. Then I suggest you set a routine where you change your stored water supply every few months.

 

[British Red]

I wouldn't want to drink water which had bleach added.

Don't drink tap water then - it has bleach and a lot nastier stuff in it!

To the OP, water does not go off - its a simple molecule.

Just rinse bottles, fill with tap water and store in a cool dark place. Chlorination agents are used to kill micro organisms. These have already been removed from mains water to safe levels.

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Thanks Red,

I'm not sure if the sources I was citing were using stream/well water as opposed to mains water as I plan to do which may explain their treatment.

Any ideas how long mains water can be stored for (in dark conditions), I tend to find if I leave water in my water bottles, aluminium or plastic, between trips it seems to "go off" for lack of a better term though I don't know if this is just a taste/smell thing as opposed to any bacteria as I always tip it and refill with fresh.

Cheers, Hamster

 

[Niels]

You know there's actually just been a really good youtube vid on this. It doesn't answer your question but it does illustrate what you mean. I think. I thought it was good anyways:

[video=youtube;zfo7pq_9Ozw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfo7pq_9Ozw[/video]

 

[Elen Sentier]

Is there anything wrong with using a millbank bag and boiling ... just as we would at camp ??? For stream water. I live on well water, not on the mains and have no problems at all. I also grew up on well water. I don't want to be on "gov'mint water" as every time I spend a few days with any friend who is I suffer mouth ulcers and upset stomach.

We seem to have the nous to work in camp but for some reason don't connect to use it in our homes ... porky quoi ???

 

[markie*mark0]

were in the uk, rains every other day, harvest your gutter water, filter -> treat and drink

 

[Hammock Hamster]

Thanks Niels,

That's very similar to a thread I found on another forum.

I am planning on collecting water from other sources, primarily rainwater as I have no natural resources locally, and have the facility for filtering/treating however I want a ready supply in hand as dependant on the scenario in which I need it may be difficult to do so - it also means I will have ready access should the mains go down suddenly during a dry period.

Mainly I'm just trying to find out the best way to store water on a smallish scale for long periods, looking like a dark, cool place is the way to go though still undecided on the bleach - I may consider using at the point of drinking (like a cheap version of chlorine tabs) to kill off anything that has occurred during storage instead.

Any other thoughts on this appreciated.

Cheers, hamster

 

[Imagedude]

I dehydrate mine and keep it in a Tuppaware box.

 

[British Red]

Actually gutter water goes off pretty quick - it picks up all sorts of dust, soil and bird crap off your roof.

Tap water will be good pretty much forever HH - but bacteria can get through your container as can light. Plus some conatiner leach stuff into the water (e.g. pop bottles).

Personally I would buy those big five litre still water from Tesco or wherever and replace with tap water once a year (the plastic is designed to keep water in).

Failing that a few 25l water containers are always handy - and cheap and have taps etc. Just chuck 'em on your kitchen counter over the sink and you have water on tap!

 

[rik_uk3]

Is there anything wrong with using a millbank bag and boiling ... just as we would at camp ??? For stream water. I live on well water, not on the mains and have no problems at all. I also grew up on well water. I don't want to be on "gov'mint water" as every time I spend a few days with any friend who is I suffer mouth ulcers and upset stomach.

We seem to have the nous to work in camp but for some reason don't connect to use it in our homes ... porky quoi ???

Elen, do you have a water supply near you, stream or river? If you have buy a good water filter.

This is what I have at home (have a stream out back)

http://berkeywaterfilterseurope.co.uk/big-berkey-water-purifier.html

and

http://www.lifesaversystems.com/lifesaver-products/lifesaver-jerrycan

Couple of drops of household bleach in a pop bottle of water will keep a very long time, don't worry about chemicals leaching from the plastic, yes it happens, no it won't kill you.

 

[wingstoo]

Remember that a thousand litres of tap water costs about £3:00 so a lot cheaper to buy and store than any shop bought stuff. Storage containers add a bit to the cost though, but IBC are sometimes easy enough to obtain.

 

[Elen Sentier]

Rik, the water comes into the well from a spring. Environment test it regularly to make sure nothing's gets in it from the farmland and the farmer is not a mega-user of filthy chemicals . We have a brook on the farm land 1/4 mile away also regularly tested by Environment lot, that goes down to the Wye a 2-3 miles away. There is no absolutely problem, but thanks for thinking about me.

 

[Miyagi]

Instead of using puritabs, has anyone considered using Camden tablets?

Homebrewers use them to sterilise and stop fermentation without affecting the taste.

Just a thought.



Liam

 

[wingstoo]

Instead of using puritabs, has anyone considered using Camden tablets?

Homebrewers use them to sterilise and stop fermentation without affecting the taste.

Just a thought.



Liam

Not sure it would help to sterilize though Liam

this product is also used to eliminate both free chlorine, and the more stable form, chloramine, from water solutions (i.e., drinking water from municipal sources)

 

[Miyagi]

Not sure it would help to sterilize though Liam

Really?

I used them to sterilse equipment and vessels before each use.

Hadn't considered them for stored water as opposed to wine... needs investigating methinks!

edit;

I've just asked a homebrew guru we all know.


Liam

 

[Miyagi]

Not sure it would help to sterilize though Liam

You are correct, as I've been informed they aren't that strong.

Och well, just a thought.

Cheers


Liam

 

[Home Guard]

How about using Silver to purfiy the water, apparently the intenrational space station uses it and the greeks did.
http://www.futuretwit.com/2010/10/how-to-use-silver-to-purify-drinking.html

I imagine that just place a piece of silver in the bottom of each bottle should work.

 

[Elen Sentier]

I dehydrate mine and keep it in a Tuppaware box.

Yay !!! Want! Want!