El Creston Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association

Emergency Water Storage and Safety



Home storage of water is sometimes necessary in emergencies. Unfortunately, stockpiling a safe backup water supply for drinking and cooking isn't as easy as filling containers and storing them on a shelf until they are needed. In fact, a number of water-borne outbreaks are linked to improper or unsanitary home water storage.

Even if stored water supplies are properly collected in sterile containers and treated to remove viruses and bacteria, the presence of disinfectant resistant disease agents may still pose problems. The most effective way to remove these organisms remains filtration, disinfection and boiling.


Ways stored water may be contaminated

  1. Contamination via hands while collecting
  2. Contaminated collection vessels (re-used containers)
  3. Re-growth of bacteria
  4. Potential presence of organisms
  5. Resistance to disinfectants

Storing Drinking Water

Use new or sterilized storage containers made of food-grade plastic (something in which you would normally store food or drink).

Wash hands before collection of water and avoid touching the mouth or inner lid of the storage vessel.

Carefully fill the vessel with water from the highest quality source available.

Boil or chemically treat potentially contaminated drinking water.

Store containers in the coolest, darkest space possible.

Disinfect the storage containers frequently.


Disinfecting Water

Vigorous boiling for three minutes will kill any waterborne pathogen.

Common household iodine (two percent U.S.P.) may be added using five drops per quart of clear water or 10 drops for cloudy water. Mix and wait at least 30 minutes. Commercial chlorine and iodine tablets are also available at drug, camping and sporting good stores.

Chlorine Treatment: Small amounts - check label of common household bleach for instructions or add 10 drops of a one percent bleach solution per quart of clear water. Double amount if water is cloudy. Mix and wait 30 minutes.

If the strength of the bleach is unknown, add ten drops per quart or liter of filtered and settled water. Double the amount of chlorine for cloudy, murky or colored water or water that is extremely cold.

Chlorine Treatment: Large Amounts:

1 percent chlorine, 10 drops per quart - 40 per gallon (1/2 teaspoon)

4-6 percent chlorine, 2 drops per quart - 8 per gallon (1/8 teaspoon)

7-10 percent chlorine, 1 dtop per quart - 4 per gallon