Author Topic: SHTF Tiny little taste of the real thing! (Read 3695 times)

Alan R McDaniel Jr · « **on:** October 11, 2012, 04:29:22 PM »

The water went off for about four hours this afternoon. When they got it going again the said do't drink it till Saturday Afternoon without boiling it. I'm a little ahead of the game about keeping some stuff on hand (like cases of water) but decided to go grab a few more while there were some. Our little town had quite a run on water and ice. I'm sure every store is sold out by now.

One of the first things that is going to be a huge trump card in an emergency situation is the ability to get and store potable water (potability is going to become a very relative term also).

While this situation is not a REAL SHTF scenario by any stretch, it is interesting to see how really unprepared most people are. Even my lovely little wife came in and allowed as to how she was going to get some cases of water and keep it under the bed. I just smiled at her and wondered what she thought those six things sitting out in the garage are? She's coming around.

I am going to re-evaluate my own preparedness though keeping potable water shouldn't be much of a problem.

Alan

Ranger99 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 11, 2012, 04:39:51 PM »

if you are not, you should be aware that
bottled and jugs of water sold at most
stores are not suitable for long term storage.
you'll want to look into getting some
suitable potable water storage containers
and a means for sanitizing water for
use at your home.
and you should always keep a supply of
unscented chlorine bleach also. ( this is
needed for sanitizing the water containers
at intervals also)

Ranger99 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 11, 2012, 04:41:38 PM »

i should also say that i do have
bottled and jug water here and at
the farm. i rotate it out as needed.

Alan R McDaniel Jr · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2012, 04:55:03 PM »

I keep rotating though mine, but I'm going to look into getting some long term containers that I can put back and forget about until.......

Alan

Ranger99 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 11, 2012, 05:05:35 PM »

i've been using the reliance aquatainers for
years for camping, hunting, and emergency water
storage .
have some that will be 20 years old at the end
of the year. they get a hot bleach water douche
twice a year, and are kept out of the direct
light most times.
also have a 30 gallon food grade barrel and
a hundred-something gallon at the farm

too many tornadoes here not to be ready.

Alan R McDaniel Jr · « **Reply #5 on:** October 11, 2012, 05:10:30 PM »

Amazing to me too how much water we use (lose/waste). We take a lot of things for granted.

Alan

Ranger99 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 11, 2012, 05:13:28 PM »

when you have to haul whatever water
you use, you begin to appreciate being
able to turn a little handle and get
all you want.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2012, 09:38:01 AM »

haul water , I had to haul water to water cows for over 10 years in the summer it gets old filling 4 ,55 gal barrels every third day. I keep water on hand for drinking and washing and flushing etc. Adding bleach is ok but be sure of the amount as both bleech and water purfication tabs both can cause kidney problems in over 40 folks. use drops not ozs in most cases. Filters make alot of sense I have some draw thru. a fellow poster suggested here. I want a larger one to supply our needs. We are on a well so we do have an advantage .

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2012, 10:10:09 AM »

Water is bulky, so I think a pocket portable filter for each person in the house as well as a large filter you pour water in the top for filtration and a tap at the bottom for general house use. We have a salt water pool with over 9,000 gallons. From what I have read it is drinkable, but it is salty to the consistancy of eyedrops. It can be used for cooking, just don't add salt, or filtered for drinking.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #9 on:** October 12, 2012, 10:29:32 AM »

You can store LOTS of water easily if you buy it in the dehydrated form. All you need to do is add water!

Anyone want to buy a bridge?

Ranger99 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 12, 2012, 03:37:59 PM »

they used to have the dried water
in a family-sized value pack at megalomart,
but the manager told me someone felt offended
and uncomfortable around it, so they had
to discontinue offering it.

Dee · « **Reply #11 on:** October 12, 2012, 05:28:33 PM »

Water is bulky, and not that easy to store. Why not just by a Berkley or some other water filtering system? In the long run, it will cost you way less, and storage is no longer an issue.

Alan R McDaniel Jr · « **Reply #12 on:** October 12, 2012, 07:34:07 PM »

With a filter you make an assumption that there will be a source. Having a source is going to be the main problem.

Alan

Alan R McDaniel Jr · « **Reply #13 on:** October 12, 2012, 07:35:09 PM »

Having a filter is a good idea but it's not a solution to getting to stay put temporarily.

Alan

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #14 on:** October 12, 2012, 10:47:10 PM »

old stored water is better then no water. You allways have the option of boiling it or using tablets or bleach if your leary about it.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #15 on:** October 13, 2012, 04:46:00 AM »

Not only do I have water stored in a pool, there is a creek behind my neighbors house. So having a ready supply of water is not a big problem for me. Filtering or boiling is my alternative. I have to drain some water out of my pool after a heavy rain to keep it from overflowing and damaging the pool. Now, I have had to add some water during very dry summer months, but I have learned it is better to keep it near maximum instead of right in the middle. It is more efficient to drain, than to add. That usually gets me by during drought conditions. I do have city water, but it can get expensive.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #16 on:** October 13, 2012, 04:57:04 AM »

i have an artisian well........will that get me by??

mechanic · « **Reply #17 on:** October 13, 2012, 05:28:45 AM »

Add bleach to stored water at the rate of 2 drops per qt. of water, then fill to the brim, little or no airspace, and seal tightly. Store out of sunlight. If there is a good seal, it should last a mightly long time.

I use this same formula in the backwoods for drinking water, if I don't have time to boil it. I've even used "stump water" and have never had problems. Filter through a coffee filter and add bleach.

Ben

JonnyReb · « **Reply #18 on:** October 14, 2012, 10:24:10 AM »

Never had to use it but I uncovered an old "springhouse" on the backside of my creek. While my house is only about 90 years old, there were others here preceding it and the original inhabitants had dug up a natural spring and lined it with rock shelves down to about 3 feet deep. Its a natural fridge and i'll assume the water is pure although i'd still treat it before using. Pretty cool, literally, to know that in the event of no power/water we'd be ok courtesy of some folks who died 150 years ago. J

Ranger99 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 14, 2012, 11:33:34 AM »

i'm jealous j.r.

my "paw-paw" had a spring on his place
when i was a little kid, and it was some good
cold clear water. they had what they called a
spring box, instead of a spring house. same
principle, just a large rock "box" with a tin lid
on top you lift up to get to the goods. and a
big rock on top to keep the coons out of
the butter

JonnyReb · « **Reply #20 on:** October 14, 2012, 01:46:47 PM »

"Springbox" is what it is, thanks Ranger I termed that wrong. The hole is round and about 3 feet across, perfect size to cover as you mentioned. Right beside this spring, is a now fallen ancient beech tree that was easily several hundred years old and was literally covered with the carvings of dozens of couples and individuals who had left their mark in the 1800's-early 1900's. Always fills me with wonder to observe the now heavily underbrushed hillside and imagine the workday dinners, social gatherings, laundry, baths and who knows what else that took place between and around that tree and the spring. I was blessed years ago to be visited by a 96 year old woman(and her son) who's father built my house. One of the first things she ask me was if the tree and spring were still there. Was glad to say yes. The tree was struck by lightning and has since died and fallen. Glad the springs still pumping. J

Ranger99 · « **Reply #21 on:** October 14, 2012, 02:42:38 PM »

now. . .there was (is) such a thing as
a spring house. built like a small
well house or root cellar with troughs
for jars or crocks, like for butter,milk. . . .
these are where the spring is way uphill
and flows down pipes or troughs into the
spring house and into the troughs for cooling
and out to the outlet, animal water trough, etc.

clum sum · « **Reply #22 on:** October 14, 2012, 02:56:53 PM »

My old pitcher pump broke, so I went to ACE to get a new one and was greeted by a young man who asked if he could help. I told him what I was looking for and he looked like I had asked for a left handed monkey wrench. Had to explane what it looked like and the had to find it myself . A lot of young people are realy going to have it hard when there is no more batteries left.

Ranger99 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 14, 2012, 03:12:45 PM »

"the thingy to twist and get water
quit squirting water". . . . .

blind ear · « **Reply #24 on:** October 15, 2012, 01:21:26 AM »

Quote from: clum sum on October 14, 2012, 02:56:53 PM

My old pitcher pump broke, so I went to ACE to get a new one and was greeted by a young man who asked if he could help. I told him what I was looking for and he looked like I had asked for a left handed monkey wrench. Had to explane what it looked like and the had to find it myself . A lot of young people are realy going to have it hard when there is no more batteries left.

-
Go to Home Depot (or any big box home supply) and ask for a "Bastard Cut File" and see how they look at you. A four in hand just confuses em. ear

tomtomz · « **Reply #25 on:** November 15, 2012, 11:54:58 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on October 13, 2012, 04:57:04 AM

i have an artisian well........will that get me by??

That depends... Is it drinkable?

Typically artesian wells have a high sulfur and mineral content
which I find unbearable to drink.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #26 on:** November 15, 2012, 01:27:22 PM »

Quote from: tomtomz on November 15, 2012, 11:54:58 AM

Quote from: 45-70.gov on October 13, 2012, 04:57:04 AM
i have an artisian well........will that get me by??
That depends... Is it drinkable?

Typically artesian wells have a high sulfur and mineral content
which I find unbearable to drink.

400 gallon airiater stays full under natural preasure
pump takes it from there

best water around.....after airiating

clum sum · « **Reply #27 on:** November 15, 2012, 01:45:30 PM »

Love My sulfur water stright out of the well, keeps a lot of undersrables away when it passes. Thank it makes Me more potent.

geezerbiker · « **Reply #28 on:** December 20, 2012, 09:22:43 PM »

My house has a long disused well in the backyard. I plan to pop the cap and see of there's water in there one of these days. The neighbor told me that it was used by previous owners to water the lawn about 25 years ago.

I suppose that it's probably contaminated and that's why it's no longer used but if filtered and boiled, it would be good in a pinch.

Tony

Ranger99 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 21, 2012, 11:38:38 AM »

you may want to check the history of
the house. i had looked at a property
a good while back, and found out later
that it had been a meth house. i was
afraid of what might be down the well
and also thought some former "guests"
might come by at a later date for who
knows what.