Bottle Water "101"

   
Bottle Water



  I was asked at church “how long can you keep bottled water?”  This is a very good question as it relates to “BEING PREPARED” and your emergency preparedness kit.  FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency offers the following information:

 You should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one gallon of water daily just for drinking however individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet and climate.

To determine your water needs, take the following into account:

·       One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.

·       Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more water.

·       A medical emergency might require additional water.

·       If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary. In very hot temperatures, water needs can double.

·       Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.

It is recommended you purchase commercially bottled water, in order to prepare the safest and most reliable emergency water supply. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open until you need to use it. Observe the expiration or “use by” date. Store in cool, dark place. 

Storing the water in temperatures of 35 to 50 degrees F will extend the shelf life, while freezing the water will help it last almost indefinitely. Make sure you leave about 2 inches of air space at the top of the bottle to allow for the water to expand as it freezes. Even if water has been stored for longer than the recommended time, as long as it has been stored out of direct sunlight to prevent algae growth, it can still save your life. It just might not taste that good. Pouring such water back and forth between two jugs will aerate it by infusing oxygen back into the water. This will usually improve the taste of "flat" water. 

Water that has not been commercially bottled should be replaced every six months; otherwise The Red Cross recommends replacing commercial bottled water on an annual basis.

For more information on water treatment click here:  Click Here

This was last published in our St Mark Presbyterian Church Bulletin, October 2013.