BUCKHORN CLIFFS

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Water

Store it, purify it, and prove it is safe

Water is the first thing you run short of and the fastest way to get sick. Cover all three jobs: hold a reserve, treat more when it runs out, and check what you drink.

Start with the full guide

Field guideStockpile Essentials Field GuideThe master checklist: 239 items across 16 categories, the shelf life class of each, and the 20 multi-use items that cover the most jobs. 39 pages.Open the field guide Master guideWater: storage and purificationHow much water to store, how to store it, and how to make more safe to drink when the stored supply runs low.Open the full page Master guideWater purification methodsMaking water safe: calcium hypochlorite treatment, well water risks, water testing tools, and what to do when city water is cut off.Open the full page

Keep a way to purify more water

Stored water runs out. A good filter plus pool shock turns questionable water into safe water for as long as you need. The starred items each do far more than water.

Type
Event
Shelf life
More

Formulas 9

Formula Ascorbic acid to dechlorinate water and supply vitamin C Ascorbic acid powder gives you a shelf-stable vitamin C source and a simple way to neutralize chlorine in treated drinking water. Handle with care Formula Clearing and Clarifying Cloudy Water Cloudy water clears in stages: let the heavy grit settle, help the fine particles clump and drop, then filter and disinfect what is left. Bentonite has a part to play here, but a smaller one than its reputation suggests. Handle with care Formula Disinfect water barrels and cisterns with calcium hypochlorite Strength: ~200 ppm; Solution: 2 gal per 10 gal; Contact: 6-24 hours Hazardous Formula DIY Soda Bottle Water Filter A layered bottle filter clears cloudy water and cuts odor and taste, but it does not make water safe to drink. Always disinfect what comes out. Handle with care Formula Improve the taste of treated or stored water (baking soda) Dose: pinch / quart; Per gallon: ¼-½ tsp; When: after full treatment Handle with care Formula Iron, Manganese, and Odor Removal from Water The rust stains, black grit, and rotten-egg smell in well or stored water come from dissolved iron, manganese, and sulfur, and potassium permanganate is the classic fix: it turns them into solid particles you then filter out. Hazardous Formula Purify water with calcium hypochlorite (pool shock) Stock: ~1,000 ppm; Dose: 1 tbsp stock / gal; Wait: 30 minutes Hazardous Formula Purify water with Lugol's iodine (2%) Clear water: 5 drops / quart; Cloudy/cold: 10 drops / quart; Per gallon: 20-40 drops Handle with care Formula Wax-Dipped Matches for Waterproofing Ordinary matches fail exactly when you need fire most, when damp air, rain, or a sweaty pocket has spoiled the heads. A thin coat of paraffin seals each match against moisture so it survives storage and the odd splash; you scrape the tip clean and strike it like any match. Hazardous

Skills 2

Skill How to source, carry, and filter local fresh water Two 3-gallon AquaBricks on a frame pack: six gallons, about fifty pounds Skill Winterize an RV water system Bypass the hot water tank, then run every faucet until antifreeze is visible

Guides 4

Guide Boroux Legacy gravity water filter: why I switched The Boroux Legacy is my top gravity filter: seamless 304 stainless, 3 gallons, no power, and up to 12,000 gallons per pair of filters. Guide How water becomes unsafe (contamination risks) Store at least one gallon per person per day; replace stored water every six months Guide Water purification methods Store 1 gallon of water per person per day: three days bare minimum, two weeks the target Guide Water: Storage and Purification Store one gallon per person per day, half for drinking and half for hygiene, and aim for at least a two-week supply at home. When stored water runs low, know how to make more safe to drink.

Spare parts lists 1

Parts list Spare parts: Water Treatment & Storage When the tap or well is down, clean water is the first thing you run short of. Keep a way to store it and, more importantly, a way to purify more.

Reference charts 1

Reference Conversions and dosing: measure anything, even without tools 1 tsp = 5 mL. About 20 drops = 1 mL. A US nickel weighs 5 g. 1 ppm = 1 mg per liter.

The checklist

Tick what you already have. Checks are saved on this device.

Water and Purification Store it, purify it, and prove it is safe

Store it

Purify it

Prove it & move it

Audit questions

From the walk-around audit. Honest answers show the gaps.

  • How much potable water is stored inside your home?
  • Is it accessible without power?
  • Is it protected from freezing?
  • Are you dependent on municipal water?
  • If you have a well, does it require power?
  • Is there surface water on or near your property?
Score this in the audit

Common mistake

Storing water but keeping no way to get more when it runs out.

Skills to learn

purify with chlorine or iodine · shock a well · keep a filter working

When it matters

BlackoutWinter stormFloodWater outageRising prices and shortages