Obtaining, Storing, and Purification of Water.

[Josey]

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[sirgonzo420]

I haven't used it yet, but I feel better already just having it:

http://base0.googlehosted.com/base_media?q=http://images.cabelas.com/is/image/cabelas/s7_515890_imageset_02%3F%24main-Large%24&size=20&dhm=125d4acf&hl=en

[Korbin Dallas]

I like these:

http://www.thereadystore.com/water-storage/water-storage-containers/5-gallon-stackable-water-container

$12.25 each, 5 gallons, stackable, and blue to keep the light to a minimum, protect from algae.

[Korbin Dallas]

A good portion of my stored water is for cleaning, hygiene, etc.. Even thouth I'm in suburbia, I'm close to several sources of water. A spring, an underground res. and a lake which the water district uses to store water. Most of my neighbors only know about the lake.

I agree, filtration is the key.

[FiftySense]

Due to the weight and consumption levels, Water is not very practical to store in large quantities which is why I also have the Katadyn Pocket and Vario water filters. I believe the Pocket version will provide up to 13,000 gallons before needing the cartridge replaced, and is also the most durable and extensively used field filter ever made. When it comes to storage, make sure you are using BPA free water containers. Most camping stores sell these in 5 gallon versions. Don't forget the Solar Shower packs also.

[Ironfield]

Living in the Middle East does rather hamper one’s ability to prep due to the lack of water. Living in the UAE, I would say 95% of our drinkable water comes from desalination plants. At my own villa we usually have 5 of those 5 gallon water bottles that get rotated out as we use them and get filled up from the bottled water company we use. The tap water is drinkable but is generally used in cooking, bathing and watering the garden.

In addition to the 5 gallon containers and the two slabs of bottled water we have three 500 gallon-ish tanks feeding of the main lines which are kept topped off by the automatic pumps.

So for the three of us on the property, plus our dogs and cats, the water supply should last us a little while, but for any event that was to be drawn out we would be in some very dire straits.

Anyone got any thoughts or opinions on how I could better improve my situation
-Ironfield

[Ash_Williams]

Anyone got any thoughts or opinions on how I could better improve my situation

Move?

Or if you have enough land you can do your own desalination using the sun. You'd need a fair sized area. You want a hole of some sort, and a clear "lid" for this hole that slopes inward (imagine a glass satellite dish). The idea is that you throw your dirty or salty water into the hole, and then sun shining through will evaporate it and the condensation will build up on the lower part of your your lid. The slope of the lid directs the drips that form towards the center, where you are going to put a jug to catch them as they fall. Then us a berkey or equivalent to filter this water.

[Silver Moon Rising]

The AquaCone is a solar-powered water desalination device which could also be used for polluted bodies of water.
More info at: http://www.solarsolutions.info/products/AquaConepage.html

http://www.solarsolutions.info/artwork/3aquacones.jpg


The same company also makes the AquaPak which is used to pasteurize fresh water.
More info at: http://www.solarsolutions.info/products/AquaPakpage.html

http://www.solarsolutions.info/artwork/apatangleredone.jpg

[skid]

Best way to obtain and store water is to live near a source of clean water such as a river, stream or lake, or have a well.

For purification, have a Big Berkey or Katadyn filter.

I am somewhat lucky that I can drink my well water as is (excellent water!), I have natural springs on my property that I can drink untreated, as well as a glacial sourced river that could probably be drank with no ill effects.

[johnlvs2run]

I like these:

http://www.thereadystore.com/water-storage/water-storage-containers/5-gallon-stackable-water-container

$12.25 each, 5 gallons, stackable, and blue to keep the light to a minimum, protect from algae.


That's a good deal, and they're /2\'s, plus $10 shipping and $2.57 for a spigot.

The dollar store here has 5 gallon "water" containers for $13, and 11 liters for $6.50 but unfortunately they're /3\'s, polyvinyl chloride, yuck, not suitable for water. http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/plastics.html

Beware many stores have water containers that are expensive and are /7\'s, i.e. other.

[AndreaGail]

sort of off topic, but does anyone know if the water filters, namely the big berkey ones, have "expiration dates"

I would assume no, just haven't seen a concrete answer one way or the other

[Ironfield]

Hehe Ash

move yeah need to do so if and when I find myself a good plot of land but at the moment I go where the money is and set myself up for a more stable financial future. Regarding your water catchment method of tarpaulin I’ve done a similar exercise whilst out camping in the Oman/UAE deserts just to see what catchment results would be like as we have high levels of humidity during the day and lots of dew and condensation build up in the mornings.

Silver Moon Rising those sure are some nifty devices for desalination, I’ll have to further look into them and see if I can get a couple over here.

-Ironfield

[FreeEnergy]

sort of off topic, but does anyone know if the water filters, namely the big berkey ones, have "expiration dates"

I would assume no, just haven't seen a concrete answer one way or the other


Depends on what they use to filter. Typically if you keep filters dry and away from excessive temperatures, they can be stored for a very long time, 10 years or more.

Bit if a filter touched water - consider it "engaged", especially the carbon ones. After about a year, carbon is very prone to bacteria growth (in fact it is a bacteria hot bed).

other home filters:
http://www.filterwater.com