Did you know that during a disaster, securing a water supply is your responsibility?
Things to consider:
- An earthquake may break the water lines that supply your home and interrupt the sewage lines from your home to the treatment plant.
- Damaged sewer lines may contaminate the water in the broken water lines.
- An earthquake may damage the well casing & our ability to pump and/or store water in water tank.
- Electric power for the well pumps may be interrupted.
Possible sources of water in your home:
- Drinking water you have stored beforehand. This should be 1 gal/day/person = 30 gal/person for at least one month.
- Washing water from hot-water tank & toilet tank. Water from these sources should be boiled for 1-3
minutes before use. - Collected rain water.
Water purification methods:
- Boiling water for one minute at sea level is the best method to kill bacteria, and viruses. Boiling does not remove lead, or other toxins.
- If camping up to 6000 feet, boil for 3 minutes.
- If you are unable to boil, then try a combination of water, filtering, and chemical treatments such as unscented bleach.
Helpful Links
- Make Water Safe During an Emergency (source: CDC) (PDF)
- Guide to Drinking Water Treatment and Sanitation for Backcountry & Travel Use (source: CDC)
- Drinking Water Treatment Methods for Backcountry and Travel Use (source: CDC) (PDF)