Prepare in March – Water

It is recommended that 4 litres of water be stored for each household member.  This accounts for water for drinking, cooking, and hygiene needs. Be sure to have enough water to drink – it’s recommended a minimum of 1 litre per person per day for drinking.  Don’t forget water for your pets! 

Use plastic bottles with a screw-on cap - such as 2L pop bottles, food-grade plastic containers, and jugs. Avoid using glass bottles, bleach containers, or other containers that contain cleaners and/or chemicals.  Avoid using milk jugs, the lids don’t seal as easily and their plastic is different and becomes fragile and brittle over time.

Storing 4L water per person per day can take up lots of space.  Look around your home and consider storing it around your home.  It will spread it out and not be as burdensome.  If using a used container, be sure to clean it thoroughly, as well as the lid, before storing fresh water in it.  Rinse the bottle and lid, fill it with water to the top, and drop 8-10 drops of liquid chlorine bleach into the water (about 2 cups) – empty the solution and fill it with fresh clean water, seal the bottle, label it “drinking water” and store in a dark cool place.

Tap water does not need anything added to it to preserve it as it has already been treated.  Commercially bottled water does not need to be treated.  Keep it in its original sealed container.  Stored tap water should be rotated every 6 months.

The only thing that should be used to purify water is liquid household bleach that does NOT contain scents, thickeners, or soaps.  Boiling water kills bacteria, viruses, and parasites.  Bleach in water will kill viruses but not bacteria, so it is suggested to boil water that you retrieve from no purified forms such as from lakes, streams, and rivers.  

For more info on purifying water for personal consumption, refer the Health Link BC below.

Purifying your Drinking Water