How to Safely Use Tap Water for Emergency Storage

When it comes to emergency preparedness, water storage is one of the most essential components. Our municipal water supply can become contaminated for several reasons and having a stored backup is vital.

Why You Should Store Tap Water for Emergencies

While many people opt for commercial bottled water for short-term storage, using tap water for long-term storage can be an effective and budget-friendly solution. It is typically free or very inexpensive, especially compared to the cost of purchasing large amounts of bottled water and it couldn’t be more convenient. However, storing tap water requires analysis and preparation to ensure its safety and longevity.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using tap water for long-term storage.

3 Key Criteria for Safely Storing Tap Water

Most people use municipal tap water as their source for long-term water storage, and it’s an option for short-term storage as well. This is a good cost-effective option if the following 3 criteria are met:

The quality of your municipal water source is known to be safe.
If your water is not safe out of the tap, you purify it before storing it.
You use a food-grade water hose to fill your containers.

Let’s go over each.

How to Check the Safety of Your Municipal Tap Water

Most municipal water supplies are treated with chemicals such as chlorine to kill harmful bacteria and viruses, making tap water safe for consumption right out of the faucet.

How can you tell if your tap water is safe? There are two sources you can check:

1. Contact your local water utility

Research your municipal water treatment methods and ask for detailed information on water quality and treatment processes. Regularly review the annual Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) your water utility provides. These reports offer valuable insights into potential contaminants and the effectiveness of treatment processes.

2. Check Out the Tap Water Database

The Tap Water Database will show you what pollutants are presently found in your water supply and the source of each. It will give you advice on choosing a filter that will filter out each contaminant found. Simply enter your zip code to view a report on your local utility.

Test Your Tap Water Yourself

If you are uncertain about the health of your tap water, test strips are available to check for various contaminants such as chlorine, lead, iron, fluoride, and bacteria. To use them, you simply take a water sample, dip the strip into the water, wait for the color change, and then compare the results to a provided color chart. You can treat the water according to these test results.

Have a Way to Purify Your Tap Water

If necessary, there are many ways to purify water. This can be done using methods like boiling, chemical treatments, or filtration. Always ensure your water is properly sanitized before using it for short-term or long-term storage.

Why You Need a Food-Grade Water Hose for Tap Water Storage

Once you have tested and/or treated your tap water for safety, you don’t want to harm the water by using the wrong type of water hose. Using the right hose to fill your container is just as important as using the right kind of container. A food-grade water hose, the kind that is used in RVs, is far superior to the regular garden hose because they are meant for drinking. A standard hose can contain lead and produce water that is not meant for drinking.

Useful tip: Attaching a power nozzle to your food-grade hose will help you control the flow of water and make it easier to fill your containers, especially if you are filling away from grass.

If you are using your indoor faucets to fill your containers, make sure to thoroughly clean them first.

Make Your Stored Tap Water Last Longer

In optimal storage conditions, municipal tap water should be rotated every six months. To extend this period, products like Water Preserver (stabilized chlorine) or household bleach (5-6% sodium hypochlorite) can be added to the tap water. Both products can be used to increase the safe storage period to up to five years.

Learn more about using water preservers

Get Local Alerts

Do not use tap water during or after an emergency until its safety is confirmed. Check for boil water advisories or contamination warnings from your local municipality or utility provider. Staying informed with local emergency alerts will help you act quickly to protect your family. Use your stored water until you know your tap water is safe.

Conclusion

Using tap water for long-term storage is an economical way to make sure you and your family have a sufficient emergency water supply. Your municipal water supply can be negatively affected for various reasons so having a reliable source of clean water in storage can provide an important backup if ever needed. Take advantage of this convenience and make tap water storage a core part of your emergency preparedness plan.