DeepseekerADS
Gold Member
- Mar 3, 2013
- 14,880
- 21,732
- Detector(s) used
- CTX, Excal II, EQ800, Fisher 1260X, Tesoro Royal Sabre, Tejon, Garrett ADSIII, Carrot, Stealth 920iX, Keene A52
- Primary Interest:
- Other
Jason Richards
If you need to find water outside your home,
you can use these sources.
Be sure to purify the water before drinking it.
Rainwater
There are many rainwater collection systems.
Some are homemade, and it is quite inexpensive to get started.
Others are more industrial and are a bit more costly to set up.
Some think that rainwater can only be used for gardening
and similar purposes.
For the most basic of rainwater collection systems, you need
to simply cut one of your drainpipes and divert it to a large barrel.
Be sure to have more than one barrel on hand, so that
you will be able to collect as much water as possible
during a good rain.
The truth is that if you have the proper purification systems
in place, you can use rainwater for everything, including drinking water.
Some of the most elaborate systems will include huge
underground rainwater collection tanks.
This allows you to collect much more water without the need to pepper
your yard with storage barrels or tanks.
This is also a good option if you do not want it to be common knowledge
that you have a rainwater collection system in place.
Streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water
Ponds and lakes
Natural springs
Wells
Consider installing a well on your property if possible.
As is the case with other water sources, it is possible for the water
to become contaminated but, as mentioned earlier,
it is about having different options at your disposal.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools can be a source of emergency water,
but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
After a loss of power, the pools will quickly begin to grow algae.
That doesn’t mean you will not be able to use the water,
just that extra treatment steps will be needed.
You may be surprised to learn that it is possible to drink water
from a swimming pool.
Because different pool owners use different chemicals,
it is best to only consider drinking the water from a pool
for which you know how the water has been treated.
Some chlorine is safe to drink. The FDA says that water
with no more than 4 parts per million is safe to drink.
Before drinking pool water, you should boil it for at least one minute
and also run it through a high quality water filter.
Hot Water Heaters
Depending on the size of your water heater, you have somewhere
between 30 and 60 gallons of water on hand at all times.
It is important that you learn how to access that water.
Most hot water heaters have a valve from which you can access the water,
but you will need a hose or pump to make collecting the water easier.
Avoid water with floating material, an odor or dark color.
Use saltwater, only if you distill it first. You should not drink flood water.
Indoor
If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water,
you can use the water in your hot-water tank, pipes and ice cubes.
As a last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank
of your toilet (not the bowl).
Do you know the location of your incoming water valve?
You’ll need to shut it off to stop contaminated water from
entering your home if you hear reports of broken water
or sewage lines.
To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing
by turning on the faucet in your house at the highest level.
A small amount of water will trickle out.
Then obtain water from the lowest faucet in the house.
To use the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity
or gas is off, and open the drain at the bottom of the tank.
Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve
and turning on a hot-water faucet. Do not turn on the gas
or electricity when the tank is empty.
If you need to find water outside your home,
you can use these sources.
Be sure to purify the water before drinking it.
Rainwater
There are many rainwater collection systems.
Some are homemade, and it is quite inexpensive to get started.
Others are more industrial and are a bit more costly to set up.
Some think that rainwater can only be used for gardening
and similar purposes.
For the most basic of rainwater collection systems, you need
to simply cut one of your drainpipes and divert it to a large barrel.
Be sure to have more than one barrel on hand, so that
you will be able to collect as much water as possible
during a good rain.
The truth is that if you have the proper purification systems
in place, you can use rainwater for everything, including drinking water.
Some of the most elaborate systems will include huge
underground rainwater collection tanks.
This allows you to collect much more water without the need to pepper
your yard with storage barrels or tanks.
This is also a good option if you do not want it to be common knowledge
that you have a rainwater collection system in place.
Streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water
Ponds and lakes
Natural springs
Wells
Consider installing a well on your property if possible.
As is the case with other water sources, it is possible for the water
to become contaminated but, as mentioned earlier,
it is about having different options at your disposal.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools can be a source of emergency water,
but there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind.
After a loss of power, the pools will quickly begin to grow algae.
That doesn’t mean you will not be able to use the water,
just that extra treatment steps will be needed.
You may be surprised to learn that it is possible to drink water
from a swimming pool.
Because different pool owners use different chemicals,
it is best to only consider drinking the water from a pool
for which you know how the water has been treated.
Some chlorine is safe to drink. The FDA says that water
with no more than 4 parts per million is safe to drink.
Before drinking pool water, you should boil it for at least one minute
and also run it through a high quality water filter.
Hot Water Heaters
Depending on the size of your water heater, you have somewhere
between 30 and 60 gallons of water on hand at all times.
It is important that you learn how to access that water.
Most hot water heaters have a valve from which you can access the water,
but you will need a hose or pump to make collecting the water easier.
Avoid water with floating material, an odor or dark color.
Use saltwater, only if you distill it first. You should not drink flood water.
Indoor
If a disaster catches you without a stored supply of clean water,
you can use the water in your hot-water tank, pipes and ice cubes.
As a last resort, you can use water in the reservoir tank
of your toilet (not the bowl).
Do you know the location of your incoming water valve?
You’ll need to shut it off to stop contaminated water from
entering your home if you hear reports of broken water
or sewage lines.
To use the water in your pipes, let air into the plumbing
by turning on the faucet in your house at the highest level.
A small amount of water will trickle out.
Then obtain water from the lowest faucet in the house.
To use the water in your hot-water tank, be sure the electricity
or gas is off, and open the drain at the bottom of the tank.
Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve
and turning on a hot-water faucet. Do not turn on the gas
or electricity when the tank is empty.
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