This is a chapter from Rambo Moe’s 30 DAY ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE PREPAREDNESS PLAN: A Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing for the Inevitable Rise of the Dead.

DAY 2: CREATING AN EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY

Recommended Soundtrack: “Don’t Fear the Reaper”, Blue Oyster Cult

“Water is life’s matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.”

-Albert Szent-Gyorgyi

“My fake plants died because I did not pretend to water them.” -Mitch Hedberg

Today, we will learn how to create an emergency water supply. The importance of storing water cannot be overemphasized.
Your body can go weeks without food. Go just 2-3 days without water and you’re a goner. In fact, as long as you have air to breath and are not in direct danger, the number one most important thing you can do is ensure a steady supply of clean water.
Have I got your attention?

WHERE TO STORE YOUR WATER

You need a cool, dry, dark place to store your water. Cold cellars work great, as do basement corners, with a dark blanket draped over your bottles.
Keep the water out of direct sunlight, as it reacts with plastic. Keep the water away from any fuels, pesticides, or petroleum-based products, as their fumes can permeate plastic. If the floor is made of concrete, keep your bottles on some kind of platform to prevent direct contact.

HOW MUCH WATER TO STORE

I recommend having at least 4L of water per person, per day, stored.
Half of this is for drinking; the other half is for things like cleaning and cooking.
It may seem like a lot but trust me, if you’re anything approaching a regular person you use way more water than you realize.
How many days to store for is a personal choice. FEMA recommends at least three days, others say 7-14.
I say at least 30 days.
The toughest part of the zombie apocalypse will be the panic of the first month, so having enough water to lay low during this time is imperative.
Water is cheap and available at the moment, so take advantage of this and err on the side of caution. Store a ton of it!
I want you to have at least 120L of water for every member of your family. Worst case scenario, you will be over stocked with the most valuable commodity in a post-apocalyptic world.

HOW TO STORE WATER PROPERLY

As mentioned earlier, your water should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place; out of direct sunlight, away from petroleum products and not resting on concrete.
Store your water in plastic containers. Simply going to the grocery store and buying bottled water in bulk is fine.
You can also reuse old plastic soda bottles. Wash the inside out with water and a couple drops of chlorine bleach, then rinse thoroughly. Fill with tap water, and add 2 drops of chlorine if your local water isn’t already treated with it. Screw the cap on TIGHTLY.
Make sure to never use a bottle that has contained milk or juice- fats and sugars are hard to fully remove, and are a breeding ground for bacteria.

METHODS FOR FILTERING AND PURIFYING WATER

A solid water supply will get you through the first month, the toughest part of the zombie apocalypse. While everyone else is out there fighting for a few drops, you can kick back in style and relative luxury.
Eventually though, all water supplies run out, and the time will come when have to go out and find a new source of water.
When you find it, you will have a little problem. If you don’t drink the water, it may kill you. And if you do drink the water… it may kill you.
Untreated water can be full of all kinds of nasty things that can make you sick or even kill you. It might contain dangerous pathogens (parasites, bacteria and viruses) or toxic pollutants (chemicals, fuels, sewage, etc).
The scary truth is that even in a world filled with flesh eating zombies your greatest threat may come from dirty water.
Luckily, there are ways to treat water that remove the nasties and greatly reduce the chances of getting sick.

Filtering Water

Filtering is done by having water pass through a material with small pores. The water molecules pass through, while the larger pollutants get left behind.
Here’s a list of common materials used in water filters:

A cloth/coffee filter: filters out large particles, but not much else.
Hard-carbon filter: okay at filtering pollutants and pathogens, but has the added benefit of absorbing some chemicals and odors missed by other filters.
Glass fibre/compressed surgical paper: A good filter material, at a cheap price.
Ceramic filter: the most effective (and expensive) filtration material.
Charcoal: Keep a stash of charcoal around. It will be used later when making a homemade filter.

PURIFICATION

Purifying separates water molecules from pollutants and pathogens, and is generally better at removing tiny particles than filtering is.
Here are some ways to purify water:
Boiling: Heating water to a rolling boil for 2-3 minutes will kill most pathogens. Requires a source of heat, and you will inevitably lose some water as steam.
Water Purification Tablets: Sold at many camping stores. Just drop a tablet in the water, and let it work its magic.
Iodine: A disinfectant that will kill most pathogens. Use 3 drops per quart of clear water, 6 drops per quart of cloudy water. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes before drinking.
Iodine treated water should not be ingested by pregnant women!
Chlorine: Another disinfectant. Exercise caution, as ingesting too much can be poisonous. Use regular 5% household bleach with no added scents or cleaners. Use 8 drops per quart of water. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes before drinking.
Distillation: A distillation device will vaporize water and collect it in a separate container, giving you pure, distilled water. We will learn how to make distillation devices on day 18.
UV Lamps: Ultraviolet radiation will sterilize pathogens; specially-designed UV lamps can be used if electricity is available.
Before you drink any water you aren’t sure of, always run it through a filtration and purification process. Doing both will maximize your chances of removing the threats and keeping you healthy.
As for where to find sources of water, we will be covering that in detail on Day 18.

YOUR DAILY MISSION:

Store 120L of water for every member of your household.
Have at least 2 methods of filtering water and 2 methods of purifying water available to you in an emergency.

Read more from Rambo Moe at preparedforthat.com.