7-Gallon Water Jugs & Water Weight

We are still trying to get Ted signed up as a co-author, so I thought I would post his recommendations that he emailed to me (there were 2 emails so I sort of combined them and edited to blend it all). He said:

Did you know that one gallon of water weighs 8.34lbs? This is helpful when trying to figure how exactly you're going to manage those large supplies of water, especially when thinking through the portability of each unit.

I've purchased a (2) seven gallon container (58.38lbs/each from a company called Reliant http://relianceproducts.com. They produce a sturdy container....a little more rugged and user friendly than the traditional clear unit. The name of the container is Aqua Tainer. I've also purchased a couple of 55 gallion drums (458.70 lbs)...trust me you can't move these.

The jugs can be purchased online through a couple of distributors (Target...although they charge shipping on the containers which ups the price quit a bit). I purchased mine at Sportsman's Warehouse, although they won't have them until their summer camping equipment comes in, so I haven't been able to pick up additional units at this point.

I'm also researching an easy means of cycling the water every 6 months with the use of a small electric water pump.

Finding Storage Space for Water

Okay, after posting my last post regarding water storage options, I had an ah-ha moment. Just like you, I have struggled with where to put all the water.....

.... in the storage room? (but it is nearly full already)
.... in spare bedroom? (but I want guests too!)
.... under the stairs? (but I don't want it near all the wheat that is already there)
.... in the family room? (but our home decor is already hurtin' enough)

I don't want to trip over it. I don't want it in my way. I really don't want to know it's even there.

I'm sure you can appreciate my dilemma because if you are reading this post, you probably are having a similar struggle.

Then it hit me: Look for dead space.

You know, dead space, those spaces deep in closets as well as the nooks and crannies of a house that no one uses and that are not really accessible for everyday stuff.

Then I was off on a hunt for dead space. I took a couple of empty 5-gallon jugs and zipped around the house opening closets to see how many jugs I could stash away undetected in my house. The result? I found enough dead space for 37 5-gallon jugs (quick math: that's 185 gallons of water!)

Here are a few photos of my dead space.

Water Storage Options

It has been recommended that we store 14 gallons of water per person in order to have a 2-week supply of drinking water. That's only 1 gallon a day per person, which isn't much to live on when you consider cooking, basic washing, bathing, and sanitation. You may want to consider storing more. Keep in mind that lack of clean water caused tons of problems in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

Some common storage options are small water bottles, soda pop bottles, 5-gallon jugs (shown in white), 15-gallon jugs (shown in blue), and 55-gallon drums (not shown).

There are advantages and disadvantages to each storage method.

Small bottles & soda pop bottles: They are portable and can fit in smaller storage areas and backpacks. However, it takes a lot of bottles to store a lot of water. For example, you'd have to store about 29 soda bottles to get 15 gallons of water.

5-gallon jugs: They are still portable and are small enough to fit in smaller spaces. But, they don't stack well. You can get these jugs on sale for about $3.99.

15-gallon jugs: They are tall and slender and would fit well in a closet or underneath the stairs. Once full, one person would not be able to lift it. You'll will need a siphon, and you should secure it so it won't tip over. You can get these for about $25 on sale, making them a more expensive option than buying three 5-gallon jugs.

55-gallon drum: It holds a lot of water. If you have the room, this is the way to go. Select placement carefully because that baby isn't going anywhere once it is full. You'll need a siphon and it should be secured. You can pick them up on sale (or at Walmart) for about $40.00, although I've seen some on KSL classifieds for a lot less.

Other recommendations regarding water:
-Consider storing both small and large containers so that you can have the benefits of portability and large quantities.
-Have a water filter.
-Stash a gallon bleach.
-Be sure to buy a siphon for the larger containers.
-Keep a barrier between the water containers and the concrete.
-Anchor the larger containers so they don't tip.
-Anchor your water heater too.
-Review these recommendations for storage and purification.

Recommendations for Beginners
If you haven't stored any water yet and are just beginning, I'd recommend buying a 5-gallon jug for each member of your family today. With a 5-day supply under your belt, you can then decide how you want to proceed with the rest of it.