Often, many people ask about recommendations in regards to water, specifically, obtaining water in an emergent or urgent situation. This information is so vital in a crisis. You can find many valuable and well-written articles on the subject online and in books. The reality though, is that the principles to a “prepper’s-mindset” are simple and universal. Essentially, you need to (1) make sure you know where and how to get water, (2) ensure that the water you’ll be using is appropriate for drinking and using, (3) “think ahead” of the emergency, and (4) actively prepare for a situation while you have the time and resources.
These four steps will likely require adaptation to one’s particular set of circumstances and immediately available resources, but they form a foundation that will serve its purpose when needed.
This simple acronym which is easily memorized and which literally means “water.”
A-Access to clean drinking water: purified is ideal (Stored Water and Water Purifier)
Q-Quality: make sure it is clear & free of disease causing critters (Water Treatment)
U-Under-estimate the reliability of water being easily accessible (“think ahead”)
A-Actively prepare for a situation where you will need to provide your own water (be proactive)
Access to Drinking Water
When was the last time that you had to stop to think about where you might be able to access clean drinking water? Do you drink the recommended 64 ounces of water a day? If you are unsure, then you might take the ease of accessibility of water for granted. Consider that the most difficult decision we have to make when looking for water is if we want to purchase bottled water or if we will settle for drinking free water from a nearby tap. During an emergency where conventional access to clean water is limited, we must rely on alternative means to make water accessible. Two reliable modes of access to drinking water include (1) drawing water from a pre-stored source, and (2) using a filter/purifier to access available water.
Storing water is simple. Make sure your water storage container is suitable and safe for storing water in a location that will keep it clean and accessible when needed. Make sure the container is durable and, ideally, it is designed to hold water for long periods of time. It must be able to be sealed to prevent contamination. If using a plastic container, make sure it is new and unused. Even if it was used for storing or transporting food-grade chemicals, the previous content will likely “leach” into your water over time. If using a metal container, keep the same considerations in mind about its previous content and its ability to seal. Containers used for storing water should remain in a cool, dry, and secure location, free from tampering and accessible with the necessary tools to withdraw the contents.
Water filters and purifiers are excellent tools to keep at one’s home, place of work, and vehicle. These products allow mobility, or the freedom to travel without having to transport bulky containers with stored water. Remember, one gallon of water weighs over 8 lbs.! Ideally, a water bottle with a purifying filter or element will work best for safe access to water “on the go.” When looking for a product that provides water filtration, look for one that purifies water by removing and reducing some of the following elements. A product with a rating of “water purifier” will provide protection against the most common pathogens and health-harming elements agents, such as: E-coli, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, viruses, pesticides, chlorine, trihalomethanes, volatile organic compounds, lead, mercury, and more. A water purifier will also reduce the cloudiness of the water, silt, sediment, and other unpleasant tastes and odors.
If you find yourself in a situation where you do not have access to your water storage, or even worse, your water purifier, where might you find water? Think about your given environment. One primary objective for securing water is to maintain hydration of one’s body. The secondary objective is for hygiene and preventing illness. In terms of hydration, remember that fruits and vegetables are excellent “sources of water” because of their water content. Map nearby water sources your which you can access easily in your daily activities and travels. Consider the particular offerings of each location and where you might go, what you might do to secure that access to that clean water. Any work you do in a time of peace and plenty might make things easier when chaos and scarcity arrive.
Quality of Water Treatment
Treating water once you have accessed it is another consideration not to overlook. Common water treatments include boiling water, adding chemicals, and water filtration.
Boiling water is a good method to address potential pathogens, or microorganisms, in your water. The problem with boiling water is that it requires fuel and time. You will lose a percentage of that boiling water in evaporation, and you will have to wait for the water to cool. Even then, harmful chemicals may not be addressed through the boiling. In an emergent situation, boiling is still an option nonetheless.
Chemical treatment of the water addresses microorganisms by killing or disabling their ability to cause harm within your body. The most threatening aspect of consuming water that contains microorganisms is dehydration. Microorganisms can infect the digestive tract and cause a series of reactions within the body which inhibit the body’s ability to retain vital hydration, thereby dramatically reducing the body’s ability to take in nutrients and maintain the integrity of cellular and systemic functions. Two common chemical treatments include iodine and chlorine. These come available in many forms: tablets, powders, and liquids. When choosing a method, be sure to try it before using it in an emergency. You might discover an unknown allergy or reaction to one or many of these options, thereby limiting your practical choices of water treatment. Ideally, if you are chemically treating the water before you put it through your filtration system, ensure that your system will remove/reduce the treatment chemical from the water you will use.
Under-Estimate Accessibility
This step in the A.Q.U.A. acronym simply covers a principle: “hope for something but expect nothing.” You must anticipate that whenever we step away from the conveniences of our modern age, we are walking away from comfort and ease. This is not a bad thing in and of itself, and centuries of humans dealt with this reality. (Although they did not have the conveniences we enjoy, they also did not have the compliment of waste and toxic exposures that come with our comforts!) My point is that as a species which is highly adaptive and innovative, we would benefit from the application of an anticipating, self-reliant approach in the event that we cannot readily draw water from expected sources (i.e. faucets, plumbing, public water sources, etc.). The simplest answer to this is to have a portable filter like a Sport Berkey water bottle.
By “thinking ahead,” you accomplish three crucial aspects of handling a crisis, even beyond looking for suitable water. “Thinking ahead” allows you to:
1. Prepare psychologically for exposure to stress.
2. Plan logically before you respond.
3. Gather the essential tools for an appropriate response.
“Thinking ahead” allows you to visualize a scenario or many potential scenarios, thereby exposing your mind to associated flows of thinking which accompany stressful events. This reduces the level of shock when the event occurs, because having prepared mentally for such unanticipated occurrences allows us to work past the impact of its unfolding, or “processing.” This is a key element for professionals who train daily for many years to respond to crises when they unfold. Do not underestimate the power of this psychological preparation! If you “think ahead,” your stress levels will be more manageable and less disabling. Thinking ahead might allow you to respond instead of being paralyzed by the impact of a given crisis.
The last thing you want to do in an emergency situation, like a fire that requires water or an alternative extinguisher, is to react impulsively and expose yourself to greater danger, or become part of the problem that needs to be solved. By “thinking ahead,” you execute your plans to place working fire-extinguishers inside your vehicles so that you can use them when necessary. This also allows others to benefit from your preparation by thinking ahead. You should always have drinking water available in each of your vehicles and a solution to ensure drinking water as you travel. By having multiple plans you can react more fluidly and reduce risk. Do not get lost in the simplicity of this fundamental fact!
Active Preparation
When an emergency occurs, you may not always have access to your preparations but you can always improve upon your efforts to make drinking water available for yourself and others. The key is to actively prepare. The best way to begin preparing or to enhance your preparations is to start with the most practical and accessible step. Do not get suckered into spending large amounts of money which you cannot afford to borrow in order to “solve it all” with one purchase.
Begin your A.Q.U.A. preparation by simply thinking through each step. You will be surprised to learn that 80% of your preparation will be accomplished through your thoughts and plans, and the other 20% will be accomplished by acting on your plans. As you consider and develop your unique set of circumstances, your preparations will evolve and improve. Ultimately, you will gain a peace of mind that comes from dedicated work and preparation. In the event that your plans continue without having to execute them, continue to rehearse and adjust them. Nothing is more important in a crisis than having clean drinking water, so being prepared is literally a matter of life or death.
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