LONG TERM WATER STORAGE
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This is very simple with many misconceptions. There are certain
containers that you should not use to store water for long term. First
sterilize the containers with a high bleach/water solution of 1 to 10 parts.
CONTAINERS NOT TO USE
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1) Any containers that contained corrosive or toxic chemicals(such as
antifreeze, paint, cleaners, bleach, gasoline ect...ect...)
2) Any containers that contained dairy products.
CONTAINERS TO USE
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1) Tea, water or juice gallon plastic jugs.
2) Soda bottles (16oz/20oz/1 liter/2 liter/3 liter).
3) Approved containers intended for water storage.
CONTAINER PREP
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Depending on what your using either unscented bleach or 2% iodine
or 10% providone will determine how much of what goes into each container.
For costs and effectiveness I use chlorinated bleach, 2 drops per quart or 8
drops per gallon, the water should have a slight chlorine smell to it. Using tap water is fine but expect algae to eventually grow especially if they're storage location is subject to room temperatures or higher. Water can be stored indefinately, if algae forms on the inside of the bottles it does'nt make the water unsafe to drink. In fact, the algae is edible and is free food so go ahead and store your water now and place it somewhere out of direct sunlight and in an area where it's temperature will stay cool. With new never used containers rinse with water first to ensure any particulates or manufacturing contaminants are washed out to ensure your long term water isn't contaminated by leaching chemicals or debris. As a rule of thumb I use hot water from the tap to help ensure once it is cooled it creates a vacuum seal helping limit the amount of possible air in the container by filling it to the brim, some containers don't allow it as there is an inlet valve on the backend of larger containers and filling it that high will just leak out on your floor but as long as it is sealed the chlorine isn't going anywhere. The same process as if you were canning food for winter but the reasoning behind it is that chlorine evaporates out of water and into the air, hence why you have to put chlorine in your pool so frequently.
NOTE: If you drink alot of bottled water, think of switching to gallon jugs of water and using a personal water bottle or old soda bottle to carry it in. There are several reasons why this is a better way then just buying pre-packaged bottle water. First off, it's better for the environment, second, 6 gallons of water are polluted in order to make one plastic water bottle (potable water is currently our most valuable commodity (less then 1% of all water on the planet is potable/drinkable) expected to be depleted long before oil), thirdly, it costs between $3-$4 per 24 pack of water bottles but only $1.41 to refill 4 one gallon jugs of six stage reverse osmosis filtered and twice UV treated water with no additives unlike bottled water or being just basic filtered tap water sold back to the consumer at a 1600% mark-up , fourthly,and arguably the most important reason, if you stockpile a month's worth of water each month as I do, and sense I drink a gallon a day, thats 30 gallons, alot I know, but it only costs me $11.10 for the equivalent of $28 in bottled water and depending on the time of the month should something happen, I have plenty of potable water for the med/high range future (72 hours=short/1-3 weeks=medium/1-3 months=med/high/6-12 months=long)I hope this helps.
**NOTE**
Cheaper still, just reuse your soda bottles, the plastic in soda bottles is thicker and will last longer and punctures are less likely.
