Emergency Drinking water

EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER

BRUCE MACLERUSEPA

WHAT DO FOLKS USE WATER FOR?

• Drinking and cooking• Sanitation and cleaning• Landscape and garden irrigation• Washing cars and other toys• Fire suppression

AFTER THE SHAKING STOPS…

• It is expected that a major Hayward Fault earthquake will cause 1000’s of water distribution system line breaks• Most EBMUD water storage tanks have cut-off values• Distribution system will slowly drain out

• Water service will be lost to many areas for days to weeks, or longer

WHAT DO YOU USE WATER FOR DURING AN EMERGENCY?

• Drinking and cooking• Sanitation and cleaning• Landscape and garden irrigation• Washing cars and other toys• Fire suppression

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR WATER UTILITY?

• EBMUD’s (and any other water utility’s) first priority is to get water into the system for fire suppression• Not necessarily potable water

• Provision of drinking water is the responsibility of local government• If not enough bottled water in Lamorinda, then the cities ask the

County and State for supplies• Then FEMA steps in• It can take awhile

EMERGENCY HOUSEHOLD WATER NEEDS

• Drinking and cooking water: 1 gallon per person per day• Has to be microbiologically stable

• Sanitation water: as available, 1 or more gallons per day• The cleaner, the better, but doesn’t need to be perfect

• Recommend 7 to 10 day supply• Don’t forget your pets and animals

AND WHERE DO YOU GET THIS WATER?

• Bottled and stored• Water heater• Swimming pools and hot tubs• Lakes, streams and other sources

BOTTLED AND STORED

• Prepackaged bottled water doesn’t go bad!• Ignore the expiration dates

• Can clean and refill plastic milk and beverage containers• Add 1/8 teaspoon (~8 drops) unscented household chlorine

bleach per gallon, then cap or seal container

• 5-gallon containers are convenient• Big barrels (50-60 gallons) are heavy and hard to move

YOU WANT ME TO DRINK POOL WATER?

• There isn’t going to be anything toxic to you in it, at least in the short run• The chlorine level needs to be adequate, though• Pools and spas are great sources of sanitation water• Keep a bucket or two around

USING OTHER SOURCES: LAKE CASCADE, CREEKS, RAINWATER, ETC

• Filter murky or colored water through clean cloth or coffee filter• Or let it settle overnight and decant

• Then, boil for one minute• Or, add unscented household chlorine bleach (1/8 teaspoon per

gallon), shake, let sit 30 minutes• FYI, household bleach is about 5% chlorine

• Iodine tablets, UV light pens, backpacking filters work, too• Follow directions

EMERGENCY SUPPLIES

• 5-gallon buckets with handles• Bottle of unscented household chlorine bleach• Change this out every year or two

• Measuring spoons• Coffee filters or clean cloth• Refillable water bottles

ON ANOTHER SUBJECT:FINE DINING DURING DISASTERS

• Emergency food should be easy to prepare, and appealing• The novelty of food bars wears off quick

• But, can you do better? They do in Arizona!• AZ DEM teamed up with Le Cordon Bleu and CDC• Annual cooking competition• Recipes using only non-perishable emergency supplies from

kits• Manual tools

• Emergencykitcookoff.org

ARE YOU READY LAMORINDA?

• Have a variety of canned and non-perishable goods• Proteins• Fruits and vegetables • Starches, grains and nuts• Beverages, comfort foods• Spices, sauces, condiments, too