29. Surviving a Water Infrastructure Problem

In addition to providing clean, drinkable water to the public, the public water systems also deal with things like storm water runoff and waste water treatment, and provide water to the agriculture industry. Our public water systems are probably one of our most important resources, yet most people completely ignore how valuable and vulnerable this natural resource is.

In the United States alone, there are over 160,000 public water systems, which provide drinking water to more than 300 million Americans. Disruptions in these systems would not only cause a severe public health and safety hazard but could also cause considerable economic losses.

THREATS TO WATER INFRASTRUCTURE

Threats to the water supply have plagued those who maintain public water systems since their beginning. Some of these threats include

Industrial Pollution and Contamination

Business and industry pose one of the top threats to the world’s water infrastructure. A recent example happened in early 2014, when an industrial accident contaminated the Elk River in West Virginia with a hazardous chemical, contaminating almost a quarter of the state’s water supply. As a result, almost 300,000 people were told not to drink, cook, or wash with the local tap water.

Almost immediately, every store within a 100-mile (161 km) radius of the affected area completely sold out of water. For over a week, residents were unable to use the water coming out of their faucets—they couldn’t even use it to wash their hands. People were in full-blown panic mode, all because they thought it could never happen. They became complacent, believing the water would always be there when they needed it.

Terrorist Threats to Our Water Supply

One look at what happened in West Virginia shows you just how vulnerable our water supply is. If a small chemical leak released into a river could cause so much trouble, imagine what would happen if a terrorist released an even more deadly chemical agent or biological toxin that went undetected.

It’s no secret that terrorists have been trying to target our public water systems for quite some time. In fact, over the last ten years, public water systems throughout the United States have been targeted, and in some cases even penetrated, by people looking to threaten this key infrastructure.

In 2004, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin warning that terrorists were trying to recruit workers at water utilities as part of a plan to poison our drinking water. This and a number of similar threats throughout the world only act to remind us how many people are looking to do us harm.

An attack on our water system has the potential to kill millions of people; some will die because of the dangerous toxins, others because they were unprepared to survive an extended water emergency.

Natural Disaster-Related Threats

Another concern, one that we see play out even during small-scale storms, is how quickly our public water systems can become overwhelmed by natural disasters.

Main breaks, power failures, and equipment failures during a natural disaster can quickly cause a local water supply to become undrinkable. Natural disasters can also cause chemical leaks, storm sewer discharges, and pathogens to overwhelm a city’s water treatment plants.

PREPARING FOR WATER-RELATED PROBLEMS

Next to the air that we breathe, water is the most important element to man’s survival. So having a clean supply of water is essential to our health, safety, and well-being. A person can survive without food for over a month, but without water our bodies can only survive for a couple of days.

To be prepared for a water emergency, store at least one gallon (4 L) of water per person per day. In general, a moderately active person needs at least two quarts (half a gallon, or 2 L) of water daily just for drinking. Keep in mind this can vary depending on age, physical condition, activity level, diet, and climate. You’ll need additional water for sanitation each day.

To determine your exact water needs, take the following into account:

LONG-TERM WATER STORAGE

The storage containers you choose will largely depend on the amount of space you have to work with. With any type of water storage, you’ll want to put your containers in a cool dark area that does not receive direct sunlight.

Water Bottles

When looking for water bottles, find ones that are made out of high-quality food-grade materials. I would advise against using ordinary milk jugs, as they don’t last as long as other bottles and are almost impossible to completely clean.

I have found that ordinary two-liter soda bottles are a good, inexpensive option for water storage. They are small, easy to tuck away, and can be easily carried in a backpack when staying in one place is not an option.

Water Barrels

Fifty-five-gallon (208 L) water barrels are a pretty common option for survivalists, and they should be pretty easy to find at most sporting goods stores. These barrels are usually blue (this is more of a safety thing that lets you know water is stored inside) and are made with heavy-duty food-grade plastic materials.

Tanks and Cisterns

Another popular option for storing water is a freestanding tank or cistern. These tanks are popular in rural areas that don’t have access to public water utilities.

These offer the added benefit of being able to catch rainwater by hooking them up to your rooftop gutter systems. If you can afford to install a roof catchment system, this is an excellent option for long-term survival retreats, and it can really go a long way to solving a lot of your water problems.

MAKING CONTAMINATED WATER SAFE TO DRINK

Even the best emergency plan needs a Plan B. When it comes to water storage, this means knowing how to find and sanitize water.

While there are a number of options for cleaning contaminated water, none of them is 100 percent effective at treating everything. The best methods for killing bacteria and other microorganisms include boiling, filtering, and chemical treatments.

Boiling

Boiling is the safest and easiest method of treating water that’s contaminated with microorganisms. That being said, keep in mind it will not remove chemicals, heavy metals, or salts.

While some “survival experts “ advise boiling your water for ten minutes, the truth is, most bacteria and microorganisms are killed once the water reaches its boiling point (212° F, 100° C). I advise waiting for it come to a rolling boil, and then letting it boil for at least one minute to be safe.

Filtering

In my opinion, a water filter is one of the most important pieces of gear you can have. There are a number of quality water filters on the market, but there are a couple that you might want to consider first.

Berkey water filter. The Berkey water purification system is a popular at-home filter in the survivalist community. The Berkey can remove viruses, pathogenic bacteria, cysts, and can even filter out chemicals.

Hiking filters. One of the best portable water filters that I’ve found is the Katadyn Pocket Water Microfilter. While this is one of the more expensive hiking filters on the market, it’s also the most reliable. This little filter can handle over 13,000 gallons (49,210 L) of water and will filter all microorganisms larger than 0.2 microns. Its small size also makes it easily fit into any bug out bag or survival kit.

SteriPENs. A SteriPEN uses ultraviolet light to eliminate over 99.9 percent of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa that cause waterborne illness. They are small, lightweight, and can easily be carried in your pocket or bug out bag.

Chemical Treatments

There are two main types of chemical water treatments: those using iodine and those using chlorine.

Iodine treatment. Most iodine tablets or products will give you instructions on how to use their product, so make sure you follow the manufacture’s instructions when using the product to treat water.

When using a liquid 2 percent tincture of iodine, add five drops per quart (1 L) when the water is clear. Add ten drops per quart (1 L) when the water is cloudy. Wait thirty minutes if the water is warm and an hour if it’s hot outside. Some people are allergic to iodine so be aware that it may not be suitable for all people.

Chlorine treatment. Chlorine tablets can be another effective way to treat most pathogens. Just like iodine tablets, make sure you follow all manufacturers’ instructions when using the product to treat water.

Water can also be treated with ordinary household bleach. Add 18 of a teaspoon (or 8 drops) of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach per gallon (4 L) of water. Never use scented bleaches, color-safe bleaches, or bleaches with added cleaners or chemicals.