Red CliffsReady

Water

Store it. Date it. Treat what you find.

A normally active person needs about two quarts just to drink. Heat in the desert can double that. FEMA’s rule of thumb is still one gallon per person per day once you count cooking and washing.

Storing

  • Plan at least one gallon per person per day. In southern Utah summer, budget more for drinking.
  • Use food-grade plastic, not glass and never a container that held chemicals. Rinse with a weak bleach solution before filling.
  • If filling from treated city water, you do not need extra treatment for storage. Date the container and rotate every six months.
  • Keep water in a cool, dark place. Heat and sunlight shorten storage life.

Making water safer

  • Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 5,000 ft). Let it cool. Boiling is the most reliable household method.
  • A certified filter (absolute 1 micron or smaller, labeled for cysts) reduces many pathogens. Follow the manufacturer. Filters do not remove all viruses; pair with boil or chemical treatment when the source is unknown.
  • If you must use unscented household bleach (5–6% sodium hypochlorite, no additives): CDC guidance is 8 drops (about 1/8 teaspoon) per gallon of clear water, 16 drops if cloudy. Mix, wait 30 minutes. It should have a slight chlorine smell; if not, repeat and wait another 15 minutes.
  • Do not drink irrigation, flood, or wash water without treatment. After floods, assume contamination.

Public guidance from FEMA Are You Ready and CDC drinking-water fact sheets. Do not use untested gadgets as your only method. When in doubt, boil.