Emergency Water Plan

Water is liquid life, so it's best to have a lot of it! It's helpful to think of your emergency water plan in 3 easy parts: storage, purification, and resupply. Here's how to get started with each:

Emergency Water Storage

The first part of the water equation is just to store extra in your house. This doesn't have to be complicated. Take an old soda bottle, rinse it out, and fill it up. Boom, water storage.

Of course, hopefully you go a little bigger than that, but the point is that it doesn't have to require a lot of know-how or money to begin storing water. It's recommended to store a gallon of water a day per person, so you can use this as a starting point.

There are lots of emergency water storage containers that you can use. As described above, the easiest and cheapest water storage containers are old soda or juice bottles (never milk, they contain bacteria). In addition to that however, there are a few other good options.

Waterbob Emergency Drinking Water Storage

The Waterbob is a large bladder, that's made to sit in your tub and be filled on short notice. Obviously this doesn't work for all disasters, but they are fantastic for something like a hurricane, where you have a little notice.

The Waterbob gives you a quick, easy, and relatively low-cost method of having 100 gallons of water to use at your disposal. Although it's better to have a permanent, fixed solution for water storage, it's still worth having one of these, in case you do happen to have enough notice to take advantage of it.

Waterbricks - The LEGOs of Water Storage

The Waterbrick is a clever invention that is made to be stacked in groups to make a tower or wall. Each brick is made to hold 1 - 3.5 gallons of water, and they are geometrically molded out of durable plastic, to fit tightly and support a lot of weight.

They are a simple but smart addition to your water storage, because they allow you to maximize space that otherwise might not be super usable. Stack them vertically, stash them in a horizontal row under a bed, scatter them a handful of places around the house. It's up to you.

The Ol' Trusty 55 Gallon Water Barrel

It's pretty hard to beat a straight up 55 gallon water barrel for sheer quantities of no frills water storage. They are durable, relatively inexpensive, and can be easily fitted with a hand pump when the time comes to actually use your water.

A couple words of caution on the 55 galloners:

First of all, after they are filled, they are HEAVY. Be sure you know where you want it, because it might be there for a while.
Second, It's important not to have the barrel sitting directly on the ground--this is actually the same for any water stored in plastic containers. Plastic can actually leech chemicals through to your water over time, so it's better to have them up off the ground (particularly concrete).
Finally, make sure that your 55 gallon container is food safe. If you buy one new from a big box store or online, this likely won't be a concern, but there are several used ones floating around out there as well. If they have been used to transport something that is toxic, they are a no go.

Water Filters and Purification

After water storage, the next layer of your plan should be purification. While some folks don't realize it, there is a difference between "purification" and "filtration."

Purification could mean a lot of things, all of which make the water pure enough to drink. It could mean that you make water safe to drink by rendering inert all of the harmful contaminants that are in the water (for instance, killing all the bugs that are in it). This is what happens when you're in the woods and you boil water from a nearby stream to ensure that it's safe for drinking.

On the other hand, filtration is a particular type of purification, which happens by removing all of the contaminants from the water, whether or not they're dead. Think strainer.

As filtration is one of the cheapest, simplest, and most accessible methods of water purification, we recommend it. In particular, this means that you need to have a few different solid water filters.

The Lifestraw Water Bottles - Best for Runnin' and Gunnin'

Lifestraw has been around for several years, and is the leader in personal filtration products. The Lifestraw is durable and versatile. It can be used in a number of applications.

It is rated to filter up to 1,000 gallons of contaminated water, into clean, drinkable water.

It can be used to drink directly from contaminated water, such as from a stream, or you can scoop up the contaminated water in a bottle, and filter it as you drink on the go.

If you opt for the Lifestraw Water Bottle, you have a purpose-made water bottle and purifier that works together as one. Simply unscrew the lid, fill up the bottle, and it's filtered as you sip it through the straw. Not bad!

People have used the Lifestraw extensively to filter their water, and it has fantastic reviews. If you want even more versatility, the Aquamira Frontier Pro is another really solid filter that can be screwed onto the threads of a hose, a hot water heater, or even used with a Camelbak or other bladder.

Berkey Water Filters for Your Countertop

While the Lifestraw and Aquamira are great solutions for personal water filtration, the Berkey is as good as it gets for a family-sized, countertop water filter. It is fantastic for use as an every day filter, or in emergencies as well.

The Berkey is built to remove virtually all contaminants, with 99.99 percent of bacteria, viruses, heavy metals and more. There has been independent lab testing and years of consumer use to verify that it does indeed filter as well as it is purported to.

Berkey filters are also extremely sturdy, with the housing being constructed of stainless steel, and having good gaskets and a durable spigot as well. If you have a small family (2 adults and 2 small children), a Big Berkey is a great size. If you will have more mouths drinking from it, the Royal Berkey is the next size up, and will ensure that you have plenty of water ready to go when people want it.

Do You Need a Whole House Water Filtration System?

If you are living off grid and drawing water from a well or rainwater catchment system, you will likely want to install a whole house filter. These are made to treat large quantities of water for long periods of time.

They can be several hundred dollars, and filter 100,000 gallons or more (The Aquasana whole home filter is rated to be good for 10 years and 1,000,000 gallons). Although many whole house filtration systems can be easily installed in an afternoon with some simple instructions, you can have them professionally installed if you aren't comfortable doing it.

Resupplying Your Water Supply

The third leg of your emergency water plan is resupply. Going above and beyond storage and filtration, resupply ensures that you can go long periods of time, if necessary, without depending on outside sources for your water. This is true water self sufficiency.

The primary means of resupplying your water are rain water harvesting and wells.

Rain Water Harvesting

Harvesting your rainwater need not be extravagant. A simple water barrel at the bottom of your rain gutter downspouts is a great place to start. There are lots of places that you can find rain barrels online or in your local hardware stores.

Rain water barrels usually have an opening at the top, as well as a nozzle with a valve at the bottom. The nozzle at the bottom can be fitted with a normal garden hose to easily direct the flow of water when you are ready to open the valve.

Most people harvest their rainwater exclusively to water their plants and animals, although you can certainly drink it if you need to. Just make sure to filter it well. And keep in mind that for the first 10-15 minutes of a rainstorm, a serious amount of nastiness is being washed off your roof. For this reason, some folks use ball valves to ensure that the dirtiest water at the beginning of a rainfall isn't being stored.

Make sure that your rain barrel(s) have a sturdy place to sit, because they will be extremely heavy once they are full of water! Also, remember that the easiest way to move water is with gravity. If it's possible, locate your rain barrel in a higher part of your property, or have it on a slightly elevated platform. This way you can easily gravity water anything that you will need to.

As your system grows, you can string together several rain barrels, and eventually, larger rain water tanks. The capacity of rain water tanks can be serious--up to 7,500 gallons if you're in the mood. That's like a small swimming pool!

However, unless you have a bigger piece of property that is ideally situated, it's likely that a tank like this will require a pump. It will definitely require some careful forethought and grading/excavation work to create a site for it.

Drill Your Own Well

The epitome of water security is having your own well. If you have a well on your property, you have virtually guaranteed access to water.

Of course, drilling a well is no small matter--it involves a special rig to come to the site and can require that they drill to a depth of 100 or more feet. You never know exactly how far you will have to dig to hit water, in fact, it's possible that you could hire a drill rig, and never even hit water.

It's also possible that you could have a well drilled, and find later that the water contains nitrates, copper, heavy metals, bacteria or other toxins as well. So there's really no guarantee. Still, the potential upside usually more than outweighs the risks. If you can pull all the pieces together, having a well is the Holy Grail of water security.

As part of your well water system, you will need to have a pump, a storage tank, a whole house filtration system, and as mentioned above, a test kit. Getting everything installed, set up, and ready to go can be hired out to specialized contractors, or if you have some solid experience, done on your own.

WaterBob Review – Bathtub Emergency Water Storage Container

March 8, 2024 by Seasoned Citizen Prepper

The WaterBob bathtub bladder is an ideal water storage solution for emergency situations. Due to the food-grade plastic, WaterBob’s drinking water storage system keeps up to 100 gallons of water safe for 16 weeks.

People like this product because:

It’s inexpensive (price hovers right around $35)
It’s easier to store than other water storage strategies, such as large barrels.
You can deploy it easily, with just a few minutes (as long as it would take to fill up a bathtub)

Like what you hear? You can see the full specs and details on the official WaterBob bathtub bag on Amazon here.

Algae Bloom Threatens Water Security for Ohio Residents — *Unseasonably warm temperatures in the summer of 2014 contributed to an algae bloom in Lake Erie, threatening the water supply for many Ohio residents (via EcoWatch).*

Here’s the quick version:

There have always been threats to our supply of clean drinking water–tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters. I had family members near Toledo who had to use bottled water for nearly a month. Due to an unusually warm summer, toxic algae eventually contaminated the surrounding water supply.

One of the most critical things to remember is that if you are on municipal water, a power outage almost always means no water as well (pumps can’t run).

Without a solid emergency water plan , you leave yourself vulnerable during survival situations. Once the grocery stores run out of clean water, you’ll find yourself at the mercy of strangers and organizations like FEMA and the Red Cross.

Waterbob Emergency Drinking Water Storage — *The Waterbob uses the space of your bathtub to give you a relatively low-cost way to quickly store 100 gallons of water.*

Real Stories of the WaterBob in the Wild

Since WaterBob began selling its bathtub water storage system, people from all over the world have attested to the product’s usefulness. With over 1,200 ratings on Amazon, this puppy has a 4.7/5 (at time of writing).

In one 5-star review, a two-time hurricane survivor wrote:

Used the WaterBob During Hurricanes Matthew and Irma

A Florida resident faced the worst-case scenario: no power for an entire week:

Finally, a Hurricane Matthew victim found the WaterBob Bathtub Water Storage useful once the storm hit:

Survived Hurricane Matthew with the WaterBob Bladder

WaterBob Pros

WaterBob’s product comes in a small compact container, which makes convenient storage.
Constructed of FDA-approved, food-grade plastic
It’s effortless to set up and holds about a hundred gallons of water for up to sixteen weeks.
The included pump system is convenient for filling

WaterBob Cons

The biggest con is that you need to actually have 15-30 minutes of notice, in order to actually fill it up. This makes it PERFECT for disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, ice storms, rolling blackouts or fires, but probably not a lot of help in something immediate like an earthquake or sudden power outage.
You can only use the WaterBob storage system once. However, it’s only $35, so buying another won’t wreck your bank account.
Doesn’t hold as much water as storage barrels or water bricks

How To Use Your WaterBob

Using the WaterBob water storage container is intentionally straightforward. It’s easy to hook up to your bathtub faucet and takes less than half an hour to fill.

Remove the bladder from the box, and unfold it.
Then, you’ll find a valve at one end to hook up to your bath’s faucet. When you spread the container out in your tub, make sure the filling valve is closest to the drain.
Connect the tube to the lid and tap, and start running the water.
Your WaterBob will take about 15 to 30 minutes to fill, and then you’re good to go.
If you’re going to add water purification drops, it’s a good idea to add them shortly after filling, so you don’t forget, and the drops can begin treating the water.
When you need to fill up a day’s worth of water in a jug, use the included pump to access the water for drinking, cleaning, cooking, and flushing.

Here’s a few more important details:

About WaterBob The Company

Tony Woodruff, the inventor of the WaterBob Bathtub Water Storage, created this product after watching countless people scramble for supplies amid natural disasters. Once officials declared an emergency, people were left to their resources to prepare. In a scramble for survival, the news showed people frantically stocking up on food and bottled water.

Over time, Tony Woodruff developed his water storage system so people would have access to drinking water until help arrived. During events like hurricanes, essential utilities can stay out for weeks at a time. But even if these basic needs remain running, flooding can contaminate essential running water.

WaterBob constructs their water containers using the highest quality, BPA free materials. Various prepper books like Lights Out have mentioned this product, and it’s appeared on channels such as CNN and National Geographic. With over a thousand positive reviews, it seems Tony Woodruff succeeded in his goal of creating a secure water storage system.

Flint Michigan Water Crisis - Water Preparedness — *A Michigan resident shows a container of highly lead-contaminated water from the Flint water supply, next to another bottle from Detroit.*

The WaterBob Bathtub Water Storage is Great For Everyone

WaterBob’s product is a godsend for those left vulnerable to powerful natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and more. Having this sixteen-week buffer of drinking water will help to make sure you give help enough time to arrive.

This product is especially suited for people who live in city apartments or who just don’t have room for a couple of water barrels. While larger products store more water, many people either can’t afford them or don’t have the necessary storage space.

Urban preppers especially love this product because the plastic containment system is easy to store. The only thing to keep in mind is storing an unused WaterBob system in a dry place.

Also, when you do fill it with water, try to keep the inflated system away from direct sunlight. Too much exposure can lead to algae growth. WaterBob recommends only using this system once since you might not completely drain it afterward. The excess water can then lead to future contamination after exposure to the outside air.

Why Storing Safe Water is Important

It’s never safe to assume your community is immune to water and food shortages, but the events in Flint, Michigan, shattered any lingering misconceptions.

According to the CDC, in 2017, nearly 7,000 Americans died from illnesses contracted via contaminated water. These diseases include dysentery, typhoid, and hepatitis.

According to WaterBob, most people use over 150 gallons of water a day. However, what’s frightening is that a person can survive only a couple of days without water. So when you’re preparing for an emergency, you should have at least a three-day supply. A general rule for this is one gallon allotted to every person per day.

But you also need to keep in mind that water needs vary from person to person, and preparation requires personally customized plans.

Emergencies strike without warning, often leaving you little to no time for preparation. For example, water scarce areas in the West have already tasted the danger of a water-shortage. This effect will amplify, especially as more water reservoirs dry up from farming and other purposed.

Natural disasters are another big risk, since hurricanes and pandemics can leave people and necessities separated for a long time. WaterBob’s storage system costs only $35, meaning you’re not sacrificing much for this long-term investment.

Water Bricks for Water Storage — The “Water Bricks” pictured here are an extremely sturdy, modular way to build water storage little by little, but present a logistical nightmare when you think about rotating the water inside (via YouTuber “7 Trumpets Prepper”).

FAQs About The WaterBob and Water Storage

Can my bathtub actually support the weight of a full WaterBob?

A WaterBob will hold 100 gallons of water. At 8.3 lbs. per gallon, that is about 830 pounds of weight in your bathtub. This seems like a lot of weight, but remember, it’s the same amount of weight that a bathtub always holds when it’s full of water…. only this time, it’s in a plastic bag.

How does the Water Bob hand pump work?

You get the water out via a hand-pump device, a “siphon pump”; you unscrew a cap and place the pump when you want to take water out, and replace the cap when you are finished removing water, until the next time.

The hand pump is a simple device. It has an opaque plastic hose attached. You are supposed to place a water containment unit (pitcher, whatever you want to put the water in) BELOW the level of the hand pump. That could get tough as the water reduces in the tub, just being honest about it.

Can I really only use the Water Bob once?

Per the instructions that come with WaterBob, you should scrap it after 1 use. To quote the instructions:

“When fresh water is no longer needed, slit the side of the liner and drain the remaining water. The bladder should be disposed of and recycled.”

I called the company and inquired as to “why”. The answer was about what I expected: “because it’s impossible to get all the water out and it can be contaminated.” Translation? Covering our butts so when someone claims they got sick from repeated use, we can say, “we told you to use it once.” Because a Waterbob is difficult to fully dry, contamination from mold and mildew are a potential threat forever afterwards.

However, some preppers that live in hurricane prone areas have reported using them more than once, exclusively for showering and flushing toilets.

How often do I need to rotate my water supply?

About every year, you should switch out the water in your containers. While proper storage allows you to store water indefinitely, it’s always safe to change out the supply. This process is necessary because different bacteria can form over time. Also, the longer you store water, the worst it will taste over time. Combat this by swishing around the contents to mix it with more oxygen.

Conclusion

The WaterBob water storage system is one of the best short-term solutions. Developed to help people stranded by hurricanes and other natural disasters, it uses the space of your bathtub to give you a relatively low-cost way to quickly store 100 gallons of water, and is a superior alternative to fighting through the crowds for a week’s worth of water bottles.