Emergency Drinking water

1. Emergency Drinking water Bruce Macler USEPA

2. What do FOLKs use water for? • Drinking and cooking • Sanitation and cleaning • Landscape and garden irrigation • Washing cars and other toys • Fire suppression

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. And where do you get this water? • Bottled and stored • Water heater • Swimming pools and hot tubs • Lakes, streams and other sources

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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