Best Place to Store Emergency Water in Your House? Under the Bed OK?

[9mm guy]

I'm just curious to hear other people's thoughts in case I'm not thinking of something; what's the best place to store emergency water in your house? Does anyone see any problem with storing emergency water under the bed?

It seems logical since it's out of sunlight, utilizes precious space, and usually temperature controlled. But someone wondered about in case of a severe earthquake, the bed may crush the water underneath if it collapses. But if an earthquake is that strong, I don't think any place in a house would be safe. In fact, I would think under the bed would shield the water from falling debris more than any other place in the house? Or maybe there are other issues that I'm not thinking of? Or are there other places that people recommend?

I know it's not a major issue but I'd love to hear people's thoughts if any. Thanks in advance for all your answers.

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[albin25]

Not under the bed!..
...the monsters will drink it !

 

[Stomper]

Depends... what're you doing on that bed, and do you want THOSE crumbs raining down on it.

It also won't work if you own a water bed!

 

[Certaindeaf]

Genius! Have a little fridge right by the bed too though..

 

[DB is Here]

I just bought 6 Black (Food Grade) 50 Gallon drums, filled them with water and put them behind my shop. Then I'll replace the water every 6 months.

 

[HB of CJ]

Consider what may happen to your house after an earthquake? We instead place our water containers in a larger containment vessel. Our are about 16" by 38" by 6" or so? Translucent plastic with lids. The lids do not fit. The plastic water bottles are too high.

The containment container is there to catch the usual small leaks that develop from many water bottles over time. Then we place the containment tubs next to a bearing wall. This means the floor is directly and closely supported by vertical walls or foundations.

Also consider keeping the water jugs, bottles, etc.. away from any material or food that emits a strong odor or potential chemical problem if breached. Onions and garlic come to mind. Also bleach and some soaps and household cleaners. The water will taste bad.

Edited by HB. About 6 x 15 x 33. One liter reused thicker water bottles.

 

[Ura-Ki]

For you folks up in the PNW, I would store water near door's and other "Hardened" areas! Away from sunlight, and easy to get to would be second.

 

[ChiefStealth]

Under the bed? I'm storing close to 300 gallons. No way to get that under a bed.

 

[jbett98]

Don't forget your water heater has at least 40 gallons.

 

[Brutus57]

Wherever it fits, you can get to it when/if you need it and it is reasonably protected is where you should store it.

We have about 50 gallons stored but then our water comes from a 5,000 gallon above ground tank fed by a spring and gravity fed to our house...That goes south, we have a couple of ponds in walking distance or all the salt water we can boil 2 miles away. Rain catchment is available if need.

Brutus Out

 

[muskoka]

You could have a waterbed mattress, and then in times of trouble, you could drink your bed!

I knew a guy who used to keep his booze under his bed so his wife wouldn't find it. She wasn't a good housekeeper.

 

[jbett98]

I knew an old guy who hid his whisky inside a 25' water hose that was hung up on a nail out in his garden shed.
His wife never stopped looking for his stash, but couldn't ever find it.
Any time he wanted a snort, he would mosey on out to the shed and take a pull.

 

[Sstrand]

muskoka
The downside waterbed storage is if it springs a leak you'll get a crick in your back!?!?!?!?

Sheldon

 

[ZA_Survivalist]

Crawlspace.

 

[Hawaiian]

Heck, this is Oregon. A tarp strung up as a catchment will provide a lot of rain water.

 

[cigars]

Under the bed? I'm storing close to 300 gallons. No way to get that under a bed.

You can buy storage bladders online. Some are specifically designed to go under beds. For those who live in apartments they have to get creative with limited space.

 

[Camelfilter]

Heck, this is Oregon. A tarp strung up as a catchment will provide a lot of rain water.

That & a gravity filter (Berkey etc). Done.

 

[Sgt Nambu]

This month it's time to change out the water stored in our containers. And, this year we are slowly emptying them into the basement laundry sink, then toting them out to the garage, refilling them and stacking in the garage. I have pioneer tools that can penetrate a collapsed garage to retrieve gear and water! We've been moving gear, food, etc to the garage almost a year now.

 

[11Charlie]

I store everything out in my shop in a room with no windows. cool and dry. Still got a lot of stuff to buy but I am getting there gradually.

 

[mjbskwim]

If you aren't using the water in your storage I think it's ludacrist.
Your storage of everything should be rotated into use