Clean water options- not life straw

[fredridge]

I need to work on some water options and want some ideas. I'm in Vancouver.

When I was in Los Angeles I had several 55gal blue barrels and lots of bottles water. I had a lot more storage.

Here I have 20 gal of bottle water and a couple of life straws. I figured since it rains more I would be ok, but I'm thinking I need to up my water game.

I have a house with gutters that aren't very clean, so some barrels might be good. I have a septic so that water may be useful anyway.

What are some good options for barrels and downspout fills?

I am going to add some more bottled water.

What water filtration would you recommend? Looking for something more than a life straw. Something to refill 1-5gal water bottles.

Thanks.

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[Alexx1401]

Depends on how much you want to spend. These are said to be one of the top of the line:

Amazon.com

 

[Yarome]

You would need to be more specific. IE., Are you looking for something long term everyday use? Short term SHTF? Filtration or purification? Powered, pump, gravity fed? How much water do you plan to process in what time frame (IE., daily amounts just for drinking? For how many people? 50gal drums in one go? Etc.)

Mounted installation, countertop, portable? Do you need/want a water softener tank in there somewhere? True SHTF like a portable RO (reverse osmosis) setup? (Cheaper than a berkey)

 

[Koda]

What are some good options for barrels and downspout fills?

Do you have asphalt shingles or a sheetmetal roof? You might not want to use shingle roof water at all...

 

[fredridge]

I have asphalt shingles.

Most looking for SHTF. 2 people. Drinking, cooking, bathing and toilet. At emergency levels.
Gravity fed. I have some power but would want to preserve. Also plenty of propane and single burner stove.

As I write I am thinking a some more 20gal more bottled and some 55 gal barrels may be enough as anything longer I would need to leave town if I still could. I live in the city surrounded by way too many people.

 

[Koda]

I have asphalt shingles.

IMO I wouldn't drink the water that came off an asphalt roof, not even filtered.

 

[fredridge]

thanks. Makes sense. I would just get barrels and fill them and add some bleach.

 

[Yarome]

IMO I wouldn't drink the water that came off an asphalt roof, not even filtered.

Properly purified it's just fine. But you're right that cheap filters (not to be confused with purifiers) won't cut it.

Back to the OP:
I would probably be looking at purifiers... like General Ecology products or a reverse osmosis system. Maybe something like this affordable RV RO unit.

I've used the general ecology first need pumps for many years and camping purposes. They can do gravity feed, but to be aware that the filters aren't cheap and have limited gallon capacities compared to standard filter systems. IE., The handheld unit filter is rated for about 180gal.They are true purifiers though.

RO's are fantastic and can even turn sea water in potable drinking water. Water off your shingle roof or a muddy cow pond... you're good. The main downside is the water overhead. Even an efficient system you'll loose about 1/4 - 1/3rd of the water input. It can be reclaimed for gray water (toilet flushing, etc), but if you have limited storage then you might not want to burn off a 50gal drum worth of water per 100gal's of potable. Rain water is renewable though... so....

Neither system requires electricity and can be gravity fed, although, an RO system does require water pressure. Meaning a high water feed tank or to consider a 12v or hand crank water pump if so desired.

If you're industrious, a DIY dual filter and maybe a UV unit can work under many circumstances. Boondocking I typically process my own water from whatever's available using a DIY unit based off a unit like this:


Essentially just 2 generic filter housing from the adult toy store (Home depot, lowe's, etc) a 12v UV unit from online and powered by a 12v RV water pump (with a hand turned pump as backup.. that I can also stick a cordless drill on). You simply stick in whatever common filters you desire to fit the level of filtration required. It does about 4gal per minute (determined by the UV chambers time required to do it's thing) from any available water body to refill my onboard potable water tank.

SHTF emergency home unit I went with an RO unit and inline rechargeable water softener. Clean water is life.

 

[P7M13]

Get an 80 gal bladder tank then filter downstream.
Depending on street pressure and flow, you may need a pump for filling the tank.
Then, you are always refreshing your water storage and even after widespread loss of power, will have >60 gal to use/live. I don't know how the bladder tanks behave when low, but your pressure will steadily drop as you empty it.

 

[dangerranger60]

Don't forget you have another 40 gallons in your water heater. Then use the catch water off your roof to flush toilets. DR

 

[Alexx1401]

Don't forget you have another 40 gallons in your water heater. Then use the catch water off your roof to flush toilets. DR

Years ago I bought a 50 some odd gallon rain barrel for this here. Workers hit a water line one day. Had to shut off water to the entire place. Could not fix it so they went home for the day
We had plenty of drinking water but ended up having to use bottled water to flush damn toilet. So bought a rain barrel from Home Depot and keep it filled for just such emergencies. Drinking water has to of course be clean and germ free. Water to just use for the toilet is easy.

 

[wjv]

Do you have a yard?

 

[hongkong2]

Just buy a couple of the Berkley black filters and 2 Home Depot 5 gal buckets. Mount the filters in the top bucket drill some holes in the bottom and set it on top of the other bucket, save yourself a couple hundred dollars at least.

 

[Joe13]

IMO I wouldn't drink the water that came off an asphalt roof, not even filtered.

Idc at all but WA has a law that you can not collect water from rain.

It's total BS and I have seen multiple people do it but I thought I would toss it out there.

 

[DB is Here]

I bought (2) 375-gallon totes, the ones encaged. One filled for drinking the other for sanitation if needed.

Purely SHTF though.

 

[Alexx1401]

Idc at all but WA has a law that you can not collect water from rain.

It's total BS and I have seen multiple people do it but I thought I would toss it out there.

I had heard that too but never paid much attention. Elections do have consequences.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I had heard that too but never paid much attention. Elections do have consequences.

Pretty sure no one elected the EPA.

 

[Alexx1401]

Pretty sure no one elected the EPA.

Pretty sure WA state is not in charge of the EPA. Did I miss something where my Governor here made the EPA and runs the other 49 states? Wow, I have a new respect for the moron Jay. I guess he was not as dumb as I have thought him to be the last several years. Any other agencies that may state foisted on the rest of the country? I am impressed.

 

[JFifty6]

Idc at all but WA has a law that you can not collect water from rain.

It's total BS and I have seen multiple people do it but I thought I would toss it out there.

Based on WA State Dept of Ecology, it's encouraged and notes a caution re: using it for consumption; see here:

Rainwater collection - Washington State Department of Ecology

ecology.wa.gov

 

[ARFrog]

Sawyer water filtration products:

Water Filtration | Sawyer Products

Our award winning 0.1 micron absolute hollow fiber membrane filters set the new standard for removal rates and flow rates.

www.sawyer.com

(I have the personal filters in an emergency bag in each of my vehicles. I have made a bucket system like Sayer shows for international efforts for home use if needed.)


Platypus 2 litre dirty/clean bag system (or other configurations)

Amazon.com