Sometimes having water for an emergency, whether it’s the
weather or Y2K, means knowing where to look.

"The tank of your hot water heater or water pressure tank
can supply many gallons of emergency water," said Judy
Harrison,
a University of Georgia Extension food safety specialist.

Check Pipes, Ice Trays and Toilet
Tank

"You could also use water in your plumbing and in ice
cubes," Harrison said. "As a last resort, you can use
water in the reservoir tank of your toilet (not the bowl) — but
purify it first."

During a natural disaster, consider water from wells, cisterns
and other disaster-area delivery systems unsafe until tested.

To use the water in your hot water tank:

* Turn off the electric or gas supply to the water heater.

* Open the drain at the bottom of the tank to retrieve the
water.

* Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake
valve
and turning on a hot-water faucet. Don’t turn on the gas or
electricity
when the tank is empty.

* When power is restored and the tank refills with water, turn
on the gas or electric to heat the water.

To use the water in your pipes:

* Turn on the faucet at the highest point in your house to
let air into the plumbing system.

* Drain the water from the pipes through the lowest faucet
in the house. If the main water valve is closed, be sure that
gas to heat the water is turned off to prevent overheating.

Water Beds Can Be Life
Savers

"Water beds can be emergency water sources, too,"
Harrison said. "Beds hold up to 400 gallons, but some water
beds contain toxic chemicals that aren’t fully removed by many
purifiers."

If you designate a water bed in your home as an emergency
resource,
drain it yearly and refill it with fresh water containing two
ounces of bleach per 120 gallons.

Emergency water sources can be found outside your home, too.
Rainwater, streams, rivers and other moving bodies of water,
ponds
and lakes and natural springs are all good sources of water. But
remember to purify the water before drinking it.

"You should purify all uncertain water before using it
for drinking, food preparation or personal hygiene,"
Harrison
said.

Purify, Purify, Purify

There are several ways to purify water.

"None is perfect," Harrison said. "The best
solution is a combination of methods."

Here are two common, easy purification methods:

Boiling is the safest method. Put water in
a clean saucepan or other cooking container. Bring the water to
a rolling boil and continue boiling for 10 minutes, keeping in
mind that some water will evaporate. Let the water cool before
drinking, keeping it covered during cooling.

Boiled water may taste "flat" when opened. Improve
the flavor by incorporating air into the water by shaking or
pouring
it back and forth between two clean containers.

Chlorination uses liquid household chlorine
bleach to kill microorganisms. Add 2 drops of bleach per quart
of water (4 drops if the water is cloudy). Mix it thoroughly and
let it stand for 30 minutes.

If the water doesn’t slightly taste and smell of chlorine at
that point, add another dose and let it stand another 15 minutes.
Test it again.

"Distillation and purification tablets are also useful
ways to make water safe," Harrison said.

(Photo by Faith Peppers, University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)