Since we specialize in water storage we are often asked, “Why do I need to buy containers to store water, I can use the water in my water heater or fill up my bathtub if I need to store water?” Today we are going to address three types of water storage one could find in their household, show you the pros and cons of those different forms of storage, and what one could do to improve their water storage situation.
Water Heaters
The standard home water heater holds anywhere from 55 to 80 gallons of water. The water heater is a good storage option as it doesn’t require advanced preparation and can be accessed easily. Unfortunately, the water heater does have a few drawbacks. First, it is linked to both your home and the municipal water supply which makes transportation of the water difficult. Second, there is no way to prevent contamination should the municipal supply become contaminated.
Pros:
Cons:
Bathtub
A standard bathtub measuring 30 W x 60 L x 15 H holds 80 gallons water when filled. A bathtub is not recommended as part of your emergency water storage plan. While it does provide you with a large storage space, advance notice of the emergency is required in order to fill and store the water. Because it is not an enclosed container, it is also very difficult to maintain the cleanliness of the water for any period of time.
Pros:
Cons:
Water Bottles
Disposable water bottles contain 16 oz of water per container or approximately 1/7th of a gallon. Disposable bottles are an excellent mobile option for water storage. The disadvantage of disposable bottles is the amount of space required to store enough for survival.
Pros:
Cons:
How can I Improve:
After assessing your own emergency water situation, we have two recommendations that you may consider for improving your emergency water storage needs.
Water is one of the most important items needed in the case of an emergency. While there are several options for water storage built within your home, we at Sure Water recommend reexamining your current emergency water preparation and look for ways you can improve. Whether that be a mobile water storage option or simply increasing your storage capacity at your home we are happy to help you be prepared.
]]>The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that each person should have at least one gallon of water per day in storage. You should store a minimum of three days’ worth of water with a goal of two weeks’ worth, if possible. This recommended amount of water is only for survival. Pregnant women, those with certain medical conditions, and those living in a hot climate should store more than the single gallon a day recommendation. The CDC suggests that half a gallon is for drinking and the other half is for hygiene.
For more comfortable survival, we recommend that you keep three gallons of water per person per day on hand. This will allow you to have enough for drinking, hygiene, sanitation (flushing toilets, etc.), and cooking. We recommend at least a one-month supply.
We recommend waterbricks for the personal 72 – hour emergency or if you have to move your’ water. For the stationary water storage supply we suggest Sure Water’s 260-gallon or 500-gallon doorway tanks.
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We've rebooted Sure Water! Over the past year, we've been studying to find what shipping pricing structure would give people the best deal. Up until now, we have been using a "Free Shipping" model. While this does create a simple and straightforward model, we've found that if we adopt a more flexible model would offer the vast majority of our customers a much better deal.
"Free Shipping" is somewhat of a misnomer. It's actually "averaged shipping." When a company offers free shipping, they average their shipping costs and add it to the cost of the product. We've found that we can offer a better lower price by more accurately representing this cost by charging a rock-bottom price for our tanks, and then adding shipping prices to that based on location and actual shipping costs. This may seem more to think about, but trust us, it will hugely benefit our customers.
Another big benefit is that you will now be able to save a ton of money by ordering more than one tank at a time. If you yourself don't need more than one, you can see if your neighbors do. Shipping 2+ tanks reduces the shipping cost per tank. The more you order, the more you can save.
Now, when you add a tank or two to your cart, you can use the built in shipping & tax estimator to see what your final cost would be. We're excited about this new price model, and it will almost always save you money overall. Have a look around the site (especially our FAQs page), and drop us a message on our contact page if you have a question or just want to get in touch!
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All kinds of people and businesses use our tanks. We like to see them out in the wild. Have one of our tanks yourself? Snap a photo and email it to hello@surewater.co!
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Water is now the second most popular drink (behind soft drinks), and Americans often carry bottled water everywhere they go. Drinking water throughout the day is crucial to our health. Tossing out sugary soda can help people avoid the risk of obesity, stroke, and other heart problems [1][2][3]. We should think of water as an essential nutrient for our body needs; it's present in liquids, foods, and plain water [4]. You can bet that healthy people don't skip drinking plenty of water.
So how much water should you drink? The amount of water people need per day is ultimately up for debate. While the old suggestion to drink eight glasses per day may be more of a guideline, keep in mind that studies suggest that adults need 9 to 16 cups of water per day. You may need more depending on age, health, and activity level.
Your body is about 60% water and if water intake doesn't equal output, it is easy to become dehydrated. Sometimes we overlook how our bodies shed water everyday. Fluid loss happens when we sweat, exercise, get sick, and go about many routine activities. It's smart to get in the habit of keeping a water bottle on hand.
Let's take a look at 10 reasons to make sure you're drinking enough water every day:
All in all, most of us would do well to drink a bit more H2O. No need to over do it, but keeping your water consumption up at a healthy level is paramount for maintaining a fresh mind, strong body, and active life.
Be sure you always have enough water on hand, especially in an emergency. Shop our water storage products →
Kaplowitz, G. J. (2011). An update on the dangers of soda pop. University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry, Department of Oral Medicine, 80(4) 14-6, 18-20, 22-3 passim; quiz 29-31.
Bernstein, A. M., de Koning, L., Flint, A. J., et al. (2012). Soda consumption and the risk of stroke in men and women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Wellness Institute of Cleveland Clinic, Lyndhurst, OH, 95(5) 1190-9. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.030205.
Gibson, S. (2008). Sugar-sweetened soft drinks and obesity: a systematic review of the evidence from observational studies and interventions. Nutrition Research Reviews, Sig-Nurture Ltd, 11 Woodway, Guildford, Surrey UK, 21(2) 134-47. doi: 10.1017/S0954422408110976.
Koelemay, J. MBA, RD, dietitian, Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness.
Rolls, B. PhD, Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA; author, The volumetrics weight-control plan.
Aoki, K., Nakao, A., Adachi, T., et al. (2012). Pilot study: effects of drinking hydrogen-rich water on muscle fatigue caused by acute exercise in elite athletes. Medical Gas Research, 2(1) 12.
Wolf, R., Wolf, D., Rudikoff, D., et al. (2010). Nutrition and water: drinking eight glasses of water a day ensures proper skin hydration-myth or reality?. Clinics in Dermatology, Dermatology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, Rechovot, Israel, 28(4) 380-3. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.02.022.
Ellner, K. MD, dermatologist, Atlanta, GA.
Chan, J., Knutsen, S. F., Blix, G. G., et al. (2002). Water, other fluids, and fatal coronary heart disease: the advestist health study. American Journal of Epidemiology, 155(9) 827-33.
Michaud, D. S., Kogevinas, M., Cantor, K. P., et al. (2007). Total fluid and water consumption and the joint effect of exposure to disinfection by-products on risk of bladder cancer. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(11) 1569-72.
Tang, R., Wang, J. Y., Lo, S. K., et al. (1999). Physical activity, water intake and risk of colorectal cancer in taiwan: a hospital-based case-control study. International Journal of Cancer, 82(4) 484-9.
Von Duvillard, S. P., Braun, W. A., Markofski, M., et al. (2004). Fluids and hydration in prolonged endurance performance. Nutrition, Kinesiology and Sports Studies, Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Health, Texas A and M University—Commerce, Commerce, TX, 20(7-8) 651-6.
Cleary, M. A., Sitler, M. R., Kendrick, Z. (2006). Dehydration and symptoms of delayed-onset muscle soreness in normothermic men. Journal of Athletic Training, 41(1) 36-45.
CDC. (2014). Water & nutrition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.