Water Resilience

Published on 10 July 2023

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Are you water ready?

Do you have enough water stored for an emergency?

After a disaster like an earthquake or flood, there could be damage to our water network and water may not come out of your tap. You and your whānau will need your own supply of emergency water for the first seven days.

Sharing information that helps our community get prepared for an emergency ties to goal four of our sustainability strategy, which is to have a resilient community.

Wellington Region Emergency Management Office (WREMO) has produced some quick information guides on how much water to store, and how to store your water. You can view all the information below:

 

Do you know how much water you need to store?

  • You will need enough water to last for seven days. It is recommended that you store 20 litres per person per day.
    This amount should be enough for drinking, food preparation, hand washing and other basic hygiene (brushing teeth and a sponge bath).
  • You may need to store more if you have unwell people or small children in your whānau.

 

Options for storing water

Juice/soft drink bottles

  • Clean and re-use juice or soft drink bottles.
  • Store in a cool, dark place.
  • Avoid direct sunlight.
  • Do not use milk bottles - any milk residue will contaminate the water.

10 - 20-litre containers

  • These containers are available from hardware stores.
  • Store in a cool, dark place.
  • Avoid direct sunlight.

200L Water Tanks

How to store emergency water?

  • Thoroughly clean your containers with hot water (not boiling, as this will destroy the bottle).
  • Fill your containers (see below) with cold tap water until it overflows.
  • Add a small amount of bleach to help stop bacteria. Add half a teaspoon (2.5ml) of plain, unscented household bleach to 10 litres of water (a household bucket), or five drops to 1 litre of water. *Do not use Janola as it contains detergents which makes it unsuitable for treating drinking water.
  • Write the date that you filled your containers on each one to help you remember when to check and replace the water.
  • Place the lid on tightly and store in a cool, dark place. Avoid direct sunlight.
  • Clean and refill the bottles every 12 months. Reminder yourself by putting a reminder on your phone or write the date that you filled your tank/ bottles.
  • Before you can use your stored water, you should treat it by boiling for 1 minute (or until an electric kettle switches off) or adding the same amount of bleach again. Stir and leave for 30 minutes before use.

 

 

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