Get Ready Get Thru recommend you follow these guidelines to make sure you and your family have enough clean water after a disaster.

• Put aside at least 3 litres of clean drinking water per person, per day (at least 9 litres per person for the three days). This equates to two NZW20 collapsible cubes for 4 persons.
• Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more water.
• If you live in a warm weather climate more water may be necessary.
• Store water tightly in clean plastic containers such as SELFCHARGE’s NZWA20 and NZWA5 collapsible water storage containers
• Keep at least a three-day supply of water per person.

     You will also need water for:

•  
  • Washing and cooking food for every meal 
  • Washing dishes and utensils after every meal 
  • Washing yourself (one litre per day for each person)

Make sure your hot water cylinder and header tank are braced with metal straps to prevent them from falling over.
 

Drinking Water

To store enough drinking water for three days, purchase sufficient NZW20 collapsible 20 litre containers from this site or prepare six large, plastic soft drink bottles of water per person, including children. Add some extra for pets.

• Wash bottles thoroughly in hot water, and please do NOT use used milk containers.
• Fill each cube / bottle with tap water until it overflows. Add five drops of household bleach, eg, Janola, per litre of water and put in storage. (Half a teaspoon (2.5ml) per 10 litres of water.) Do not drink for at least 30 minutes after disinfecting.
• Make sure there are no air gaps and place the lids on tightly.
• Label each cube/bottle with dates showing when the bottles were filled and when they need to be refilled.
• Check the cubes/bottles every 12 months (eg, at the beginning or end of daylight saving). If the water is not clear, throw it out and refill clean bottles with clean water and bleach.
• Store cubes/bottles in two separate places, somewhere dark away from direct sunlight where there is not likely to be flooding.
• Alternatively, fill any clean large plastic container with water, seal/cover, label and keep in the freezer. These will also help keep food cool if the power is off and can also be used for drinking.
• Keep a supply of ice cubes and fruit juices.

Cooking, Dishes, & Washing Yourself

You can use water for cooking, dishes, and washing yourself from these house supplies:

• Hot water cylinder and header tank
• Toilet cistern. This water is only safe to use if no chemical toilet cleanser is present.

Other Handy Tips:

• Wash your hands well. If water is in very short supply keep some in a bowl with disinfectant added, but change frequently.
• Check your stored water by holding it up to the light. If it has anything floating in it or is not clear, strain and boil for three minutes or add five drops of household bleach (eg, Janola) per litre of water and stand for 30 minutes before drinking. (1/2 teaspoon to 10 litres.)
• Collect rain water by either placing a clean container outside to catch rain or by disconnecting the down pipe from the roof and filling a container. Boil water for three minutes before drinking or disinfect with household bleach (1/2 teaspoon to 10 litres). Reserve one clean utensil to use as a dipper.

DO’S …

• Use a bucket or bowl for washing. Throw the used water over the land or put into a hole and covered with soil. Don't put it down the toilet or drains.
• Switch off power to the hot water cylinder if the water supply fails.
• Use spa and swimming pool water, if available, for keeping yourself clean and washing clothes.

• DO NOT collect drinking water from the roof if it is contaminated with ash, smoke deposits or other debris.
• DO NOT drink water from the town supply unless you have been advised that it is fit for drinking.
• DO NOT use old milk containers to store emergency water.
• DO NOT assume domestic water filters are effective. They can become contaminated.
• DO NOT drink water from a private well if it has been flooded.
• DO NOT waste water on cleaning clothes.  

How To Drain Your Water Pipes

• Turn off water at the Mains tap
• Turn on the lowest outdoor tap around your home; this allows the water sitting in the pipes to drain away
• After the water has been turned off, flush the toilet and turn on both the hot and cold shower taps to drain water from the showerhead
• Turn off electricity to the hot water cylinder and slowly drain by turning on the lowest hot water tap in the home e.g. the bath tap.