... by Pam Paizs, owner of Happy Hovel Storable Foods

Multinational companies now run water systems for 7 per cent of the world's population, and analysts say that figure could grow to 17 per cent by 2015.

Private water management is estimated to be a $200 billion business, and the World Bank, which has encouraged governments to sell off their utilities to reduce public debt, projects it could be worth $1 trillion by 2021. The potential for profits is staggering: in May 2000 Fortune magazine predicted that water is about to become 'one of the world's great business opportunities', and that 'it promises to be to the 21st century what oil was to the 20th'.

             -John Louma, "Water Thieves," The Ecologist, Mar 04

Anything else you're interested in is not going to happen if you can't breathe the air and drink the water. Don't sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet."

             - Carl Sagan

Storing Water or not?

This is not negotiable. You must have your own water and have access to it. Water is one of the fundamental basics for survival.

How much Water?
The average water consumption per day per person is said to be 3 gallons. I advise looking at 1 gallon cooking, 1 gallon washing, 1 gallon drinking, you must realize that you can live for 3 weeks without food, but you can only live 1 week at best without water.

Bottled Water or not:
Pre Bottled Water actually has a short life span. Water will keep its life force for only 6 weeks, after that the oxygen within the water will dissipate. Even with the now vitamin or mineral enhanced bottled waters in the market, they will still loose their oxygen and oxygen is the primary reason why we drink water to sustain the human body. In times long gone, most gathered their water from moving streams. This water was filled with an abundance of oxygen.

Keeping Stored Water Safe And Clean

Water Purifiers:
Clorox is often suggested as a purifier but it is a halogen which simply means it is a carcinogen and obviously very harmful to your body. Iodine is another method but very dangerous to use and can make you ill if not done correctly. Food grade Hydrogen peroxide is actually a good source for stabilizing water but it must be considered as short term storage only. Hydrogen Peroxide breaks down in 6 months rendering it useless after that. The only product that stands the test of time and good for you is Aerobic Oxygen; this is a very stable product and actually has an extra molecule of oxygen that enhances the life span of water for up to 5 years.

By adding Aerobic Oxygen to storage water, the following occurs:
       1) Destruction of any infectious bacteria
       2) Guarding against future contamination

Aerobic Oxygen has been around for nearly 25 years, sold into 30 countries worldwide, used in the world's largest HIV clinic in Accra, Ghana, and even guarded thousands of people against SARS in recent years in Asia.

Water Filters
Most people think that water filters will STORE water safely, that is not true. Filters will assist in the removal of small particulates that may be harmful to your body. It will not make the water stable or storable.

Water Sources And Containment

Water Sources
Best advice is to start with a good water source, from a clean well or conversely use your own water from your faucet. The only difficulty with city or county water sources are that they can have several different types of chemicals already added to the water to keep it so called clean. This is where a good water filter would be required. Again if this is all you have access to, use aerobic oxygen, as this will clean the water of most of these harmful additives.

Water Containment:
I would advise that you begin your water adventure with seeking some useful containers; 5 to 10 gallon Plastic containers or even 50 gallon Plastic containers can be obtained and I would suggest you start with searching Google or your local phone directory for these items. You can also obtain a larger water tank that can be placed either indoors or outside at the back of your home. These can be purchased any where from 50 gallons all the way up to several 1000 gallons. This method of containment is bulky and as some folks live in apartments, these larger sizes may not be at all conducive. www.bayteccontainers.com

Where to store your water:
Keep your water stored in a secure and cool place. Basements are a great place to store your water but if you do not have a basement, choose the coolest place in your home, a spare room, a garage or outside at the back of your home in a secure shed .In coming times ahead, it will be important for you to keep your water storage close to you and your needs. At this time I would highly recommend that you keep your water in a very secure place and not out for the world to see.

Lastly, in living securely in uncertain times, always travel with a small water supply in the car, that way you can be at least comfortable knowing that if anything unusual happens, you will have water to keep you going until you arrive safely home.

We used to think that energy and water would be the critical issues for the next century. Now we think water will be the critical issue.

       -Mostafa Tolba of Egypt,
       former head of the United Nations Environment Program

© 2008, Pam Paizs

Listen to Pam's Beyond the Ordinary KRSE  Archived Radio Programs

     Pam Paizs, once the CEO of Australia's then largest Food Corporation, set up the research and development for "shelf stable" foods for the consumer market. Now owner of Happy Hovel Storable Foods in Yelm WA, Pam shares with you her knowledge of storing foods safely, taking the mystery out of purchasing and keeping foods for short and long-term purposes.