1. Drinking Water Emergencies
Don’t panic – be prepared.

2. Overview Floods, tornadoes, power outages
Depending on the situation, water may be safe for some uses and some people
Normal, active people need to drink at least two quarts of water each day, plus additional water for food preparation and hygiene
If supplies run low, never ration water.
Many emergencies can affect your ability to use water supplies. In some cases, the emergency may be brief and easy to manage. IN others you may need to deal with the long-term unavailability of your usual drinking water sources.
In some emergencies, water may be safe for bathing, but should not be used for drinking or cooking.
Water may also be safe for use by some people (teens, adults) but may be unsafe for vulnerable populations (infants, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems).
Hot environments can double the amount of water needed. Children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need even more.
Store a total of at least one gallon per person, per day. You should store at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family.
Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

3. Did You Know?
Boiling water is effective for reducing microbial contamination
Nebraska Health and Human Services System (NHHS) recommends boiling water for one minute
Boiling should NOT be used to remove chemical contamination, such as nitrate
Boiling water can actually concentrate the amount of some chemicals in drinking water, such as nitrate.
Because many drinking water sources in Nebraska contain nitrates, NHHS recommends a one-minute boiling time.
Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

4. What You Can Do Store water Purify water Boiling Disinfecting
Distilling
Water storage guidelines
Store a total of at least one gallon per person, per day. Store at least a two-week supply of water for each member of your family.
Store your water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers.
Never use a container that has held toxic substances.
Plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles, are best. You can also purchase food-grade plastic buckets or drums.
Seal water containers tightly, label them and store in a cool, dark place. Rotate water every six months.
Boiling
NHHS recommends boiling water for one minute.
Let the water cool before drinking.
Boiled water tastes better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.
Disinfecting
NHHS recommends disinfecting water with chlorine or iodine tablets or by mixing 6 drops (1/8 teaspoon) of unscented, ordinary household bleach per gallon of water.
Mix the solution thoroughly and let stand for about thirty minutes. If the water has been strained, double the amount of disinfectant used.
Store the disinfected water in clean, covered containers. A distinct chlorine taste will be noticeable after treatment, but this taste is harmless and indicates that enough of the disinfectant has been used to treat the water.
Distilling
Distillation is a more complicated method used to purify water, but it will remove salt and some other impurities.
To distill, fill a pot halfway with water. Tie a cup to the handle on the pot’s lid so that the cup will hand right-side-up when the lid is upside-down (make sure the cup is not dangling into the water) and boil the water for twenty minutes. The water that drips from the lid into the cup is distilled.
Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

5. Contacts
Insert local contact information
The Groundwater Foundation
P.O. Box 22558
Lincoln, NE
Insert your local contact information.
Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.