Introduction: Short Term EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY Practically Free
Forget the whole 2012 thing that nobody actually seems to know what's going to happen, what if we were to experience another ice storm? It makes sense to prepare for things like that, especially if you can do it for next to free. Take for example all the containers we throw away every day. Containers for soft drinks (pop) (soda), milk, water; these are all made out of very sturdy PETE or HTPE plastic and even the cheapest little crinkly generic water bottle will stand up for a 2nd use (reduce, reuse, recycle, remember?). They are all FOOD GRADE containers which everybody agrees is best. Rip off the label and wash the container along with your nightly dishes, still free. Fill it with chlorinated tap water (almost free) and that's all you have to do, the water will stay potable for a long time. You will be able to drink it if your water supply dries up. This is not a permanent solution, you will need to be able to catch and filter water if things go bad for a long time, I'll have more on that topic later...
AUTHOR ADDED: I wanted to reiterate - this is a short term fix that makes a good reuse of items that usually end up in the trash. I'm also putting in 3 rain barrels, and I have already made a very serious filtration system using Berkey ceramic filters and 5 gallon water jugs that can be used to purify QUESTIONABLE water sources for the drinking water one might need for a LONG TERM solution to pure water... take a look at my other instructable on that topic. Also, something to think about, the water you have stored outside won't be immediately useful if it's frozen, that's why I suggest plenty of water stored inside.
