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September is National Preparedness Month and is observed to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and disasters that can happen at any time. When you start collecting items for your survival kit and/or "go bag," what is the first thing you put in it? That's right — water. Water is essential for life. Experts suggest having one gallon of water per person per day, enough for at least seven days. OK … that's a lot of water! It will be very heavy if you need to carry it around. So, what are some options? Below is a list of options that are all tested, available, and easy to use. Boiling: Boiling is the surest method to make water safer to drink by killing disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites. You should boil clear water for at least one minute. For cloudy water, pour through a cloth or coffee filter to remove residue then boil it for at least one minute to make it safe to drink. Of course, you need to have a heat source to do this. Disinfecting: Add eight drops of 5–9% unscented household bleach to each gallon of clear water or 16 drops to cloudy water. You can also use chlorine dioxide tablets or iodine but follow the label instructions. Stir well and let it stand for at least 60 minutes before drinking. Avoid bleach with perfumes, dyes, or other additives. Water Purifying Tabs: Purifying Tabs are affordable, easily transported, have a long shelf life, and are shown to effectively lower rates of waterborne illness by eliminating harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and giardia cysts. Distillation: Distilled water is water that has been boiled into vapor and then condensed back into a liquid state in a separate container. This can be time consuming and does not produce a lot of drinking water at one time. Personal Filtration: There are many types, sizes, and qualities of personal filtration devices. Some are very simple while others are more elaborate. All remove general contaminations like chlorine, particulates, sediment, stones, sand, dirt, bad taste, and odor while others are much more efficient in removing bacteria (E. Coli, Salmonella), waterborne parasites (Giardia and Cryptosporidium), and microplastics in water to ensure the water is safe to drink and deliver a better drinking experience. Gravity Systems: Many preparedness websites recommend gravity powered water purifiers. These purifiers require no power. They can filter a larger quantity of water and can remove larger amounts of bacteria and other contaminants. They are larger, and not easy to carry if you are required to evacuate. But if you are sheltering in place or are able to drive out of your area, they are highly recommended. In conclusion, I did a lot of research on these products. There are many reviews, opinions, and personal preferences. Each product is different, so make sure to research the products and find the one that will best support you and your family. But the most important thing to remember is WATER IS ESSENTIAL TO YOUR SURVIVAL! Being prepared means being ready with knowledge as well as supplies. Sun Lakes EPAP offers workshops, trainings and information to help you be prepared. You can find out more about EPAP at SunLakescc.com under community/EPAP and on Facebook at Sun Lakes EPAP (group). PREPARE FOR THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST! IT MAY SAVE YOU LIFE! ~ Janis Rice, EPAP PIO 10 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2024 | EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS #1 PREPAREDNESS NEED