Saturday, August 16th, 2014
Got Water? Some emergency tips that are easy.
When it comes to Cincinnati plumbing topics, the availability of clean drinking water in America’s greatest city is a favorite. Recent events in Toledo, Nashville, and LA highlight the importance of having a personal supply of clean water on hand, in case of an emergency. At Allied, we’re delighted to assist faucets of all shapes and sizes in delivering top-rated drinking water to households and businesses all over town.
According to Ready.gov, “Water is an essential element to survival and a necessary item in an emergency supplies kit. [In a] disaster, clean drinking water may not be available. Your regular water source could be cut off or compromised through contamination. Prepare yourself by building a supply…that will meet your family’s needs during an emergency.”
Where Can You Find 30-to-50 Gallons, For Free?
Look no further than your hot water tank. Should you get caught flat-footed in a water event, your home hot water tank holds a constant supply of 30 to 50 gallons, delivered directly from the city’s municipal water supply. Use the tank’s drain valve to empty the water into smaller containers for emergency drinking, flushing, and washing.
Speaking of hot water heaters, wouldn’t it be nice to have that emergency water stored in a brand new hot water tank? Enter our Free Installed Hot Water Heater Sweepstakes today!
A New Kind of Water Calculator – Storage & Drinking Needs
If your home is like ours, storage space is at a premium for a bulky item such as water. That being said, we’ve found several areas in the basement that hold water nicely – after we relocated about 253 old Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, and Consumer Reports magazines to the attic.
Conventional wisdom suggest that in the event of a disaster, plan to provide for your family’s water (as well as food and shelter) needs for at least 3 days (72 hours) – it takes about that long for local, state, and federal assistance teams to mobilize and create a plan of action for affected areas.
When calculating your water needs, consider this: A normal, active person requires about 3/4 of a gallon of fluid daily, from water and other beverages (individual needs vary, depending on age, health, physical condition, activity, diet and climate). Below is a recommended approach:
• One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.
• Children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more water.
• A medical emergency will require additional water.
• In warm weather, more water may be necessary. In very hot temperatures, water needs can double.
What does “Water for Sanitation” Mean?
That’s a $5 way of saying “You gotta flush, eventually.” In the event of a major water line failure, manually flush toilets by filling a small waste basket or bucket with 2-3 gallons of water (preferably used water from the dishes or tub, not water of drinking quality). When the toilet must be flushed, carefully and rapidly empty the bucket of water into the toilet bowl (fill nearly to the rim) until it self-flushes. A helpful motto in such circumstances (your kids will memorize this in a snap):
“If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down.”
Water You Waiting For? If you are experiencing a catastrophic, neighborhood-wide water disaster, the professionals recommend that you have a 3-day supply of clean water on hand. On the other hand, if your water disaster is localized to only your address (e.g., water main break, drain clog, sewer backup, or water in your basement), Allied Reddi-Rooter offers plumbing rescue service 24×7. Call or contact Ray today for a free estimate. 513-396-5300. We always come highly recommended and have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau for our expert quality of service.