Water, Water, Water
In my prior writings, I described the categorization I use for my preps. You can use a different categorization, but mine works for me, so I’ll tend to discuss my new and improved prepping plan by that same structure, starting with water.
Water is one of the most basic human needs. While I was in the New Jersey, it was not a major prepper problem, because the basic water infrastructure was gravity fed. Unless I am mistaken, an EMP will not interfere with gravity. Having old infrastructure was beneficial in this case.
Fortunately, our new neighborhood has a system of trails and a park like setting that runs right behind my house. Through that wooded area runs a year-round stream that ultimately joins one of the rivers in the area. In an emergency, it could supply water, reducing my problem from supply to simple treatment, e.g. filters, boiling, etc. Luckily, it is downhill to the stream, so flooding is not a concern.
I do advise checking for the nearest body of water when shopping for a home.
Storage
Back in PRNJ, I had acquired a few collapsible rain water barrels, just in case. I wasn’t too concerned with massive amounts of storage due to gravity. (Does anyone prep for gravity ceasing? If so, I have a bridge you may be interested in.) New Jersey is blessed with reservoirs built in the 1800s to supply water to most of the towns in the north end of the state, where I used to live.
New York is similarly blessed, so New York City will not lose water in the event of a loss of electricity, at least below the 50th floor. On the other hand, collapsing water mains are a real issue in New York City. ☹ I don’t recommend New York City as a place to live, but water shortages are not a concern.
I managed to acquire a couple collapsible rain barrels and a collapsible swimming pool back in PRNJ. They can be broken out of storage very quickly. They moved along with the other 1,000 cubic feet of prepper stuff, so I still have them. The new community also has a pool, but one would presumably be sharing that with quite a few other people. I’ll not plan on that, but it is nice to know there is a large body of treated water a few blocks away.
I’m not sure what all my neighbors will do for water, but I expect many of them will be relying on the pool or the substantial stream behind my house. They will also be a source of pollution, so the filtration will be a real concern.
Inadequate for a 150,000 gallon swimming pool 😊
Purifying water
In the event of TEOTWAWKI, I’ll have water, but it won’t be safe to drink without some purification, so I need to put some high capacity water purifiers on my prep list. The good news is I worked as a lifeguard and pool manager as a teenager. (We’ll ignore how long ago that was.) 😊 If I could maintain a filter system for a 400,000 gallon pool decades ago, I can probably deal with a Big Berkey today.
To prep for purification, one needs to stock a few items. Other prepper sources tend to talk about bleach, etc., but that does not work long term for two reasons: Bleach expires after about six months as the active ingredients dissipate or degrade.
Alternatively, you run out of bleach because you didn’t stock enough. Either way, I want to rely on a combination of filters where the ingredients can either be stored easily, for long periods, or renewed from natural sources. As a result, bleach is a very good short-term water purification method, but long term you need something else.
Options
The best choice from a renewability standpoint is a sand filter, which can be constructed from a couple 5-gallon buckets and sand. Occasionally you need to replace the sand. Using a couple different types of filtration is also effective. For instance, I would like to run water through a sand filter, followed by running it through a charcoal filter. Note that having a supply of charcoal is not a bad prep.
Boiling is a choice if you have the ability to keep a fire going enough time to cover your water needs as well as all other cooking and heating needs.
My favorite purification method is alcohol. Standard hard liquor in a 1 to 25 ratio with water, does a surprisingly good job of killing off the bad stuff. Fortunately, I have a supply of alcohol, including a bunch of stuff I don’t really care for, and would be happy to contribute to the family water purification effort. 😊
If you have a small amount of electrical power, aquarium filters are a consideration. Before I go that route, I need to work on electrical backup, which I have not yet done in my new location. Ultimately, I would like to have an irrigation well. That would require less purification than the stream in the backyard.
Having a few of these around could be handy!
Conclusion
Dealing with a long term SHTF situation is going to require different preparation than was needed in New Jersey, but it is still quite doable. I am not in a rural homestead, but I do have a place where preparation is viable, for water and other needs of up to a year. Water will require more attention due to the lack of gravity fed systems such as those in New Jersey. However, with some purification preps, I am good on water.