What I'm missing....

[gregintenn]

I've spent some time thinking and taking stock of my situation; especially since the earthquake in Japan. The best I can come up with is that I'm pretty well prepared for most any emergency, except for one thing: WATER. We have city water, and if you've ever laid any water line, you'll know that the pieces just snap together. It seems to me that in an earthquake, they'd snap apart just as easily. This is assuming that the city is still able to provide water at all. Is there anyone in Middle Tennessee that still drills wells? I may look at having one drilled.

[mikegideon]

You can buy a lot of bottled water for the price of a well. Not saying you should. Just something to think about, since some scenarios could include ground water contamination. Water utilities went down after Katrina over huge areas. We hauled bottled water in by the truckload. I was 75 miles from the coast too.

[Guest Bronker]

I'm counting on the two springs at the foot of my field, and 5 spring-fed lakes within 1/4 mile of my house for my source. Purification will be a more pressing issue, but not supply.

[dats82]

Absolutely, people still drill wells. My fiance's parents are on well water. However, remember that just because it is from a well or a spring does not mean it will be potable. It could be, but if you have been drinking only city water for the past 10 years, you will want to have it tested and consider a filtration or purification system.

[Guest BEARMAN]

We have three springs on our property, and a well. We had the springs tested and it turned out to be ultra pure mountain water.

The Cumberland river is less than three quarters of a mile away. I'm not sure the well has good water. I have heard at one time it was sulfer water.

But for now, we get our city water out of a large spring originating in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.

[gregintenn]

The well would only be for a situation in which all else fails. At that point, I'd take a chance on the water being potable. If you know of a local person in Northern Middle Tennessee who drills wells, or even better yet, if someone here does, I'd like some contact info.

[dats82]

The well would only be for a situation in which all else fails. At that point, I'd take a chance on the water being potable. If you know of a local person in Northern Middle Tennessee who drills wells, or even better yet, if someone here does, I'd like some contact info.

Taking a chance seems like an unnecessary risk. In the least, I would have some iodine tablets on hand and maybe a bottle of metronidazole or something.

[Oh Shoot]

The well would only be for a situation in which all else fails. At that point, I'd take a chance on the water being potable. If you know of a local person in Northern Middle Tennessee who drills wells, or even better yet, if someone here does, I'd like some contact info.

Just about every county has some long-time well drilling outfit, often a family biz.

Ask at nearest co-op, farm store, or ask UT county ag agent (if he hasn't been laid off yet).

- OS

[Guest mosinon]

while a well is a good option I wonder what makes you think an earthquake wouldn't also kill your well. The ground moves and thinking that your ground won't move seems a little silly to me.

[Jonsaiga]

If you have the room you could get just get six 55 gallon food grade plastic drums to store water in, a 12-volt RV water pump to transfer it and then set up a rainwater catchment system with a large agriculture poly tank. IIRC 1" of rain over 1 square foot yeilds .66 gal of water. So as an example, 1400sq. ft roof would yield 924 gallons of water. Combine all that with a Berkey water filter and you will come out way cheaper(thousands of dollars) and you won't have to worry about depending on a generator to pump it out of the ground. As long as you shut of the water to your house at the meter you can pump water from the drums and tank into your house with the RV pump.

[RobertNashville]

Isn't all this contingent on what the event/disaster was that caused the interruption of the water supply? I mean, if, God forbid, we are looking at an event that could contaminate the water supply (radiation, biological, etc.) then wells, springs, rainwater, etc would not be a solution would it?

Seems to me that having a good supply of bottled water; at least enough to get you through a couple of weeks is good "insurance" even if you believe you have other sources.

[Guest Bronker]

Norman Well Drilling, Dickson County.

615-446-2545

Good folks. Have done three for my family.

[mikegideon]

Isn't all this contingent on what the event/disaster was that caused the interruption of the water supply? I mean, if, God forbid, we are looking at an event that could contaminate the water supply (radiation, biological, etc.) then wells, springs, rainwater, etc would not be a solution would it?

Seems to me that having a good supply of bottled water; at least enough to get you through a couple of weeks is good "insurance" even if you believe you have other sources.

Don't forget Zombie juice. There's gonna be a lot of that seeping into the ground around my place if they show up.

[RobertNashville]

Don't forget Zombie juice. There's gonna be a lot of that seeping into the ground around my place if they show up.

If the zombies come then they come...until then I'm going to pretend it's all just make-believe.

[mikegideon]

If the zombies come then they come...until then I'm going to pretend it's all just make-believe.

Suit yourself. I guess those SCARs probably make good rabbit guns too.

[Oh Shoot]

....

Seems to me that having a good supply of bottled water; at least enough to get you through a couple of weeks is good "insurance" even if you believe you have other sources.

Problem with commercial bottled water is that hardly any of it comes in type plastic that will last even 2 years without leaking. Some won't last 6 months.

- OS

[RobertNashville]

Problem with commercial bottled water is that hardly any of it comes in type plastic that will last even 2 years without leaking. Some won't last 6 months.

- OS

I've been reading a lot about bottled water and it appears to me that most of the stories about the plastic 16-oz water bottles are based more on urban legend than fact-based. In any case, you don't have to buy a lot of bottled water and then just let it sit...you can always use it slowly and then replace what you've used as you use it.

The point is to have some when you need it.

[Shorty]

You could always drain your hot water heater if you were in need of a temporary water source if you don't want to store a bunch of water bottles (would still store a few). Close the valve from the external water source and I think you would be ok.

[Guest BEARMAN]

I used to keep 6 of those 5 gallon bottled water containers full of city water when I lived in town. I would rotate the water out about every 6 months to keep the water fresh.

Contact a bottled water company and they'll sell, or give you their older bottles. Bleach them out good and reuse them to store a supply for emergency use.

A new food grade 55 gallon drum would be ideal too, providing you had the room to store it.

[Oh Shoot]

I've been reading a lot about bottled water and it appears to me that most of the stories about the plastic 16-oz water bottles are based more on urban legend than fact-based...

I had urban legend all over my floor from Kroger 1 gallon water jugs in less than 9 months.

Oddly, some would develop pinhole leaks from top area and the water would just slowly evaporate, but the ones that leaked on the bottom, well, leaked.

- OS

[RobertNashville]

I had urban legend all over my floor from Kroger 1 gallon water jugs in less than 9 months.

Oddly, some would develop pinhole leaks from top area and the water would just slowly evaporate, but the ones that leaked on the bottom, well, leaked.

- OS

I've never bought Kroger brand bottled water....nor gallon jugs (I buy 16oz bottles in 24 bottle packs; then again, I'm not providing for a family)...maybe you should stick to a supplier that makes bottled water their whole business.

Disaster preparedness, like home security, needs layers...if the normal source is of water is cut off I don't want to be stuck with only one other option; especially if the option could be contaminated. Any container system can fail but personally, I've never had a 16oz bottle leak (unless it wasn't sealed properly in the first place).

[Oh Shoot]

.... Any container system can fail but personally, I've never had a 16oz bottle leak (unless it wasn't sealed properly in the first place).

And you've stored them for how long?

I just use Aquatainers now. City water is fine for the purpose, already chlorinated.

- OS

[Shorty]

Ozarka bottles seem to maintain integrity pretty well. I've had a few 3L bottles stored for 2+ yrs now that haven't lost a drop.

[Oh Shoot]

Ozarka bottles seem to maintain integrity pretty well. I've had a few 3L bottles stored for 2+ yrs now that haven't lost a drop.

Probably same content as the 2 liter soda bottles. Kept of out direct sunlight, they're essentially "forever".

- OS

[Moped]

The same thing can happen to a well has happens to a waterline in an earthquake. Also you need a generator to run the pump in order to get water.