Finding Water in a City During Emergencies

Objective

Identify, collect, and treat water in an urban environment without creating new hazards.

Sources (Ranked)

1. Hot water tanks (120–200 L) — shut power/gas before drawing.
2. Toilet tanks (not bowls) — treat before use.
3. Building maintenance rooms (flush lines first).
4. Commercial ice machines and bottled water in offices.
5. Rain catchment from clean roofs and awnings.

Collection & Treatment

• Use clean containers; avoid chemical storage bottles.
• Filter (cloth → 0.1 μm) then boil or chemically treat.
• Disinfect container threads and caps to prevent re‑contamination.

Transport

• Collapsible 10–20 L bags; backpack carry; cart if available.
• Label raw vs. treated water clearly.

Real Example

Apartment residents filled tubs early and rotated water from the building boiler, treating it before drinking. A stairwell cart moved 40 L per run safely.

Checklist

• Collapsible containers, trash bags, tape
• Filter + chemical tablets
• Marker to label “RAW/TREATED”

Contingencies

• Contaminated mains → avoid tap; rely on stored rain/boiler/ice.
• No heat → chemical treatment + UV if available.

After‑Action

Replenish tablets and keep two dedicated water containers per household member.

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