Buy bottled water or purification tablets?

[wherehavealltheflowersgone]

Hi all
Very new to prepping. So far I've got a wind up torch, wind up radio, pile of sleeping bags and blankets, first aid kit.

Now on to food and water!
As the title says - do you buy bottled water? If so does it ever go off if unopened? Or is it better to use purification tablets?

And food - on amazon they do survival food boxes that last 25+ years. Anyone have a view on these? V expensive though!

[Zetetic]

So for a short term situation (like a power cut) I would buy tins (only your favourite food that you would normally eat). Also pasta, rice, sauces, that type of thing.... Have enough for at least one week in a box (eat and replace when it gets to use by date). Buy large food grade water containers and fill with tap water or the large bottles.

We had a debate about bottled water earlier. There is a use by date but someone on here is still fine after drinking it way past the date. Purification tablets are cheap and store easily so you could have a packet just in case.

I've never tasted the survival box food but they don't look great. However I have used the small pouches (camping / walks) and they are quite tasty and some self heat.

[Stratter5]

I'd get both. Enough bottled water for say, a week; purification tabs to store.

[cozietoesie]

I'd buy some tins (high nutrition content stuff that can be eaten cold if needed) and rotate them by eating/donating after a while and buying new. I'd also get some bottled water for a short term Trouble and purification tablets for anything longer term.

[wherehavealltheflowersgone]

Thanks all. What's a good amount of water per person per day?

[Zetetic]

Drinking water per day -

www.naturalhydrationcouncil.org.uk/hydration-facts/faqs-on-hydration/

[Kacie123]

So I'm just beginning to make some bags too (I figure worst case scenario, we have 2 rucksacks we don't use, best case we could leave in an emergency if we had to).

What about these on Amazon, has anyone tried them?

[Kacie123]

Yes they are a bit small aren't they?

See, I am just weaning myself off the idea of stockpiling amounts of dried food etc because DH thinks I'm mad and we live in a very small second floor flat, so an emergency backpack with some spare water is one thing, freeze-dried stockpiles another.

I've been thinking about it a lot this weekend, and I think in a short term emergency like a power cut we'd either stay at home and eat up the tins for a week; if it were a fire etc we'd end up with families or at a hotel.

In a real "run for the hills" situation, we'd die. Really. We have no resources around us, we can't fish or grow food etc, realistically we don't have time to learn those skills right now and they wouldn't just appear - and in the uber competitive society that would rapidly arise in a long term scenario, we wouldn't exactly be the predator/hunter types. Someone would probably just come and steal our stuff and shoot us. I also don't think we'd be good about keeping to ourselves - we'd have to look out for our families and there's no way to stockpile enough!

Argh! The more I think about it, the more I'm grateful for the society we take for granted every day. It would take forever to rebuild it if it collapses and there are a million ways it could.

Little steps I guess...

[Stratter5]

Don't think like that. Any scenario of that kind is incredibly unlikely to happen, but there will be hints and signs beforehand. Sit down, make a plan for where you could go, and just try to be aware of what goes on.

[cozietoesie]

I think you're knocking yourself too much, Kacie. You're thinking about things and that gives you a real survival edge if it's a long term Trouble. Being prepared gives you a breathing space but in the long term, I see no way round being able to think things through. You're doing that already.

[cozietoesie]

Chemical run-off is a problem, Slightly, although you'll likely know your local terrain, climate and inhabitants and be able to make a judgement on when you can use 'natural' water in a SHTF situation.

In the last analysis, though, it's better to drink it than to die through lack of water. Hopefully, your water stores will tide you over.

[FuckTheseSixFishInParticular]

I think like most things it depends on what you're prepping for. If it's something like frozen pipes on Christmas day (been there, done that), then just bottled water is fine.

If it's the nuclear/zombie apocalypse, then probably both and a water filter.

[Kacie123]

Heh, sorry - I didn't mean to sound overly defeatist, but I do recognise that in a really big national ongoing crisis, we'd probably be some of those hapless casualties referred to in the movies (not that I'd like this, mind you, but neither DH or I are about to turn into survivalists anytime soon).

However, have ordered a few books off Amazon to have a look at, and a first aid one - I'm assuming some of this stuff could be very useful no matter what (or I can barter it in the new world order at least)

[cozietoesie]

Not at all. Many of the people posting here would not survive the first wave of 'whatever-it-was-that-happened' - you just do what you can, that's all.