Hello September!! September is Emergency preparedness month! It makes sense to prepare for emergencies with this first breath of fall. Let's be ready in case the power is out over the winter. Is this crazy "prepper" talk? I don't think so. I think it is always a good idea to be prepared for emergencies. Having good clean drinking water is essential. Therefore, today, rather than showing you an eye popping recipe, I want to show you how to can water for emergencies. You might be glad that I did!
In honor of emergency preparedness month, over the next month, here are some things that you can do to prepare for emergencies. Let's also look at resources for where you can look to find more instructions about emergency preparedness in your particular area of the country or the world. It is important to have a plan and to be at least minimally prepared for all kinds of emergencies.
Why worry about How to Can Water for Emergencies?
Let's discuss water. Water is essential for life. You knew that already. Where does your water come from? Do you use your own well?
If so, you probably understand too well that if the power goes out, the well pump doesn't work and there will be no water coming up out of the ground unless you do something specific, like attach a running generator. Does your water come from a city water supply?
WHAT IF THERE WERE A DISASTER?
If there were a disaster and there was no power for a number of weeks to your local water supply? Guess what? You wouldn't have water either because that too requires a pump.
Therefore, it is important to keep some clean drinking water on hand. For several years now, my family and I have had some store bought gallon jugs of water stored away. We usually keep a case or two of bottled waters in our pantry and we have several 5 gallon water jugs filled with water.
Until now, I thought this plan was sufficient. It IS good to have the water on hand but honestly the water in those blue jugs tastes TERRIBLE because it tastes like plastic! yuck!
Our supply of water bottles regularly runs low because we buy those at our local big box store and only make trips there occasionally.
The Research...
This led me to research canning water myself. I have a friend who told me about a friend of hers who keeps a store of canned water. Honestly, I thought that was kind of weird but you know to each his own.
Then, recently in my duties as a town councilman I learned about my own water system in the town where I live and our ability to provide water to residents in the event of a large scale emergency. Suddenly, it seemed a VERY GOOD idea to have enough canned water on hand to last for a couple weeks in case of disaster.
Sometimes things have a funny way of turning out. I didn't mention anything about this as I was speaking to an 80+ year old lady I know last week and she told me that she had been canning water in preparation for a disaster.
INVERSION CANNING
We talked about canning in general. I let her know that I too am an avid canning enthusiast and asked about her method of canning water. She told me that she uses "Inversion Canning" to can water and that is the only method she has ever used to can anything.
Once she told me the process and I verified what she told me with what I could find on the web, I was pretty surprised! Although I wouldn't use this method to can my food items it does seem good enough for water as it does produce a solid seal.
What special tools do I need for How to Can Water for Emergencies?
The process could NOT be easier! You DO NOT need any special tools that you don't already have other than the canning jars. I was lucky enough to find ½ gallon jars for sale ½ price on the internet and you could too.
Quart jars will work fine too. You can buy canning jars at your local grocery, Dollar General Store, hardware or even on Amazon.
The local Grocery may be less expensive than this ad for Amazon (when you add shipping). Jars are about $12 for a box of 12 quart jars at my grocery.
***VERY IMPORTANT*** Buy REAL Canning jars. Do not buy the decorative jars that do not have seal-able lids. (You can click the photo here and it will take you to Amazon where you can compare prices - this is an affiliate link)
Ball, Regular Mouth Canning...Shop on Amazon
How much Water do I Need to Can for a Disaster?
The general rule of thumb is that you need a gallon per day per family member. In the event of a disaster, do not skimp on water. Drink what you need for the day and then work on finding more water. Most resources indicate that you should plan to have water to last you for 3-5 days. Use your own judgement for this.
You know how much storage room you have and how likely it is that emergency services would be in place in your area quickly. I live in a remote unpopulated area and it's not likely that in the event of a large scale disaster that anyone would be sending emergency resources here very quickly. Several weeks of water stored away for my family isn't unreasonable.
Other Tips and Hints for How to Can Water for Emergencies
In researching this item, I found that many people who do canning regularly keep canned water anyway.
- Consequently, When one has empty space in the canner while canning something else, fill the empty spaces with jars of water. This helps to keep all of the other jars upright and the bonus is a canned jar/s of water at the end.
- and In everyday use of canned food items, simply wash the used jar and instead of storing the empty jar in a shed or box, use the clean empty jar to can some water and place it back on the shelf where it sat with the food item. This keeps the jar clean until time for its next use and presents you with the potential for canned water should you need it! (Plus it keeps the spiders and dust out of your jar! BIG BONUS if you ask me!).
ADD TO THE WATER..
- Some of the resources I read suggest adding an ⅛ of a teaspoon of sugar or salt to the water before canning. Without the sugar/salt the water may taste flat after canning. I did not do this, but thought I would mention this here in case this appeals to you. I figured I could add sugar or salt later if needed.
- IN ADDITION, Some sources recommend shaking the water well before drinking as this re-aerates the water - which is what your mouth is probably more used to drinking.
- FURTHERMORE, If you have an overabundance of canned water on hand - remember it is good for washing out cuts and sores since it is sterile.
- ALSO, If you need to open jars and pour out the water because you need the jar, remember your plants and animals. They would rather have it than for it to go down your drain.
- FURTHERMORE, Many of the resources I consulted suggested keeping already previously used lids and reusing them for canning water - if the seal doesn't hold during canning, it is no real loss and can simply be run back through on the next load with a new lid. Seems pretty resourceful to me.
How Long Will Canned Water Keep? How Long is Canned Water Good For?
FINALLY, Canned water, like other canned goods should be good for at least a year. However, since we are all canning with very clean water to begin with and then boiling it for 5 minutes, it seems to me that it should be good indefinitely.
I hope and pray that you will never need to use your stores of canned water - but I will be so happy if you have some to use should you need it!
IF YOU ENJOYED HOW TO CAN WATER FOR EMERGENCIES, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY...
Setting up an Emergency Kitchen Box
Green Bean Canning for Busy People
How to Make your Own Terrific Laundry Soap
How to Can Water for Emergencies
Ingredients
- Water
Instructions
- Fill your stainless steel cooking vessel with water and heat on the stove top on high until boiling. Boil for at least 5 minutes. This is the water you put into jars.
- There are three different ways to heat your canning jars. 1. in the oven at 175 or 2. wash in the dishwasher just prior to your canning project and use the jars while they are still hot. 3. You can also heat your jars by submersing them in the water your are starting to boil in the large stock pot.
- Have your lids and rings ready - do not need to preheat
- When water has been boiling for 5 minutes and your jars are preheated, dip the water into the jars with a pyrex measuring cup or with a ladle and fill the jars to within ½ inch of the rim.
- Screw the lids/bands down onto the hot jar (be careful not to burn yourself) until finger tip tight.
- Turn the jars upside down immediately and place in an out of way place. Do not set directly onto a hard surface, put a kitchen towel down first. Allow the jars to stay upside down until cool. Jars will seal while upside down. When turning right side up, check to make sure the lid sealed by pressing the center of the cap - if it doesn't pop in and out, it is sealed. If it didn't seal, empty contents and use jar again for the next batch.
- When cooled, mark the lid with the date and "water"
Notes
- Use Clean water from your usual water source.
- There's no need to can water that is already bottled and sealed by an outside source.
- Keep your sealed water for up to a year.
- Use the water for plants, animals, making tea, etc. When you use it up, just make some more.
- Conversely, you can can jars of water while you are canning other things. If you have a blank spot in your canner, simply add a jar of water.
- Fill up empty spots in your canning cabinet with jars of water, this helps hold their place and keeps the jars clean until next use.
- You can can jars of water with either a water bath or a pressure can at any time frame you are using for other items.
Nutrition
A VERSE TO SHARE
“Those who walk righteously and speak uprightly,
who despise the gain of oppression,
and who wave away a bribe instead of accepting it,
people who stop their ears from hearing of bloodshed
and shut their eyes from looking on evil,
they will live on the heights;
their refuge will be the fortresses of rocks;
with their food will be supplied, their water assured.” ~ Isaiah 33: 15-16
Jane says
Hi great ideas thank you ! Question. I have 5 gal jugs from Calagon if I sterilize them and fill them up , will it be sufficient for storage , right from Calagon ? Just wondering , as I have rather a lot of 5 gal empty water jugs. Thank you again for the great ideas.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jane! Sounds like you have a number of Calgon containers that need a use! In this case I can't really say because I don't know what has been stored in those containers at Calgon. I'm no scientist - but I have read that you should only use plastic industrial containers for water storage that have had food safe materials in them. My guess is that Calgon wasn't storing food grade items. No matter how clean you get the containers, they may still be able to leach contaminates into your water. Better stay safe than sorry and go with something else for water storage.
Sandra says
Those big jugs would be ok for non drinkable water. Like water to flush toliet or to boil to wash out clothing
Wendi Spraker says
Exactly
Vm says
Why can water? What's wrong with just buying water in jugs in the grocery store? Thanks
Wendi Spraker says
Hi VM! Nothing wrong with purchasing your water - it can get expensive though.
nancy says
Great idea since the stores may be CLOSED, you may be stuck at home in a disaster, etc. Will try that! Putting a link back on my blog, thanks!!!
Robert Holets says
Year shelf life at most and it tastes like plastic when you drink it
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Robert. When I can water in glass jars, I've never had it taste like plastic. When I've bought water and saved it in plastic gallon jugs - tastes like plastic after a while. Ewww.
Annie says
Within a days notice of our hurricanes here in Texas. . Our stores are out of water and they limit how much you can buy.
Rosemarie says
Four or five years ago I tried this....thinking , I don't want anyon to know about canning water as I will become the town weirdo.... well now I can let the cat out of the bag ! I also thought of saving any & all liquidfrom the jars to add to mashed potatoes , gravies, soups , etc.... have a great canning day !!
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Rosemarie! See - you are not a weirdo! If you are - then at least you are the right place to be amongst other weirdos who won't think you are a weirdo at all! lol. Hang in there sister. Love your ideas about saving liquids from jars. My problem would be using them up before they go bad! Have you tried it?
Kat says
My husband drinks tart cherry juice every day to prevent flares of gout. I buy it in glass bottles. When I have a dozen or so empties, I sterilize them (ten minutes at a boil).I fill my tea kettles with water and put that on for a ten minute boil. I quickly fill the bottles and screw on th sterile lids. As they cool, I listen for the pops. When they are all cooled, I double check them to be sure that they have all sealed. Because I am reusing the lids that came with the bottles, I'm very careful to recheck the seals before using the water. If a seal has failed, my garden gets a drink. I decided to can water when we unexpectedly spent hurricane season in central Florida.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Kat!
Thanks so much for sharing how you deal with this problem! I really didn't know that the lids from something like cherry juice would reseal - so - you have taught me something new. I know that Ball and the USDA don't recommend reusing commercial jars for canning - however, water is a little different and it sounds like you are very careful to check the seal. I think it is interesting that you started doing this after dealing with a hurricane. I am a nurse by training and I have had a lot of disaster training. One thing I have learned is that IT IS TOO LATE when the disaster has happened. If you are prepared - the disaster won't be any fun - but at least you won't be suffering. Thanks for sharing Kat! Have a wonderful week!
Terri says
I save all my glass jars with metal lids I get other food products in from the grocery store. Such as Pickle jars, spaghetti sauce jars, salsa jars, etc. I even have a few friends save thier empty jars for me too. I can water in them. I have a very good success rate with them resealing. Very rarely do I have one that wont reseal. I typically boil them for 10 min. I also save all my laundry soap and fabric softener jugs that are at least one gallon or more. I fill these with water and we use them for flushing and washing up during power outages. We live in a rural location and experience 2-3 power outages every year, once our power was off for 2 weeks after a big thunderstorm came through. Usually our power outages last approx 3 days.
Wendi Spraker says
Terri- that's how it is for those of us in rural areas, isn't it? Good ideas! Thanks for sharing!
Rebekah Long says
Terri, I tried that too. Getting the lids to reseal was no problem, but a few months later I tried some and it tasted horrible! The lid began to break down and it made the water taste like rancid metal.
The only thing i can figure out, is that are water is very acidic.
Brenda says
@Terri, Thank you for your insight, in these troubling times I tend to forget these practical things.
M says
Yes. When ever I have an empty spot or 2 in the canner when processing something else - I put in jars with water. No need is doing all that work for just water. You would be surprised how quick your stock gets built up. Some premarket jars I recycle used lids. These I use first for my animals or house plants. They will need water also. I no longer question if I have 1 or 2 jars that won't fit in the canner-just do another batch including 5 or 6 jars of water.
Wendi Spraker says
Sounds like great advice to me. 🙂
Amanda Connolly says
Thank you for this article, I have a couple problems though. Sterilization requires 10 minutes at a boil. 5 won't be long enough to be assured of sterilization. That's why according to the national Center for Home food preservation in GA, anything processed for under 10 minutes has to have pre-sterilized jars. Because if you process for 10 or more minutes anyway, it's sterilized. Also, the inversion method is not an approved canning method, see the university of GA website for the latest research http://nchfp.uga.edu Safe canning!
Wendi Spraker says
Thank you for your input Amanda
Vikki says
Dear Wendi
Thank you for your article. I would like to encourage your readers to not take storing water lightly. Where I live in West TN, we have experienced a lot of power outages in the last year and we are on a well. It Never fails when it happens everything that needs to be done requires water. May everyone think about all areas of water use like flushing the toilet, washing your hands, dishes, bathing, cooking, pets and livestock, plants, and if necessary laundry. Any water that you have canned or stored that you question freshness could still be used for these other purposes and not go to waste. May we all be prepared well.
Bob Erickson says
This is an important point. Use a rain barrel/rainwater collection system for water for the toilet and garden use. Large storage (3 and 5 gallon jugs) should be adequate for washing hands and laundry. Canned water is sterilized and pure. Use that for drinking and cooking. On the more diligent side, look to store rainwater in larger quantities. A 1000 sq ft house has over 600 gallons of water run off wafter a 1" rain. A several thousand gallon (dark green or black) storage vessel can provide a lot of water for gardens and toilets with a simple filter to get any sediment out. Look into it.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Bob! Thanks for visiting. You are right. We use rain barrels here for our hens and horse and garden. Works great! Saves money. In the event of an emergency situation would be great as you mention as well. Thanks for bringing this point up!
Horace Marshall says
Hi Wendi. My wife an I are canning water now for long term storage. We are using 1 liter milk bottles which come in a plastic 6 pack cobtainer. We may even use use 500 ml beer bottles with reuseable poptops which come in a 20 piece plastic case. I also want to use 1 liter juice bottles which also cone in a 6 piece pkastic case. These plastic cases make it easier to stack and store our water.
Yesterday she bottled some water that we get from a well with a pump. We could use tap water but it tastes bad because of the chemicals. After she bottled the water she noticed something whiteish swimming on the surface. We don't think it is bad as the bottles were clean so it must be from the water. Should we have filtered the water through a coffee filter or something similar before putting it in the bottles. I think it could be limestone or what ever it is that makes water hard. Do you or some one you know have any ideas what this could be. Thanks, Horace.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Horace! Thank you for visiting. I am so impressed with your plan for water storage! I can tell you know how important having some stored water might be! I agree, stacking and space storage is important! I would love to hear about some of your other ideas for food and water storage! I am curious about something you said.... "Swimming". I am assuming that because you think it might be limestone then that is probably just a term to mean "something Unidentified floating in the water" and that you don't see little legs doing the back stroke or anything. Also, were these new containers? Have they had milk in them before? I ask because I have reused jars before that I didn't notice before but then did notice after that the jar wasn't quite clean and little floaters had come loose from the side. In this case I just emptied it and started over after rewarding. Milk is especially hard to get out - especially if it has previously dried in the jar. This also leads to white floaters. In which case I would also pour it out, clean the jar and start over. I wouldn't take any chances. Also if you have never had the well water tested, I would recommend doing so before storing for long term.
Meledie Knopf says
Omigosh! What a unique, but vital idea! I have purchased commercially processed water in cans and the claim is 5 years shelf life. I also have the drums specifically designed for storing water. In western Washington, we typically don't have a water problem with all the rain we get. However, as dumb luck runs, Murphy will strike and we'll find ourselves in a drought. In any event, I want plenty of water for me and, if necessary, my neighbors. Like you, I live in the sticks and have a well. I do have a generator that can switch over to run my house, well included. But that takes fuel and will eventually run out if it's an emergency situation that has taken out the power and lasts for a long time. Gas stations won't be able to pump fuel, etc. Literally everything will be shut down! I'm prepared for that and could last about a year with what I have stored. That will get me well through the next growing season. Thankfully, I do have a creek that runs through my property that I pray will never run dry. I do worry about jars breaking in the event of an earthquake, and we are way overdue for a bad one. But I do trust in the Lord, that He will provide. I've been obedient in preparing to the best of my ability. I know that's all He asks of me. Thank you so very much for your amazing website! I found out about you through Homestead Survival. I'm excited to receive your future posts!
Wendi Spraker says
Wow. Melanie. Thank you so much for your reply!! I LOVE when people leave me comments. Sounds like you are ready with a capital R. Wonderful!
Penny says
I have water squirrel away here and there, but my biggest complaint about storing water is the space it takes up! Voila! I have my canning cupboard and I store my empty jars, clean and upside down on the shelves, organized by jar size and mouth size for ease in refilling when I can. I see no reason for not having water stored in them while they sit there waiting to be refilled. I live where most of my canning is done in the fall, so for the rest of the year the bottles just accumulate. By the way, I have also read of people who store distilled water, they don't "can" it, just store it in bottles that "seal" (aka close tightly). The theory is that it doesn't need the spoonful of bleach to kill stuff that isn't in it because it's distilled. I have no idea how true that theory is...
Wendi Spraker says
Penny! So right. No more wasted empty jars!! I'm so glad you found my site and decided to leave a comment! I love to hear from my sister canning gals! You can in the fall? What part of the world do you live in. North Carolina is full steam ahead canning right now. Except me - because I didn't get my garden in at the right time. Lol. I have no idea about the distilled water either but it makes sense. 🙂
Gwenndoyn Foreman says
I am going to can water for my family this weekend. So in an emergency we will be ready for an emergency. Whether it is a snow storm or broken water main. My family and I will be ready for whatever comes our way. THANK YOU so much for this . I never would have done this , but will be sharing this wiht my family .
Wendi Spraker says
Hey !! You are welcome!! I have a bunch canned too and have used it a couple of times when the power has been out. It's so nice to have. Let me know how it goes. Just leave me a message here if you have a question. 🙂
Jennifer says
Brilliant! I am totally doing this and now I have a really good reason to get some half gallon jars as well, but I'll definitely be using up my quarts on this to have them put up for an emergency. Great idea!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Jennifer. I have found that it's a great way to fill up my canner as well when I don't have a full canner of other stuff. Just can a few more jars of water. 🙂
Jill says
Hi Wendy,
Can you tell me do you pressure or water bath the canned water and for how long?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jill. I just follow the process described on the page here. Neither water bath or pressure canning. I do the upside down canning described.
Tony says
Is there a lifetime for the water canning?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Tony, I apologize, I thought I had answered this question - but I see that I must have answered it in my mind only! Most canned items are good for 6 months to 1 year and I have heard people say that they felt that items were good for long after that. I am pretty sure that water would be the same way. In fact, I don't know of any way that water can simply spoil if it is left sitting - but I am not scientist - chemist - or the FDA (thank goodness). If you have canned some water and are unsure if it is still good - don't throw it away - use it to water flowers and plants.
Kathy Hanford says
I do not see how water will spoil if it is "canned". It may become stale however. I have heard that if you shake the jar before you open it, it adds air to the water and makes it taste fresher.
Wendi Spraker says
That sounds about right. Take care!
Althea says
Thank you so much for this information. The drinking water in Hawaii is really good; but I'm sure if I do canning water it'll taste much better then the water in the blue plastic barrel. We do have cases of bottle water and 50 gallon drums and 5 gallon water container. I'm thinking of organizing my cases of bottle water in each bedroom and the 50 gallon is stationed in our storage home. Because Hawaii does not have basements we build patio connected to our home. I have a storage room about 12x7 and it works well for my fridge/freezer & 3-50 gallon water towel. Now I'll be doing this canning and store it under my hydraulic bed (I call it that) I can lift my mattress and store things under it.
What do you think about storing water in #10 cans? Do you think that will be good. Right now you can purchase water in cans. Mahalo, Althea
Wendi Spraker says
Althea! You offer such a different perspective on storing water in your part of the world!! How completely amazing and interesting!! I have never tried canning anything in a #10 size can or any metal can -however- if you are able and know what to do then I think that would be perfect! No chance of dropping it and breaking it! You have some awesome water storage ideas! Thank you so much for your comment. I'm sure my other readers will enjoy it too!