During hurricane season, coastal residents have major concerns about drinking water. Sure, bottled water is an option but, as you may have experienced, before storms people panic shop, wiping out the supply of water bottles. The best thing to do is to ensure you have access to clean drinking water at home.
Sometimes a really bad hurricane can contaminate the water that comes through your home. Or in worst cases, the water stops flowing. So, what can you do? The best thing you can do is to plan in advance for worst-case scenarios. We’re here to share a few tips on how you can foolproof your home’s water supply this hurricane season.
What Are Hurricanes?
Just about everyone knows what a hurricane is but, in order to understand how your water supply is impacted by a hurricane, it’s important to have a good understanding of what a hurricane really is and what it does.
Hurricanes are large twirling storms that build up over warm waters forcing the water onto land. Hurricanes happen in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and southeast regions of the U.S. as well as up north, typically along the coast.
The western pacific experiences a particular version of hurricanes; typhoons. In the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean, these storms are called cyclones.
Hurricanes are dangerous as they threaten lives and property with a storm surge, dangerous winds, torrential rains, flooding, mudslides, and occasionally tornadoes. Weather experts rate storms on a scale of 1 (least severe) to 5 (most severe) to classify hurricane strength. The scale is also used to estimate property damage.
When Do Hurricanes Happen?
In the Atlantic and the Caribbean, Hurricane season begins on June 1st and ends around the end of November. The peak of hurricane season is from the middle of August to late October.
How Are Municipalities Impacted During A Hurricane?
One of the many concerns of hurricanes is the limited access to drinking water. Public water systems, and other water systems, can become terribly overwhelmed and unable to process the immediate high influx of too much water. Floodwaters can cause raw sewage, storm runoff, chemicals, and other contaminants to leak into water supplies, flooding private wells.
Once public water systems have been impacted, it can take days or weeks for your water to become drinkable again. It is always a good idea to continue to purify your water even after the “all clear” is given by local water authorities, just to be on the safe side.
How Much Water Is Necessary During An Emergency?
The amount of water needed for each person depends on the individual. It will depend on the person’s age, physical health, diet, and activity level, as well as the weather in the affected area. For instance, those in warmer temperatures will need more water as individuals secrete more water at higher temps.
The CDC recommends that each person will require at least 1 gallon of water per day. Pregnant women, those who are nursing, and those who are sick, will need additional water. People will also need additional water (at least a gallon per person) for food preparation and hygiene.
Where Can Water Be Found During An Emergency?
In the absolute worst-case scenario where drinking water is not easily accessible, its important to know where you can find water. Potential water sources in your home include melted ice cubes with water that has not been contaminated, and liquid from canned vegetables or fruit. Water from swimming pools and spas are a good alternative for personal hygiene, cleaning, and other related purposes, but this water cannot be consumed.
What Are The Dangers Of Using Contaminated Water?
Flood water that is caused by a hurricane can become the source of disease-causing organisms because of sewage and toxic chemicals. Dangerous pathogens that may be found in the water include cryptosporidium, E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio bacteria, adenovirus, norovirus, and others. Consumption of contaminated water can result in illnesses such as gastrointestinal distress, typhoid fever, and Hepatitis.
The Resolution for Contaminated Water During a Hurricane
Water is required for survival. It is said that people can survive up to 2 weeks without food, but we can only survive a few days without water. So, what is one to do when they have no water bottles or no access to clean water? The secret is to be prepared.
Unfortunately, most people don’t think about their drinking water until its too late. But if you’re reading this article, hopefully you will consider being prepared. To be prepared, you will have to have a water filtration system in place. A water filtration system is designed to reduce and remove waterborne bacteria so that water is safe for consumption. At The Science of Water, we install water filtration systems that turn any sort of contaminated or polluted water into a safe, nutrient drink.
The Science Of Water: Providing Jacksonville And Gainesville Residents With Safe Water
At The Science of Water, we use a water filtration system, Puronics, which is based on NASA technology.
Since 1947, Puronics has provided whole-house water systems that soften and filter and under-counter drinking water treatment solutions to over one million customers to improve the quality of their municipal or well water and improve the quality of their lives.
Florida is the main target of hurricanes. In the Jacksonville area, experts have found that a hurricane of Hurricane Dora’s strength can be expected within 86 miles of Jacksonville every nine years. Hurricane Dora devastated the Jacksonville area in late August of 1964. Additionally, on average, the Jacksonville area should expect to see a major hurricane every 28 years.
The unfortunate thing about hurricanes is that no one can predict when they will happen. When a storm comes on quickly, it is best to be prepared. In the Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida area it’s better to be safe than sorry. Can you imagine scrambling to find safe drinking water?
With Hurricane season around the corner, it’s time to get prepared. To learn more about how The Science of Water could help. Contact us today!