How to Use the Guzzle H2O Stream for Emergency Preparedness
The Guzzle H2O Stream not only keeps you safely hydrated on the road, it is also the perfect backup water solution for boil-water alerts, storms, and other natural disasters.
Tips for Using the Stream for an Emergency
KEEP IT CHARGED
The first thing to know about the Guzzle H2O Stream is that its battery must be charged to run the UV sanitizing light. You can store it plugged into its wall charger so it is ready to go when you need it. If its charge is depleted, it takes a couple hours to recharge from its battery charger. If the power is out, you can charge it off of the JUDY power station, or with a 12V charger you may charge it in a vehicle, or on any 12V cigarette lighter style socket. For extended use, find a power station with a solar panel to power from the sun!
ATTACH IT TO A WATER FAUCET
The best way to use it around the house is to connect it to a faucet or spigot and run it off of pressurized water. Connect the inlet and outlet hoses to the Stream. Use the supplied pressure regulator to connect it to any threaded spigot. You may find this at a utility sink, or outside where your garden hose connects. (Most modern faucets need an adapter to connect to hose threads. Find these at your local hardware or plumbing store if this is your only available water access.)
Once you have connected to your water supply, turn on the cold water valve. Then use the power button on the Stream to toggle water on and off as you need it.
Using pressurized water conserves the battery in the Stream, so you can treat up to 90 gallons of water on one battery charge.
FILTER AND PURIFY ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCES
In more extreme emergency situations, you may need to access alternative sources of water. The built in pump in the Stream can help you with this. If there is no water coming out your water main supply, look to these alternate sources, and use the Stream to treat them before consuming.
RAINWATER
Collect rainwater falling from the sky. Obviously this is a seasonal source, but keep it in mind if nothing else is available. Use tarps, plastic sheets, and containers with large surface areas to catch falling rain water. When you have enough gathered, put the Stream prefilter in, and pump, filter, and purify into a container for storage and use at a later time.
HOT WATER HEATERS
Your hot water heater has a reservoir of water that normally it heats, to provide hot water to the faucets around your house. Hot water heaters can be drained, and the water used for drinking water. Connect the pressure regulator of the intake line of the Stream to the drain valve at the bottom of the hot water tank reservoir. Open the valve, and turn on the Stream to filter and purify the water.
PONDS, LAKES, AND CREEKS
Look around your neighborhood or property for natural freshwater sources that you may be able to access. We are looking for the cleanest available sources, such as lakes and creeks, as opposed to drainage ditches full of urban runoff. So be selective, but pay attention to available natural water resources in your area.
SCENARIOS
BOIL WATER ADVISORY
One of the most common drinking water related emergencies is a “boil water advisory”, which is where your municipal water supplier notifies is customers that the water treatment processes have been compromised, and that any water consumed from the water main supply should be boiled to make sure there are no microbiological hazards which will make consumers sick. Portable water treatment devices can be utilized to treat this water in the home and recover it for drinking water. It is important that your treatment method inactivates at least 99.99% of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.
WATER SERVICE DISRUPTION
If water service is disrupted, or turned off, it may become necessary to look for alternative sources of water. Many freshwater sources will suffice, such as rain water, natural water features, and stored water sources as described above. It is important in this case to treat the water, especially if accessing natural water sources which will have bacteria and protozoa present.
STRANDED, DISPLACED, OR BUGGING OUT
In a situation where a person needs to leave their residence, consistently finding reliable sources of drinking water can be challenging, especially if many people have been displaced and are looking for water. Drinking water is heavy and bulky to carry if you are traveling. By having a water purifier available, a person opens up many opportunities for turning questionable water sources they may encounter into potable drinking water.
Use this knowledge and techniques to make sure you always have access to critical drinking water at home, and on-the-run in an emergency!
Need more emergency preparedness tips? Visit our friends at JUDY
