A recent ward survey indicated that only a few families had sufficient long-term water storage on hand.On page 7 of the Church Publication, "Essentials of Home Production &Storage, " it states 'The approximate [water] requirement per person on a two-week basis is fourteen gallons (seven gallons for drinking and sevengallons for other uses).
'The water storage deal of the century is available at the Pepsi Company,1241 Gibbard Avenue in Columbus. Many of us "old-timers" have gotten water barrels there on the cheap but since our wards are always evolving with move-ins the information bears repeating. A 15-gallon blue food grade barrels that formerly contained Pepsi concentrated syrup are available for resale for $5 each. You have to clean and sanitize them before using them for your family water storage. You would optimally buy one barrel for each family member to meet the minimum water storage recommendations of our Church leaders.
There are many creative ways to disguise them in your main living areas or stash them in a corner in the basement or garage. The barrels are small enoughto fit at least 3 in a mini-van to transport them home. A full-size truck could transport 12 barrels quite easily.Here's the process for obtaining the barrels:
Call Fran in the front office at 253-8771 X46817. Let her know how many barrels you want to order one day before you plan to pick them up. You must pay with cash and have exact change only! So one barrel=$5 ten barrels=$50.
DIRECTIONS:From Hilliard get on 70 East and go to 71 North. Go to the Fifth Avenue east exit and turn right, turn right on Joyce, right on Gibbard and go to the second Pepsi gate to pick up the barrels. The hours for pick up are 8:15a.m. until 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 12 noon on Fridays. (Check a map or go to map quest if you want an alternate route due to construction changes/challenges that seem to crop up overnight!)
They also have 55 gallon white food grade barrels available if you wantto store water in them. We personally found them too heavy and impractical since they weigh 275 to 330 pounds when filled and have no portability. The blue barrels are also supposed to be better for storing the water since the white barrels let light in. However, if you cut the 55 gallon barrels in half, they make excellent gardening barrels for apartment balconies or patios when you drill some drainage holes in thebottom. The Websters have a potato crop in one right now and will be doing a second planting in the other half with zucchini, carrots or cucumbers--- yes, there is still time for a little bit of planting! Ohio's first average frost is early October so you have 60+ days to grows omething great!Got water? Get water!
Thanks a bunch,
Sister Dragoo
