OK. I always wanted to be one of the first posters in a new forum.

What I see as THE most critical issue?

WATER.

Water sanitation is responsible for saving more lives than anything else.

Number two? Antibiotics.

In Corps School, (many many moons ago) I remember hearing a bit of info that really stood out - WW II was the FIRST time in war more people were lost to actual enemy action than disease.

What is the least amount of water you could store per person per day? My rule has been one gallon but storing that much water for 8 people for 7 days is just too much in a dorm room. (The way these things are built the floor would give out) <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Soo...how much water do I need for just hydration per person per day with little to no activity?

A quart per day is enough, depending on weather and activity.

Following hurricane Wilma I found I was using about a half gallon a day for drinking. Could have easily doubled that. This included coffee, but (and this is a big but! )there was very unseasonably cool weather.

A gallon a day is not far fetched at all. Think creatively for your storage. Use milk crates with 4 full gallons for coffee table legs, etc.

Scott

Holy smokes... 8 gallons x 7 days = 56 gallons at one gallon/person/day.

56 gallons x 8.34 lbs/gallon = 467 pounds!

Yeah, I could see how that might cause problems. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

How about just stashing a few one gallon jugs of spring water and relying more on filtration and purification? Are there any reliable sources nearby to draw from? (The package store doesn't count!)

What about long-term filtration?

I have heard that you can make a filter from a long continer, and a lot of sand. Since the subject is long-term, this sounds like a step in the right direction. Any links?

So .25-.5 gallons/person/day is what I am hearing! Cool thanks!

Yeah when I did the numbers it really made me think and that is just for my close friends NOT including myself! Duh me! <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Long term water treatment is not a great option because we are college students and desalinization stuff is expensive. I have thought about using a solar still using 5 gallon buckets and pvc pipe. But you have got me thinking. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Anybody here, good enough with the search function, to retrieve and post links to past threads on this same subject ??
IIRC, ParamedicPete posted somethink about this sand filtration technic ...

The strange thing about water is a) it's so essential, yet b) so incredibly cheap and available in a non-emergency situation.

I'm single and have a full-size refrigerator. I buy jugs of water to put in the fridge to take up space (and make things more efficient, enerrgy-wise).

I guess you mean..." in our civilized countries"....
In many other areas of the world, clean/potable water is neither cheap nor available, even in non-emergency situation.
OTOH, you may say in those areas the "normal" situation is an constant emergency one...