Benefits Of A Collapsible Water Container For Emergency Survival

A collapsible water container can be useful for emergency water storage, and also for everyday uses such as camping or outdoor excursions. When not in use, these vessels can be tucked neatly away in a pocket or small bag. Larger ones can hold thousands of gallons and potentially support a modest farm or town.

 Collapsible containers used for water can have many applications in both emergency and everyday situations, so it's worth having a few on hand for when the need arises. Many different designs, shapes, features, and sizes are available to custom fit the activity as well.

Being prepared in an emergency includes having a store of clean drinking water, and a collapsible container can allow you to store as much as you need, without taking up unnecessary space when the bottles are not in use.

What Are Collapsible Water Containers?

A collapsible water container is generally a type of vessel made from flexible plastic or other synthetic material. It is designed like a water bladder to hold various liquids, and containers exist in all sizes and shapes.

Some water containers are clear, while others will be opaque or differently colored on the inside. Color variations can make a water container able to hold in heat, prevent evaporation, or may indicate the type of material used for construction.

Water containers can serve an essential role in emergency situations, but they have become popular for everyday activities and outdoor excursions as well. Several different designs are available that range from individual sizes to industrial or commercial farming sized vessels.

A collapsible water container will also typically have a spigot where water can be removed or added as needed. Spigot design varies from brand to brand, but many feature valves for filling, while others are simple screw cap style designs.

The type of spigot on the water container will depend largely on its use, and some containers may have more than one if they are designed for a specific purpose. These containers can be flattened for easy transport or storage and frequently have been coated to avoid algae or microbial growth.

This style of water container is meant to be portable, and the sturdy nature of the design supports that. Collapsible water containers frequently feature thicker materials and more robust seams than what would be found in other commercial packaging for food items that are meant to be disposable.

The Benefits of Collapsible Water Containers

There are several benefits to using a collapsible water container in any situation, but the most common ones are:

• Portability
• Easy storage
• Durable
• Eco-friendly

Collapsible water bottles come in various sizes, but once empty they can be flattened or rolled to take up less volume and store easily in smaller areas. If you are in an emergency situation, space may be at a premium when it comes to your supplies and saving room with collapsible vessels may be the ideal solution.

Collapsible water containers are also easily stored and durable which makes it so they can be refilled and flattened numerous times without degrading the quality of the vessel. These containers are made with durable materials and high-quality seams that make them ideal for long-term storage of water and other liquids.

Collapsible containers are also more eco-friendly than using plastic water bottles, as the containers can be reused many more times than a conventional water bottle. Water bottles made from thinner plastic can be easily crushed, and don’t have any coating to prevent the growth of microbes or algae. As a result, they begin to take on an odor earlier than many collapsible containers.

Collapsible containers on their own are also very lightweight for the abuse that they are designed to handle, and many of them are sizeable enough to hold water sufficient for modest farming. In fact, collapsible containers for water come in sizes that range from eight ounces to 200,000 gallons or more.

How Are Collapsible Water Containers Used?

Collapsible containers come in all sizes and can be used for a variety of purposes. Most often they are used for the transport and storage of water which is a significant concern in an emergency situation.

Frequently in emergency situations, water containers will be needed as a single human needs a considerable amount of water each day to stay hydrated. Planning to have at least one gallon per person for three days is the minimum recommended, but more is very likely needed.

A healthy, active person will need approximately two quarts of water each day, and clean water may be difficult to find in emergency or remote situations. Water can be sanitized using filters or additives but being able to store enou gh water for daily consumption is also vital.

Collapsible containers can be used to store water for other situations besides emergencies. Camping, RVs, hiking, bike trips, travel, and winter sports are ideal uses for collapsible water bottles.

Traveling

When traveling there is often disposable water bottles available for purchase, but they can be quite pricey and can require waiting in line or carrying cash for a vending machine. By bringing your collapsible water bottle in your pocket, you can keep water on your person and refill the container as needed at local drinking fountains.

Additionally, the filters included on some collapsible water bottles allow you to refill at a drinking fountain and drink consistently good tasting water wherever you happen to be. When not needed, or not allowed, the bottle can be emptied and stored in your pocket or bag until later.

Camping and Warm Weather

When camping in warm weather, it is very likely that you'll need more water than usual to stay hydrated. Campers also frequently bring along coolers to keep their food and beverages cold during hot weather. Conveniently some collapsible water bottles can double as ice packs for use in coolers and emergency medical uses.

For those that also need water for cooking, cleaning, and hygiene, having a larger collapsible water container provides a convenient way to get water from a local spigot to the campsite. When the container is no longer needed, it can then be easily collapsed and stored flat for transport.

Cold Conditions

Using a collapsible container during cold weather has many benefits. First, you can easily slip the container inside a coat pocket to keep water from freezing without having to endure the discomfort of a hard-plastic bottle pressing against you.

If you are a fan of skiing or other outdoor sports where falling is likely, having a collapsible bottle can allow you to carry water without the risk of hurting yourself should you fall. Hard bottles can cause injury if you land on them and can also break or fracture to release the water within which could be dangerous in a cold environment.

When water freezes, it expands, and a flexible water container will allow that expansion to occur in multiple directions unlike with hard bottles. Hard bottles are more likely to break in cold conditions, but collapsible bottles are made from a material that doesn't become more brittle at colder temperatures.

Using Collapsible Water Containers in An Emergency

In the event of an emergency, collapsible containers can be set up for water in a matter of minutes and can be easily transported when empty to virtually any location they can be carried. These containers are generally treated on the interior to be appropriate for drinking water and can prevent water from evaporating.

Collapsible containers also help to save space when full and can fit in odd places that solid containers would typically not be able to rest. Some containers feature rounded corners and specific fittings that allow them to connect to valves or other parts for different emergency uses.

With a collapsible container, you are also able to visually see how much liquid remains inside and know when the vessel will need refilling. The containers are also easily cleaned, and some commercial versions are able to store drinking water for up to 7 years.

Another bonus of using a collapsible water container is that there is no specialized training needed to set one up, regardless of size. The containers simply unfold and can immediately be filled and used. Different sizes are available that can fit various vehicles, existing cisterns, and even larger ones that can store rainwater.

For personal use, a collapsible water bottle can be a great asset in an emergency when you are unsure where you will be able to get clean water. Having several smaller collapsible water bottles in hand means that you can store more water when you need it but save space when they are not in use.

Some personal sized collapsible containers also come with built-in filters that won't make water safe to drink but can take potable water and make it more palatable for drinking. Larger personal water carriers also come equipped with handles that make carrying them easy.

The flexible nature of a collapsible container also means that it can comfortably fit the space you have in your pack or vehicle in an emergency, even if it means not filling the container all the way. With rigid containers, the area they take up is non-negotiable, and the additional weight of filling them completely can make them more of a hindrance than a help.