Home emergency supplies start with water – Clean buckets and bottled water are still missing from many Finnish homes

The importance of water in home preparedness becomes clear very quickly if water supply is cut off by a burst pipe, maintenance work or power outage. While scheduled maintenance is announced in advance, burst pipes and power outages can cause water to be cut off suddenly and unexpectedly.

“Burst pipes may become a more common problem in the future if the country’s ageing water supply network is not kept adequately in repair,” says Riina Liikanen, Chief of Preparedness at the Finnish Water Utilities Association.

In Finland, around 5,000 to 8,000 cases of burst pipes occur every year, or around 18 a day on average. Some of these cause water outages.

“Home preparedness starts with water. Still, many people associate emergency supplies with canned food. Water is one of the first things a person needs in a disturbance situation,” says Essi Kulju, Preparedness Specialist at SPEK.

Kulju recommends stocking even a few litres of bottled water from the store and a clean bucket or canister with a lid in case of a disturbance situation.

A bucket or canister is needed for carrying potable water from temporary water distribution points. They are usually set up in the event that a water supply outage lasts longer than 24 hours.

Used juice canisters and dirty buckets for cleaning floors are not suitable for carrying water

According to a survey by SPEK, nearly one in two Finnish homes are missing a clean lidded bucket or canister.

”While we Finns love our free buckets, lack of access to a clean bucket or canister for carrying water is a major problem in home preparedness. If the water is cut off, it’s too late to try and wash a dirty bucket clean”, Kulju says.

The bucket should be used exclusively for potable water. Dirty buckets found around the house used for cleaning floors, for example, should not be used for carrying drinking water during a disturbance, Kulju points out.

People have been seen picking up water from a temporary distribution point with a used juice canister, for example. Although an old juice canister is a resourceful solution if no better alternatives are available, it is not a hygiene way of storing water, and water distribution points do not offer facilities for washing dishes.

Water distribution points are only intended for handing out water. In the ‘72 hours’ online game by SPEK, one in ten of the more than 100,000 respondents believed that buckets are handed out at water distribution points.

“We are used to relying on clean water flowing from the tap at all times. Pipe failures can cause a sudden water outages, and water utility providers are prepared to organise emergency distribution points in these cases. However, emergency water distribution is of no use if there are no clean containers in the household to use for carrying water,” Riina Liikanen points out.

In a tight economic situation, it’s worth at least ensuring access to water

“Emergency water distribution is arranged in longer outages, but in order to get by until then, it’s recommended to stock up at least a small amount of bottled water. Water distribution points take time to set up and are not necessarily located nearby. It’s also possible that the water being distributed is not enough to fully meet your needs,” Kulju says.

An average person needs around two litres of clean drinking water per day.

“We are often asked how people who are struggling financially can be prepared when everything has gotten more expensive. I would advise everyone to get at least one clean bucket or a five-litre canister for water to keep at home. Another option is to clean an old bucket found in the house,” Essi Kulju says.

Water is a necessity and often the first thing a person needs during a disturbance situation, before other supplies.

“The role of individuals is important when it comes to being prepared. Still, it’s also possible to be prepared as a community. It’s worth considering what we could do to help our neighbours or elderly relatives get water in case of a disturbance situation, for example. Still, even the person receiving help should have their own bucket or canister. Companies should also take the time to consider how to ensure access to potable water at the workplace,” says Roope Siirtola, Preparedness Specialist at the National Emergency Supply Agency.

Preparedness instructors frequently come across false beliefs and questions about water

Why should I have bottled water at home when I get water from the store? Why aren’t water purification tablets listed among emergency supplies to be kept at home? These are among the most typical questions people ask at 72 hours training sessions, according to 72 hours preparedness instructor Kristiina Mattila-Nousiainen.

Mattila-Nousiainen is one of nearly 800 preparedness instructors in Finland. She constantly comes across false beliefs and questions about water.

“Many people don’t think about the fact that supermarkets have limited stocks that are quickly emptied. A typical grocery store may have in stock as few as a dozen five-litre canisters of water. In the event of a disturbance situation, shelves can become empty in a matter of moments.”

Paying can also be impossible if the store’s payment system is out of order due to a power outage.