Having a dependable supply of drinking water may be your greatest challenge, it is estimated that 20% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water and it's only getting worse so water purification is essential. There are several ways to purify water, make sure your storage containers are clean and preferably made of glass.

Boiling: This kills most types of disease-causing organisms and is the most recommended purification technique. Boil the water for at least one minute, then let it cool. Make sure it comes to a rolling boil. If you are more than one mile above sea level, boil for an additional three minutes. The Marine Corps taught us to boil water for 20 minutes, but that was a long time ago and I am sure they have learned a lot since then.

Disinfecting: Disinfecting with household bleach kills some types of disease-causing organisms. The bleach must contain chlorine in order to work, use regular chlorine bleach, not the scented kind. Most household bleaches have 4-6 percent available chlorine, in which case add 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it.

If the percentage is 7-10 percent, use 4 drops per gallon. Double the amount of chlorine if the water is cloudy, murky, or colored, or if the water is extremely cold. If, after sitting covered for 30 minutes, the water doesn't have a slight chlorine odor, repeat the dosage and let sit for another 15 minutes

Disinfecting with iodine: This is generally less effective than chlorine, but it's better than no treatment at all. Add 5 drops of 2 percent iodine (from the medicine chest or first aid kit) to every quart of clear water; add 10 drops if the water is cloudy. Let the solution stand for at least 30 minutes.

Solar Water Disinfection method: Pouring the water into clear bottles, and exposing to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours has been shown to be an effective method of disinfecting. There are dozens or different options for water filters and purifiers so do your home work and choose one that is right for you.

To improve the flavor of purified water, aerate it by pouring it from one clean container to another several times. Also, add a pinch of salt to each quart of water for better taste. You need to decide what type of water purification you are going to use and have it in place so you will not get caught off guard.