Don’t Drink That! Busting 12 Common Water Myths in Prepping

Summary

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Practical Prepping Podcast: “Don’t Drink That! Busting 12 Common Water Myths in Prepping”

Hosts: Mark & Krista Lawley
Date: November 10, 2025
Episode: #532

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Episode Overview

In this no-nonsense episode, Mark and Krista Lawley break down 12 common myths about water that often circulate in the prepping community. They emphasize that while water is critical for preparedness, misinformation can lead to unsafe or impractical prepping habits. Their approach centers on realistic and family-friendly advice—no apocalypse required—drawing from their practical experience to help listeners confidently manage water safety in real-world emergencies.

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Key Discussion Points & Myths Debunked

1. Myth: You Can Store Water Indefinitely

Reality:

• Water itself may not expire, but containers can leach chemicals (especially when sitting on concrete) and allow contaminants in over time.
• Advice: Rotate stored water periodically and sanitize containers before use.
• Quote:
  • “If you put your water container on concrete, it can leach. So...put it on a pallet...separate them from the concrete.” (A, 03:38)

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2. Myth: Boiling Water Removes All Contaminants

Reality:

• Boiling kills bacteria and viruses but does not remove chemical pollutants, heavy metals, or sediment.
• Advice: Combine boiling with filtration or chemical treatments for full purification.
• Quote:
  • “Boiling kills biological contaminants ... but it won’t remove chemical pollutants, heavy metals, or sediment.” (A, 04:11)

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3. Myth: Rainwater Is Always Safe to Drink

Reality:

• Rainwater can contain atmospheric pollutants, dust, or microorganisms, and be further contaminated by roofs and gutters.
• Advice: Always filter and purify rainwater before drinking.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “If your rainwater is collected from the roof, you know, birds have been pooping on that roof, squirrels have been pooping on that roof. Nasty stuff has been following that roof.” (B, 05:23)

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4. Myth: All Water Filters Are the Same

Reality:

• Different filters target different contaminants (e.g., carbon removes taste/odor, but not viruses/heavy metals).
• Product Advice: Sawyer Mini or Sawyer Squeeze recommended for emergency kits.
• Quote:
  • “For the get home bags and for emergency use, we recommend the Sawyer Mini or Sawyer Squeeze. Even over the LifeStraw...” (A, 06:31)

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5. Myth: You’ll Always Find a Natural Water Source

Reality:

• Natural sources can be dry or contaminated, especially in urban/arid areas.
• Advice: Don't rely solely on finding streams/creeks; always have treatment options.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “Think about getting water out of the creek...and I think back as a kid seeing the cows standing in the creek and doing other things.” (A, 07:14-07:39)

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6. Myth: Bleach Is Completely Safe and Effective for Purification

Reality:

• Only fresh, unscented bleach is safe and only kills bacteria/viruses—not chemicals/metals/sediment.
• Expired/scented bleach is harmful.
• Tip: Use correct dosages (resource to be shared in next week’s guide).
• Quote:
  • “Using scented or expired bleach can introduce harmful substances into the water you plan to drink.” (A, 08:26)

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7. Myth: You Need a Huge Stockpile of Bottled Water

Reality:

• Bottled water is convenient, but not space-efficient or sustainable.
• Advice: Use bulk food-grade containers and filtration systems for better long-term prep.

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8. Myth: Distilled Water Is Best for Long-Term Drinking

Reality:

• Distilled water lacks minerals necessary for health; extended use may cause deficiencies.
• Practical Tip: Save thick distilled water jugs for storage (non-drinking).
• Quote:
  • “Drinking distilled water exclusively for extended periods of time can lead to some mineral deficiencies in the body.” (B, 09:56)

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9. Myth: You Can Rely Solely on Purification Tablets

Reality:

• Tablets kill pathogens but don’t remove sediment, chemicals, or bad taste.
• Advice: Use tablets in combination with filtration.

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10. Myth: Clear Water Means Safe Water

Reality:

• Dangerous contaminants (bacteria, chemicals) are often invisible.
• Advice: Always treat or filter wild water, even if it looks clean.
• Memorable Quote:
  • “You can’t see the little boogers and they will mess up your tummy.” (A, 11:12)

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11. Myth: Stored Water Alone Will Get You Through Any Emergency

Reality:

• Emergencies may outlast your supplies; evacuation limits how much water you can carry.
• Stat: 1 gallon = 8.3 lbs; physically hard to transport.
• Advice: Have portable filtration or purification tools, not just stored water.
• Quote:
  • “I'm not carrying 24 pounds of water.” (A, 12:06)

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12. Myth: Freezing Water Purifies It

Reality:

• Freezing may kill some bacteria but does not eliminate chemical or physical contaminants.
• Advice: Thawed water still needs treatment.

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Additional Tips, Resources & Notable Advice

• Sawyer Mini/Squeeze vs. LifeStraw:
  “We do have the LifeStraw as well, so not knocking them. But we do believe that the Sawyer has some advantages...it will screw onto the top of a regular water bottle so you can drink straight from that bottle.” (A, 13:54)
• Free Resource:
  Free one-page guide on choosing water storage containers is available at practicalprepping.info.
• Next Week:
  A new resource will include bleach dosage formulas for purification.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Water is the most crucial item that we can prepare for.” – Krista (A, 02:09)
• “If I find it in the wild, it’s going through a filter, definitely.” – A, 11:25
• “Stuff happens. Stay prepared.” – Show’s closing motto (A, 14:05; B, 14:08)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:54] Myth #1 – On storing water indefinitely
• [04:02] Myth #2 – About boiling purifying everything
• [05:01] Myth #3 – About rainwater’s safety
• [06:01] Myth #4 – All filters are the same
• [07:03] Myth #5 – Relying on natural sources
• [08:14] Myth #6 – Bleach as a cure-all
• [09:27] Myth #7 – Bottled water stockpiles
• [09:56] Myth #8 – Distilled water for consumption
• [10:41] Myth #9 – Purification tablets alone
• [11:03] Myth #10 – Clear water = safe water
• [11:44] Myth #11 – Depending only on stored water
• [12:40] Myth #12 – Freezing purifies water
• [13:54] – Filter recommendations & closing thoughts

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Final Takeaways

• Critical thinking and layering methods (storage, filtration, purification) are vital.
• The right prepper mindset: “Knowledge over gear”—knowing what’s true can save your family far more readily than following internet myth.
• Practical Prepping prioritizes do-able, real-world solutions over extreme scenarios.

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Stuff happens. Stay prepared. And always question what you hear about water safety—your health may depend on it!

Transcript

[A]

Water. We can't live without it, at least not for long. It's one of the things that preppers think about when planning for emergencies, disasters and crises. There are countless ways to find it, purify it, and store it, but not all advice out there is solid. In fact, the prepping community has its fair share of myths about water. Some are harmless and others are potentially dangerous. Today we'll break down 12 common myths and misconceptions about water and what you need to know about those to stay safe and hydrated when it matters most. We're also going to tell you about some free resources we will be offering to help you with your water preparedness plan.

[B]

Welcome to Practical Prepping. Today is November 10, 2025 and this is episode 532. This is the prepping podcast with no bunkers, no zombies and no alien invasions. Just practical Prepping where we teach everyday people how to prepare for life's emergencies, disasters and crises. And we're here to help you get prepared.

[A]

Hi guys, I'm Krista and I marked and if you'd like the expanded notes for this episode, go to practicalprepping.info 532. Now this episode is sponsored by our book Practical Prepping for Everyday A Common Sense Guide on Preparing for Life's Emergencies. Now that would make a perfect Christmas gift for some prepper or wannabe prepper in your life. And you can find [e-mail] BL Books along with our other books from Amazon. If you've been a listener to the podcast for some time, you know two things for sure about Christa.

[B]

Two things.

[A]

Two things for sure. She absolutely loves spaghetti.

[B]

It is so true.

[A]

And she believes that water is the most crucial item that we can prepare for.

[B]

And that is absolutely my number one item to prep.

[A]

So over the next few weeks we'll be offering a series of free guides dealing with water. Sorry, but we don't have any on spaghetti. This week we're offering a free one page guide on choosing the right water storage containers. Now you can go to our website practicalprepping.info and the link is in the first entry on the blog and we'll put it in the Episode [e-mail] 532 as well. But go sign up for that today.

[B]

Now we're going to talk about 12 common myths and misconceptions about water. I found this interesting. I think you did some really cool research about this. So let's jump off with number One, the myth is you can store water indefinitely without any issues.

[A]

Here's the myth. Stored water will remain safe to drink forever as long as it's in a sealed container.

[B]

But here's the reality. Water itself doesn't expire, but over time, contaminants can seep in and chemicals from the container like the BPA and plastic can leach into the water.

[A]

And another thing is that chemicals can leach into it if it's in a plastic container and, and it's sitting on concrete.

[B]

True.

[A]

If you put your water container on concrete, it can leach. So you need to put it, if it's a large container, put it on a pallet. If it's gallon jugs, put down a board, put something there to separate them from the concrete.

[B]

Stored water should be rotated periodically and those containers should be completely sanitized before the use.

[A]

Now, number two, boiling water removes all contaminants.

[B]

Now here's the myth. Boiling water will make any contaminated water safe to drink.

[A]

But here's the reality. Boiling kills biological contaminants like bacteria and viruses, but it won't remove chemical pollutants, heavy metals, or sediment. For comprehensive purification, you might need filtration or chemical treatments in addition to boiling.

[B]

Did you know that a lot of our podcast topics come from our listener requests or listener questions and we would love to hear from you. You can leave your comments, ask your questions, and give us some topic [e-mail] contact. Now, number three, rainwater is always safe to drink. Now here's the myth. Collecting and drinking rainwater directly is, is a risk free way to stay hydrated.

[A]

But here's the reality. Rainwater can contain pollutants from the atmosphere, such as chemicals, dust, or microorganisms. It can also pick up contaminants from the surface it's collected on, such as roofs. Proper filtration and treatment are necessary for rainwater to be safe to drink.

[B]

I mean, think about it. A lot of people do collect rainwater in a barrel, but they're going to water their garden with it. You know, they're not trying to drink it directly. Because think about this. If your rainwater is collected from the roof, you know, birds have been pooping on that roof, squirrels have been pooping on that roof. Nasty stuff has been following that roof. Tree SAP, dirt, crap of all kinds. Sorry, I said crap.

[A]

Now, a rainwater catchment system is good for drinking water if you filter it and purify it before you drink it.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

So it's a good storage system.

[B]

Just have to be Mindful about how you're using it and how you're collecting.

[A]

It, you really do. Number four, all water filters are the same. Now, the myth is that any water filter will remove all types of contaminants.

[B]

But now here's the reality. There are different filters designed for specific purposes. Here's an example, A carbon filter. Those are great for removing tastes and odors, but they may not remove viruses or heavy metals. You need to research the filter type to ensure that it meets your needs.

[A]

For the get home bags and for emergency use, we recommend the Sawyer Mini or the Sawyer Squeeze. Even over the lifestraw, it filters down to 1 micron rather than 2 microns of the lifestraw. Therefore, it does filter out more contaminants out of the water. And if you don't have one for every person in your house, we have them on our featured Items [e-mail] featured.

[B]

Now, number five, you'll always be able to find a natural water source. Now, here's the myth. If you know how to locate a natural water source, you don't need to store a lot of water.

[A]

The reality is that natural water sources may not always be available, especially in urban or arid areas. Even when we do find them, the water might be contaminated and require treatment before consumption. I think about getting water out of the creek, and I think back as a kid seeing the cows standing in.

[B]

The creek and doing other things.

[A]

And doing other things.

[B]

Yeah. And sometimes the creek can run dry. You know, you may think that creek's going to be there the whole time and then you need it and it's not there.

[A]

But even if you find it, you need to treat it, right?

[B]

Exactly. Because it's been exposed to every kind of element. Germ, microorganism, parasite, microbe, you name it.

[A]

Now, today's cup of coffee comes from Diana.

[B]

Thanks, Diana.

[A]

Diana has been a longtime member supporting us through Buy me a Coffee and Diana, we do enjoy our coffee and we really do appreciate your long term support of the show.

[B]

Now back to our show. Number six. Bleach can be used to purify water without any concern. Now, here's the myth. Just a few drops of bleach will always make water safe to drink.

[A]

The reality is, while household bleach can kill bacteria and viruses, and we do keep it for that, it doesn't remove chemicals, heavy metals, or sediment. And using scented or expired bleach can introduce harmful substances into the water you plan to drink. Always follow proper guidelines for using unscented, fresh bleach. For disinfection. We're going to be including that in one of our resources. It's not in the one that we're offering today, but it's the one we'll offer next week. Is going to have the formulas in there. And I think I've made it in the way that you can tear that off and put it somewhere near your water so that you'll have that formula available at all times. Myth number Need a huge stockpile of bottled water. This is the myth. The best way to prepare is to store many cases of bottled water.

[B]

But here's the while bottled water is very convenient, it isn't the most space efficient or sustainable solution for long term prepping, storing water in large food grade containers and having filtration systems or purification tablets. And can be a lot more practical.

[A]

Absolutely. Number eight. Now here's the myth. Distilled water is the purest form of water, so it's best for long term consumption.

[B]

But here's the reality. Yes, distilled water is pure, but it lacks minerals like calcium and magnesium. And these are very important for human health. Drinking distilled water exclusively for extended periods of time can lead to some mineral deficiencies in the body.

[A]

Now, if you use a lot of distilled water like we do, I use it in my cpap. Krista uses it in a humidifier. Those empty jugs do make pretty good water storage, especially those thicker ones.

[B]

So those are good to have.

[A]

They really are.

[B]

They've got a good screw type cap. They're much heavier plastic.

[A]

Yes. Number nine, you can rely solely on water purification tablets.

[B]

Now, the myth is that purification tablets are a one size fits all solution for water safety.

[A]

But here's the reality. Tablets are effective at killing pathogens, but they don't remove sediment, chemical contaminants or bad taste. They're best used alongside some other type of filtration.

[B]

And myth number 10, clear water is always safe, safe water. The myth is if the water looks clear, it's safe to drink.

[A]

The reality is many contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and chemicals are invisible. You can't see the little boogers and they will mess up your tummy. Even clear water may require treatment or filtration. If I find it in the wild, it's going through a filter, definitely.

[B]

You just can't take any chances. Myth number 11, you can always rely on stored water in a crisis. Here's the myth. As long as you store enough water, you're going to be set for any emergency.

[A]

But here's the reality, emergencies can last longer than expected and you might need to relocate.

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

And it's hard to carry large amounts of water with you.

[B]

One gallon weighs about 8.3 pounds and you know, that's why a lot of people are not walking around with 40 gallon containers on their back because that's that.

[A]

And I'm not putting three gallons of water. We talk about a three day, a 72 hour get home bag type bag. I'm not carrying 24 pounds of water.

[B]

No.

[A]

I've got a couple of bottles of water and then I've got water filters.

[B]

Yeah, like I'm Sawyers.

[A]

I've got some Sawyers in there. So we're going to be drinking out of the creek on the way if it takes more than two bottles to get home.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Because I'm not carrying three 8.3 pound gallons of water.

[B]

That's why it's essential to have a portable filtration or a purification system in addition to your stored water.

[A]

Yes. Last but not least, freezing water purifies it. Now, the myth is that freezing water will kill all bacteria and make it safe to drink.

[B]

But here's the reality. Freezing can kill some bacteria, but it won't remove chemical or physical contaminants. Once thawed, that water still may require some treatment.

[A]

And if you receive value from the podcast, would you help us by giving back a little? You can go to practicalprepping.info support where you'll find ways, including buying us a cup of coffee, that you can support the show. We really do appreciate you being here with us today. It's a little bit shorter than we normally do, but that list of 12, we covered them. We did what we wanted and we just encourage you, if you don't have a water filter, go to practicalprepping.info featured and look down through there and find the Sawyer Squeeze or the Sawyer Mini. We carry those, we love them. And, and hey, we do have the life straw as well, so not knocking them. But we do believe that the Sawyer has some advantages. One, it filters out more. And number two, it will screw onto the top of a regular water bottle so you can drink straight from that bottle.

[B]

Super handy.

[A]

As Krista always says, stuff happens.

[B]

You got to watch that water and you need to stay prepared.

[A]

And we'll see you, Sam.