I always steralise with Milton tabs when I swap the water out. Just checked my list, and I have one 10l and one small bottle that were last done 19 months ago, so I need to get them done. I give it half an hour, then turn on its side, to do the top. Then empty and re-fill. You don't need to rinse.
As well as big containers (5 litre or more), you need to have small ones filled in case of evacuation. I have 3 bike bottles full in the fridge, plus 3 more in/near my BOB. Also some empty ones. The collapsible Platyus ones are best for storing empty, as they take no space. And you can use them with a filter such as Sawyer. You just have to make sure they are bone dry before storing.
What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
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Yorkshire Andy
- Posts: 9853
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong 
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
I have a smaller stash of 5l commercial water bottles upstairs for immediate use. We also take these camping and know we can manage them. The 25l store in the shed as there is no space upstairs hence the need to plan how to get the water back upstairs again when needed.
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Yorkshire Andy
- Posts: 9853
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Might not work on stairs but these make moving 40l of water a doddleGillyBee wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 9:35 am I have a smaller stash of 5l commercial water bottles upstairs for immediate use. We also take these camping and know we can manage them. The 25l store in the shed as there is no space upstairs hence the need to plan how to get the water back upstairs again when needed.
https://awnings-direct.com/40-litre-aquaroll.html
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong 
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Been using AI quite a bit recently. Mostly for geology. Thought I'd try it for prepping...
You said:
What should preppers in the UK be prepping for?
ChatGPT said:
Preppers in the UK should tailor their preparations to the most likely and impactful risks, rather than extreme doomsday scenarios. The UK is generally politically stable and geographically insulated from major natural disasters like earthquakes or extreme heat, but there are still several plausible threats to consider:
1. Power Grid Failures & Energy Shortages
Why: Increasing energy demand, aging infrastructure, and reliance on imported energy.
Prep for: Blackouts, heating issues in winter, fuel shortages.
Suggested preps: Power banks, generators, candles, warm clothing, wood stoves, solar chargers.
2. Flooding
Why: The UK is experiencing more frequent and severe flooding due to climate change.
Prep for: Flash floods, sewer overflows, damage to property.
Suggested preps: Sandbags, waterproof storage, emergency go-bags, flood insurance, knowing escape routes.
3. Supply Chain Disruptions
Why: Brexit, pandemics, wars (e.g. Ukraine), fuel strikes, or shipping bottlenecks.
Prep for: Food, medicine, and fuel shortages.
Suggested preps: Long-life food storage, water filters, first-aid kits, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products.
4. Cyber Attacks on Infrastructure
Why: Increasing geopolitical tensions and vulnerabilities in UK cyber systems.
Prep for: Bank outages, transport system failures, communication breakdowns.
Suggested preps: Cash reserves, offline maps, radios, alternative transport means.
5. Economic Instability
Why: Inflation, job instability, debt crises, or market collapses.
Prep for: Recession, loss of income, or increased cost of living.
Suggested preps: Budgeting, skill development, diversifying income, investing in tangible goods.
6. Pandemics & Public Health Emergencies
Why: COVID-19 showed how quickly systems can be overwhelmed.
Prep for: Lockdowns, medicine shortages, overwhelmed NHS services.
Suggested preps: Masks, sanitiser, medicine stockpile, isolation plans, home treatment knowledge.
7. Civil Unrest or Strikes
Why: Growing political polarisation, public service strikes (NHS, trains), and economic frustration.
Prep for: Transport disruption, delays in services, protests or violence in cities.
Suggested preps: Local intelligence (radio, news), alternate travel routes, avoiding hotspots.
8. Fire or Housing-Related Risks
Why: Urban density, aging housing stock, or faulty appliances.
Prep for: House fires, loss of accommodation.
Suggested preps: Fire extinguishers, escape ladders, renters insurance, temporary housing plans.
General Smart Preps for UK Preppers:
Water purification methods (boiling, filters)
Shelf-stable food for 2–4 weeks minimum
Multi-fuel stove or cooker
Basic medical supplies
Battery-powered or wind-up radio
Important documents printed/stored securely
Skills training: first aid, basic repairs, urban gardening, etc.
Would you like a checklist or tailored prep plan based on where you live or your budget?
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info. See Cookie Preferences.
You said:
What should preppers in the UK be prepping for?
ChatGPT said:
Preppers in the UK should tailor their preparations to the most likely and impactful risks, rather than extreme doomsday scenarios. The UK is generally politically stable and geographically insulated from major natural disasters like earthquakes or extreme heat, but there are still several plausible threats to consider:
Why: Increasing energy demand, aging infrastructure, and reliance on imported energy.
Prep for: Blackouts, heating issues in winter, fuel shortages.
Suggested preps: Power banks, generators, candles, warm clothing, wood stoves, solar chargers.
Why: The UK is experiencing more frequent and severe flooding due to climate change.
Prep for: Flash floods, sewer overflows, damage to property.
Suggested preps: Sandbags, waterproof storage, emergency go-bags, flood insurance, knowing escape routes.
Why: Brexit, pandemics, wars (e.g. Ukraine), fuel strikes, or shipping bottlenecks.
Prep for: Food, medicine, and fuel shortages.
Suggested preps: Long-life food storage, water filters, first-aid kits, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products.
Why: Increasing geopolitical tensions and vulnerabilities in UK cyber systems.
Prep for: Bank outages, transport system failures, communication breakdowns.
Suggested preps: Cash reserves, offline maps, radios, alternative transport means.
Why: Inflation, job instability, debt crises, or market collapses.
Prep for: Recession, loss of income, or increased cost of living.
Suggested preps: Budgeting, skill development, diversifying income, investing in tangible goods.
Why: COVID-19 showed how quickly systems can be overwhelmed.
Prep for: Lockdowns, medicine shortages, overwhelmed NHS services.
Suggested preps: Masks, sanitiser, medicine stockpile, isolation plans, home treatment knowledge.
Why: Growing political polarisation, public service strikes (NHS, trains), and economic frustration.
Prep for: Transport disruption, delays in services, protests or violence in cities.
Suggested preps: Local intelligence (radio, news), alternate travel routes, avoiding hotspots.
Why: Urban density, aging housing stock, or faulty appliances.
Prep for: House fires, loss of accommodation.
Suggested preps: Fire extinguishers, escape ladders, renters insurance, temporary housing plans.
General Smart Preps for UK Preppers:
Water purification methods (boiling, filters)
Shelf-stable food for 2–4 weeks minimum
Multi-fuel stove or cooker
Basic medical supplies
Battery-powered or wind-up radio
Important documents printed/stored securely
Skills training: first aid, basic repairs, urban gardening, etc.
Would you like a checklist or tailored prep plan based on where you live or your budget?
ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info. See Cookie Preferences.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Woke up this morning to a broken boiler.
BG Homecover to the rescue.
Medical conditions bumped me to a home visit today, although they may not have the parts until Tues/Weds. That's fine at least I am in their system, now waiting for the Engineer to arrive.
BG Homecover to the rescue.
Medical conditions bumped me to a home visit today, although they may not have the parts until Tues/Weds. That's fine at least I am in their system, now waiting for the Engineer to arrive.
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
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Yorkshire Andy
- Posts: 9853
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
pseudonym wrote: ↑Sun May 04, 2025 10:51 am Woke up this morning to a broken boiler.![]()
BG Homecover to the rescue.
Medical conditions bumped me to a home visit today, although they may not have the parts until Tues/Weds. That's fine at least I am in their system, now waiting for the Engineer to arrive.
Least it's not the depths of winter
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong 
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
Got a small thorn in my thumb from gardening. Used my clip-on (to glasses) magnifier to see it, and a needle to dig it out. Think it's gone. I read some scary stuff about infections from blackberry thorns. Ordered some leather gardening gloves. I'll use secateurs more as well, rather than trying to just pull the honeysuckle out. It's all gonna have to come out. There's blackberry hiding among it. He sort of did us a favour actually, because I can see now, two fence panels are falling apart, so need replacing. Ordered fence panels. Hopefully they'll slot straight in.
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
True, said I had other means to heat my house and wash but their Priority Services Register kicked in
Two is one and one is none, but three is even better.
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Yorkshire Andy
- Posts: 9853
- Joined: Thu Oct 03, 2013 4:06 pm
Re: What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12
From the 15th of January to mid March our electricity meter was dead ( based on a power cut 15/1 and at the end of the month we went to check prior to topping up . Screen was blank buttons did nothing..... we had £100 riding usually in credit well dead meter no promis they'd renumerate (which they didnt) our credit
Left b&m yesterday 2kw convection heater £8 those plug in 800w fan heaters £5 to replace the heaters I'd killed
If your roughing it, Your doing it wrong 
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine
Lack of planning on your part doesn't make it an emergency on mine