What’s Your Go-To Backup Water Source?

[CeruleanScribe]

Rainwater catchment is my main backup, but I worry about prolonged dry spells. What’s everyone’s second line—wells, pond water, stored barrels? Curious how folks handle filtration if forced to rely on sources like creeks or old cis

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

I lean on a hand-pump well as my second line, though in summer it’s slow going. For filtering, I swear by my old gravity ceramic system—takes out a lot of crud, then I boil smaller batches just in case. Have used pond water once or twice in a pinch, but there's always that worry about runoff from nearby fields. Has anyone had luck with solar stills for small emergency supplies?

 

[ChrysanthiDream]

For me, stored barrels in the cellar are the fallback, though keeping up on rotation gets tedious. Anyone ever try charcoal in a pinch for filtration?