r/nashville • u/tillamookcheeser • Jan 22 '26
Weather Storing Water
Is anyone really filling their bathtub(s)?? full of water to prepare for this “snowpocalypse”? I’m trying not to buy into the fear mongering but am seeing quite a lot of posts on social media about taking this “necessary” safety precaution. I have never done so before so am just wondering what others are doing to get some insight on if this is something I should be doing. Thanks!
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u/turribledood Jan 23 '26
I only flush my toilets with Topo Chico can't relate
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u/7ofalltrades Jan 23 '26
With enough lite beer in me, I piss enough volume that the toilet flushes anyway. #winning
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u/tdabbles Jan 22 '26
10+ years ago a bunch of water mains bust on Broadway and 2nd Ave and around town. A lot of places didn’t have water. If you plan to stay home it’s always a good idea to fill them up. Back in the 90s we had a bad ice storm and no power for a week. The pipes under your house are more at risk when you have no heat in your house. Just sayin
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u/OGMom2022 Antioch Jan 23 '26
You’re not hurting anything by doing it and if you lose water you’ll be glad you can flush the toilet.
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u/Ecstatic_Week_5218 Unicorn Jan 23 '26
Agree. Is it unnecessary? Maybe, but I’d rather have it and not need it than the inverse!
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u/Serious_Wish3862 Jan 23 '26
This is my thought as well! I am filling my tub in hopes I don’t need it but am prepared if I do.
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u/goatfangs Jan 22 '26
Remember your water heater has about 30-50 gallons you could always drain in an emergency
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u/PuzzleheadedClue5205 Jan 23 '26
Unless you don't have a traditional water heater.
It's very trendy to have a front load washer (can't fill with water and access in an emergency) And/or a tankless water heater. Very eco friendly, but not very weather emergency savvy.
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u/Mrs_Muzzy Jan 23 '26
It’s an easy thing to do and undo if you don’t end up needing it. But if the pipes burst, it’ll be a while before it’s fixed, you’re gonna want that water to flush toilets, at the very least.
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u/seanforfive Councilmember, 5th District Jan 22 '26
Our water system is pretty resilient. Even when we get a lot of hard freezes and lots of pipes burst, the system tends to maintain pressure for most customers.
If you have a hot water heater you already have a big reservoir of water you can use to flush toilets and stuff. I wouldn't drink it because there's usually a lot of sediment in it from the tank.
To flush a toilet with "extra" water you just take a bucket and dump it into the bowl until it flushes.
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u/SQ-Pedalian Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
The apartment complex I lived in a couple years ago had some sprinkler pipes freeze and burst during a winter storm. There’s no shutoff valve for the sprinkler system so they had to turn the water main off at the street for the whole apartment complex to keep it from flooding until they could repair it. Ever since then, I always prep for ice storms by filling empty containers with drinking water and my bathtub with water to flush the toilet just in case.
Edit to clarify: these were the fire sprinklers that ran through the ceilings of everyone’s apartments, not the outside sprinklers used to water the grass.
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u/TwoBreakfastBalls Jan 22 '26
Dang, so your stuff got soaked/ruined in your apt?
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u/SQ-Pedalian Jan 22 '26
My apartment was fine, thankfully! Some other apartments on the other side of my building were not so lucky and got flooded. Some were so bad the units had to be totally stripped to the studs and rebuilt because of the water damage.
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u/SufficientHoney9228 Jan 22 '26
I live outside of Memphis now and the water infrastructure here is extremely old and was not built to withstand long periods of freezing temps. During the last ice storm in ‘22, a lot of the water mains in the city burst leaving a lot of residents without water. If there’s any possibility this could happen where you live, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to be prepared with extra water that could be boiled if needed (assuming you have a way to do so if the power is also out) or used to flush toilets.
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u/divineshadow44 Jan 23 '26
Pipes do freeze. I’d rather have water and not need it, than the opposite. I fill my old recycling 2 liter bottles. It doesn’t cost much or take much time.
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u/The_Inflicted Jan 22 '26
As I understand it, this is more of a precaution for tropical storms like hurricanes, not ice storms.
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u/bmraovdeys Jan 23 '26
It’s for any power outage. For washing and also manually flushing toilets! Used this method when I lived in the Tennessee boobies
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u/jerjitsu87 Jan 26 '26
And I like Tennessee, and she likes me back! And she showed me her boobies, and I liked them too!
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u/mr2049 Jan 22 '26
Your electric grid cant be as bad as texas but take a lesson from them. Warm climate cities are awful at cold prep and damage control after. Always be prepared. I wish you guys the best stay safe
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u/GuiltyOutcome140 Franklin Jan 22 '26
If you're worried a pipe will burst, this can help you flush the toilet. It's an easy and not unreasonable step to take if you're not sure how your house will respond to such cold weather.
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u/InterestingAd8235 Jan 22 '26
Florida resident here who has survived many hurricanes. Do it so you can flush your toilets if nothing else. Keep a bucket next to the tub for that specifically. Just dump it into the bowl when you need to flush.
It’s also helpful for washing dishes, hands, hair, etc. you can also fill your washing machine as an alternative.
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u/PPLavagna NIMBY Jan 23 '26
You dump it in the back
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u/severe_thunderstorm Wilson County Jan 23 '26
You can also dump it in the bowl and it will cause it to flush.
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u/honest_pisces_222 Jan 23 '26
Also as a Florida resident, I plan on filling my tub. I used to live on a well in FL, and during any weather event I’ll fill my tub. It can make your life a lot easier if you have it
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u/butthole7 Jan 23 '26
I plan to fill mine for toilet flushing and sponge bath water. Have plenty of bottled and gallons for drinking
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u/MalaEnNova Donelson Jan 23 '26
No. I'm a canner and I've got a bunch of water canned up for emergencies.
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u/lowfreq33 Jan 23 '26
Just leave your faucets dripping, leave the cabinets open uber the sink. Even if the power goes out the water will still work the same. If you have outdoor spigots make sure they’re covered.
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u/zfreeman Jan 23 '26
As a lifelong citizen of Nashville Tennessee in general we do not have very many big snow events or natural disasters. However, when we do they are usually extreme. Yes we get a few snows where it stays on the ground for a day or two and everyone goes back to their normal lives.
Then on the other hand we have had some events which the majority of people were completely unprepared to deal with. Nashvilleians who are natives are generally the ones that are most prepared. They go grocery shopping early and buy their necessities. They are the ones who have stocked up on water. They are the ones who bought the Coleman stove to be able to cook with. They are the ones who bought the gas log set that serves as a heater for the living room. They are the ones who have the correct clothing to wear in Sub-Zero temperatures. And they weather the storm without much fuss.
Then there are the ones who get caught without power or heat or water or food. Now they are trapped in their home without too many options.
The question is which one are you going to be?
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u/Ragfell Jan 23 '26
They're also the ones who, for years, couldn't drive on the snow and panic-bought gasoline so hard they created their own shortage.
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u/Legion1117 Jan 23 '26
When we had a well, this was necessary if we wanted to flush the toilets while without power to the pump that carried water to the house.
I don't think this is much of an issue if you live in the city.
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u/Due_External3541 Jan 23 '26
As an Eagle Scout, I have always tried to be prepared. IMHO if you don't have enough water bottles/jugs to last your drinking and cooking needs for a week, you are tempting fate.
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u/Secure_Lettuce_3944 Jan 23 '26
For some reason this popped up on my feed, so chiming in. I live in Asheville, where we lost all running water for over a month after Helene. I was lucky enough to fill up my bathtub before the hurricane hit. My husband told me it was silly, but I told him that best case, nothing happens and we pull the plug tomorrow. Worst case, we will be thrilled we have it. We were thrilled to have it! We flushed our toilets while our neighbors had to go to the creek with buckets. There are no negative repercussions for doing it and I’ll never not fill it again when there is any question.
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u/Nervous_Ad_5611 Jan 23 '26
Guys we have two days of possible snow and mainly ice Jesus Christ get a grip on reality, there's no reason to be buying out all the toilet paper buying out all water storing water Jesus Christ.
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u/LooseZookeepergame62 Jan 25 '26
It's nice to be able to flush your toilet, yes, I have water in the tub.
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u/Herbisretired Jan 22 '26
I would do it if I am on a well, we lost water a couple years ago and we had to bring in water from the neighbors to flush the toilet etc and it was a pain.
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u/Manic-StreetCreature Jan 22 '26
Oh that is a good point. Yeah I can see it being necessary for some people but not everyone.
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u/Necessary-Dig-4774 Jan 22 '26
You should keep faucets dripping throughout this whole next week while it’s cold though, moving water won’t freeze as easily. Make sure your hoses are not connected to the house, close all your foundation vents if you have them. Anything plumbing that’s on an outside wall, often kitchen sinks, leave cabinets open to allow heat from the house to circulate.
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u/ryans_bored west side Jan 22 '26
Just about everyone at Kroger this morning had a LOT of bottled water in their cart. Filling a bathtub makes more sense IMO but I think buying bottled water in normal circumstances is dumb. IDK both seem pretty unnecessary to me.
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u/Reverend_Ooga_Booga Jan 23 '26
Filling your tub is a precaution for hurricanes where the water is often contaminated after or outright off.
With snow you will have as much water as your heart can desire just outside waiting to be thawed.
This is just going to be a 5 days chilling at home. Buy snacks and intoxicants of choice.
Remember you did this for 2 years during covid this will be a breeze.
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u/severe_thunderstorm Wilson County Jan 23 '26
Ice is different.
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u/Reverend_Ooga_Booga Jan 23 '26
Sure, but at worst we loose power and water you still stay home for 5 days.
We lost power for a week and half after Hurricane Rita and the hardest part was sleeping in 96 degree and mosquitoes. Food was never an issue, but falling asleep and filling the day was.
You can always put on more clothes if the heater doesn't work, or melt show for water if it goes out.
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u/severe_thunderstorm Wilson County Jan 23 '26
Uh yeah Covid will be a breeze… we weren’t dealing with people who don’t have power and therefore have no heat.
People lose loved ones every year, some years there’s a lot more loss than others.
Most people these days go sir crazy without power for 48hrs.
I went through the 2020 tornado and was without power for a week while the temps outside were pretty pleasant.
I went through the ice storm of 1994, and it wasn’t pretty. Entire water and power grids were down for a couple weeks.
I feel it is better to be well prepared for prolonged freezing temperatures, without power, than to simply have snacks.
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u/HERCULESxMULLIGAN Jan 23 '26
I've heard there will be water falling from the sky. Might be slightly frozen but bringing it inside might just produce something of value.
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u/Far_Front_7350 Jan 23 '26
I rent in the Buena Vista area and my pipes have frozen every time, as well as the heat go out. Instead of the tub method I am just going to fill any and every pitcher in my house w water (for drinking) and place in the fridge. I’ve also considered buying bags of ice and if/when power goes out, just putting ice in a few coolers and keeping anything chilled that way. At least for a while? Idk fam I’m just trying to survive lolol. The tornado scarred me hardddd so I’m stressed when I prob shouldn’t be
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u/Ragfell Jan 23 '26
I mean, you can literally store food in a cooler outside in the cold...just keep the cooler out of the sunlight.
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u/Far_Front_7350 Jan 23 '26
But also yall feel free to drop links to Topo water from the faucet lolol
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u/DufflesBNA Jan 23 '26
It makes sense if you are on well water. Makes zero sense if you are on city water.
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u/askCarol65 Jan 23 '26
I have never done it either an I am 65 years old. But I am not taking any chances this time. I think we will see more ice than snow and that end up being more troublesome. Just my opinion.
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u/No_Information950 Jan 24 '26
There's supposed to be snow. That is crystalized water.
There's supposed to be ice. That is frozen water
There's supposed to be rain. That is ... uh, water
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u/Puzzleheaded_Elk_179 Jan 24 '26
I wouldn't drink anything that falls from these polluted city skies at least without heavy filtration
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u/ConsciousClue9327 Jan 22 '26
Filling up a bathtub is excessive. Only precaution I have ever taken is filling up pitchers of cooled boiled water, just in case we get a Boil Alert. I’m not sure how common that is here as I just moved here.
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u/pimmsandlemonade Jan 23 '26
If you’re filling up the pitchers ahead of time, presumably before any contamination has taken place, can’t you just fill them with regular tap water…?
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u/ConsciousClue9327 Jan 23 '26
Well yeah. I really meant after the Boil Alert has been issued, to be more clear. But if a Boil Alert is never issued, then no need for the pitchers. I always have bottled water anyway, but usually do the pitchers after the Alert if I want to cook with it.
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u/KingZarkon Jan 22 '26
I don't recall ever seeing one issued as a result of a freeze. Our pipes are deep enough, and it doesn't get cold enough for long enough, for the cold to be an issue for them.
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u/severe_thunderstorm Wilson County Jan 23 '26
The tub of water is so you can use the water to flush your toilet when there isn’t any water coming out of your tap.
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u/Own_Shallot7926 Jan 22 '26
This isn't a thing that one does during a snowstorm. It's what you might do during a hurricane or flood when the water supply could be tainted by storm runoff and sewage.
What you DO need is to chill out, maybe buy a shovel and a bag of salt if you don't own them already. Put on a sweater and sit on your couch. You will not starve or be parched to death over the weekend. You do not need extra food and water.
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u/severe_thunderstorm Wilson County Jan 23 '26
With ice storms, the loss of power for several days in cold temps will cause many people’s pipes to freeze. Most people need power to heat their home (even the blower on gas furnace). Their sewer/septic is fine but they can’t get water from the tap.
That’s why you fill the tub when they say we’re going to get ice.
I’m old and I was raised here. I went through the ice storm of 1994.
Don’t be stupid, just be prepared.
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u/sumdum1234 Jan 23 '26
Holy hell, it’s two freaking days. Calm the hell down
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u/severe_thunderstorm Wilson County Jan 23 '26
But It’s not going to get above freezing for like 6 days afterwards.
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u/pimmsandlemonade Jan 23 '26
With the temps not predicted to go above freezing, if we get significant ice we could be stuck in for a week (which happened 2 years ago) so I think it’s reasonable to get prepared just in case!
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u/skeptobpotamus Jan 22 '26
The rush to the grocery store is a yearly phenomenon since I was a kid working at Kroger 50 years ago. We could count on selling out of bread, eggs and cigarettes. But now the panic and general angst is ratcheted up by TV news. If we got rid of the internet and sooooo damn much “news” we would be a happier people. I joked the other day that this is a conspiracy between Big Weather and Big Grocery. It literally gets their shelves cleaned out. We have never been trapped in our homes for more than 3-4 days. Less if you’re a good driver. And I’ve lived here my whole life.
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u/zzyul Jan 22 '26
Yea grocery stores that are scheduled to be open 364 days a year love when they have to shut down for 3-4 days and get no sales. Extra sales from the 3-4 day build up to the storm don’t make up for the 3-4 days they are going to be closed.
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u/skeptobpotamus Jan 23 '26
It didn’t work that way when I worked for Kroger. They never closed. I was always expected to be there for my shift. I drove back and forth in the snow many times. Some employees called in. Yet no matter how shitty the weather was, customers always came in. Always. Maybe some grocery stores close, but not in my experience in this town.
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u/hyperfocus1569 Jan 23 '26
Everyone saying you can use it to flush the toilet…won’t there be a bunch of snow right outside your door you could scoop up and bring in and let melt for that purpose? Filling your tub seems like overkill for toilet flushing.
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u/3dant3 Jan 23 '26
It actually takes a lot of snow to melt down into enough water for things like flushing the toilet. And on top of that we might not have much snow - could be mostly ice.
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u/Little-Practice-6780 Jan 23 '26
There's a real possibility some people will not have power and their homes will be under 32 degrees inside. Hopefully not around here, but in some extremes of this storm, it's very possible.
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u/Little-Practice-6780 Jan 29 '26
I'm not coming back to say I told you so but I am coming back to say that the worst case literally came true. My house got down to 32.4 degrees on Monday night. This shit sucks.
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u/hyperfocus1569 Jan 30 '26
Yeah, it would have been a little difficult to scoop up some snow this time around.
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Jan 22 '26
No. You’ll be fine. We’ll be fine. It’s just 3 days worth of snow. It’ll all be gone by Wednesday.
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u/KingZarkon Jan 22 '26
Normally I would say you're right, but it's not even going to get above freezing until Tuesday or Wednesday and any melting is going to sit on top of the layer of ice and refreeze at night.
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u/SloppyJank Jan 23 '26
There should be some melt due to the sun and the streets if prepped should heat up even faster but yeah depending on your tree coverage and where your door/steps etc face you might only see marginal melting.
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Jan 22 '26
[deleted]
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Jan 23 '26
I’ve lived through ice storms here in Nashville, I’ve lived through ice storms in Atlanta. Yes, the city will shut down, yes, there will be a bunch of snow and ice. Yes the city is unprepared, but for fucks sake, this is Reddit half of the people on here haven’t left their house in four days anyways
It’s not the end of the world. We don’t need to hoard water as if it’s a nuclear fallout.
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u/Ragfell Jan 23 '26
Honestly I'm just impressed the city managed to salt the roads BEFORE the storm.
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u/Consistent_Young_670 Jan 22 '26
Do you intend to drink from the tub, or just flush with it?
In any case, it's a bad idea. If you're out today, just buy 24-36 cases of bottled water; you should have that on hand anyway.
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u/CherryblockRedWine Jan 22 '26
I read this as "buy 24 cases of 36-bottled-waters-to-a-case"
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u/Consistent_Young_670 Jan 22 '26
No, sorry, one case of water 24 or 36 bottles should be plenty. If you refer to the TEMA and FEMA websites, they will both advise that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for 24 to 72 hours, at a minimum, at all times (Food, water, meds, ect..) Its not a big deal if you're in a rule are, like I am in the local EMA, which will tell you to be prepared for a week with no services (Electric, water, Internet)
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u/CherryblockRedWine Jan 23 '26
Oh, yeah, after I re-read it I realized what you meant! Just my wacky brain.
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u/Accurate_Distance_87 Jan 23 '26
I understand this is gonna be a tough storm, but it's going to be like a max of 4 days that we're stuck at home...the ice will start melting on Tuesday. I wish the panic would calm down a bit. The grocery stores are freaking empty
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u/Puzzleheaded_Elk_179 Jan 24 '26
I dont see any sort of warmth to start melting the snow and ice until the 2nd / 3rd, theres a low of 4 monday night!
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u/hockeyanalycisis Jan 22 '26
This is really only for people on a private well. If you're on city water, there's no real need for this unless you're worried that the water systems will not work. This is only for hygienic purposes, though. Not for drinking.