Figure out how much: 1 gallon per person per day, for drinking and basic cleaning. For a family of four, 3 days is 12 gallons; two weeks is 56 gallons. Store more for pets, hot weather, pregnancy or illness.
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Store water for emergencies
Storms, floods and broken water mains can shut off clean tap water for days. Stored water is the one supply you cannot make up for later. The CDC says to keep at least 1 gallon per person per day, for at least 3 days, and two weeks if you can.
Why this matters
After storms and floods, tap water can be cut off or unsafe for days. Stores sell out of bottled water within hours of a warning.
Water is the one supply you cannot do without for more than a few days, so it comes first in every preparedness list.
What you need
- Food-grade water containers or store-bought bottled water.
- Plain unscented bleach, a marker and labels.
An hour to clean and fill containers; a few minutes every 6 months to replace them.
Step by step
Easiest way: buy sealed bottled water and keep it in its packaging. Watch the date on it.
To fill your own: use food-grade containers with tight caps, not glass, and never jugs that held bleach, chemicals or milk (milk jugs are hard to clean and break down).
Clean them first: wash with soap and rinse. Then swish a mix of 1 teaspoon of plain, unscented bleach in 1 quart of water so it touches every inside surface. Wait 30 seconds, pour it out and let it air dry.
Fill with tap water, cap tightly, and label each one "drinking water" with the date.
Store it in a cool, dark place, between 50 and 70°F, out of sunlight and away from gasoline, pesticides and cleaners.
Replace water you filled yourself every 6 months. Pour the old water on the garden.
Use stored water with a clean cup or scoop, and do not touch the water or the inside of the container with your hands. Any other water you find must be boiled or treated first, as in the lesson on making water safe.
Tips from survival instructors
- Freeze a few full water bottles. They keep your freezer cold longer in an outage and become drinking water as they thaw.
- Keep some water in more than one place in the house in case one spot is flooded or hard to reach.
Common mistakes
- Reusing milk jugs or chemical bottles. The fix: food-grade containers only.
- Storing it in a hot garage in sunlight. The fix: cool and dark, 50 to 70°F.
- Forgetting to rotate it. The fix: label the date and replace every 6 months.
Practice it safely
Count the people and pets in your home and work out your 3-day and 2-week water totals. Start with 3 days this week, then add a little each time you shop.
Quick check
Which container should you NOT use for water?
- A food-grade water jug
- An old bleach bottle
- Sealed store-bought bottles
Show the answer
An old bleach bottle
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Before you rely on thisA learning tool, not a replacement for training. In an emergency, call 911.