Water guide
How much water to store, which containers are safe, and how to clean, rotate, and treat it when the tap stops working.
Quantities use Ready.gov’s 1 gallon per person per day. Treatment follows Ready.gov, CDC, and EPA; checked 2026-11-05. When in doubt, use bottled or boiled water.
Store at least 1 gallon per person per day. Three days is an evacuation supply; two weeks is a home supply; three months is a reserve. A four-person household needs 12, 56, or 360 gallons. Use food-grade containers, keep them cool and dark, and replace self-filled water every 6 months.
Water is heavier and harder to move than food. Store it where you can reach it, in containers you can lift, and rotate it before it becomes a science project.
The table uses 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation. It does not include water for pets, cooking, or medical needs; add those separately.
| Household | 3 days | 2 weeks | 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 gal | 14 gal | 90 gal |
| 2 people | 6 gal | 28 gal | 180 gal |
| 4 people | 12 gal | 56 gal | 360 gal |
| 6 people | 18 gal | 84 gal | 540 gal |
The container matters as much as the water. Use food-grade plastic, glass, or metal that is made for drinking water; avoid anything that held chemicals, and avoid containers that are hard to clean.
| Container | Best for | Strengths | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial bottled water | Short- and medium-term | Sealed, food-grade, easy to move | Check the date; store cool and dark; do not open until needed |
| Food-grade barrel (55 gal) | Stationary home reserve | Large volume, strong container | Very heavy; needs a pump or spigot; clean and sanitize before filling |
| Stackable water containers | Home reserve with limited space | Stackable, movable, made for water | Cost; clean and dry between fills; follow the maker's instructions |
| Bathtub bladder | Short-term, before an outage | Fits a tub, stores a large volume quickly | Not a long-term container; fill before the storm, use within days |
| Glass jars | Small amounts | Inert, easy to clean, visible | Breakable and heavy; store out of light and away from edges |
| Food-grade #2 HDPE jugs | Small amounts you rotate | Cheap, available, easy to carry | Not every jug is food-grade; milk jugs degrade and are not for storage |
Commercially bottled water is the simplest option: keep it sealed in the original container, in a cool, dark place, and check the date. If you fill your own containers, use food-grade containers and clean them first.
Ready.gov’s cleaning steps: wash the container with dish soap, then sanitize it with a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach to 1 quart of water. Fill with chlorinated tap water, label the date, and replace the water every 6 months.
Treat all water of uncertain quality before drinking, cooking, washing dishes, brushing teeth, or making ice. Let suspended particles settle or strain them through a clean cloth first.
Boiling is the safest method. Bring the water to a rolling boil for 1 full minute, then let it cool. Boiled water tastes flat; pour it between two clean containers to add air back.
If you cannot boil, Ready.gov and EPA describe disinfection with plain unscented household bleach containing 5.25–6.0% sodium hypochlorite. Ready.gov’s amount is 1/8 teaspoon per gallon; stir and let it stand for 30 minutes. The water should have a slight bleach odor. If it does not, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes. Do not use scented, color-safe, or bleach with added cleaners.
Filters and purification devices must be rated for the contaminants you are concerned about; follow the manufacturer’s instructions. When in doubt, use bottled or boiled water.
Add water for pets, cooking, and basic sanitation. A reserve that only covers drinking water will run short if the tap is out for days. Keep a separate small bottle for handwashing and cleaning, and do not dip dirty cups into the main container.
At least 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation. That is 3 gallons for 3 days, 14 gallons for 2 weeks, and 90 gallons for 3 months. Heat, activity, pregnancy, illness, pets, and medical needs can raise the amount.
Commercially bottled water stays sealed in its original container; check the date. Water you fill yourself should be replaced every 6 months, according to Ready.gov. Label the fill date and rotate it like food.
Use food-grade containers: commercial bottled water, food-grade barrels, stackable water containers, or clean glass jars. Avoid containers that held chemicals, milk jugs that degrade, and any plastic not labeled food-grade.
No. Milk jugs are designed for short refrigerated use, are hard to clean, and degrade. They can leak or contaminate the water. Use a food-grade water container instead.
Boiling is the safest method: bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, then cool. If you cannot boil, Ready.gov and EPA describe disinfection with plain unscented household bleach; follow their amounts and wait times. Filters must be rated for the contaminants you are concerned about. When in doubt, use bottled or boiled water.
Quantities and treatment steps are from Ready.gov, CDC, and EPA, checked 2026-11-05. This page does not cover medical hydration advice.
| Source | What it establishes | How this page uses it | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEMA / Ready.gov — Water | At least 1 gallon per person per day; store bottled water sealed; clean and sanitize food-grade containers; replace self-filled water every 6 months; boil 1 minute or disinfect. | The baseline, rotation, and treatment steps. | |
| CDC — How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency | Boil, disinfect, or filter water of uncertain quality before drinking or cooking. | The treatment warning and the boil-first guidance. | |
| EPA — Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water | Boil and disinfect water with plain household bleach; follow the official amounts and wait times. | The backup disinfection method and the bleach warning. |
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