Emergency Drinking Water: How Much to Store and How to Keep It Safe
Store at least one gallon per person per day for three days in safe containers, with more for heat, illness, pregnancy and pets; use official instructions before treating questionable water.
Timeline
- Prepare: Store at least a three-day supply, preferably more when feasible, using sealed commercial bottles or sanitized food-grade containers.
- During an advisory: Follow local instructions and use safe water for drinking, cooking, ice, brushing teeth and other specified uses.
- If supply is questionable: Boil or disinfect only for microbial contamination under official directions; obtain another source when chemicals or fuel may be present.
CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days, and trying for a two-week supply when practical. This amount supports drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and limited hygiene. Hot climates, pregnancy, illness, nursing, physical activity and pets can increase needs. Plan for every household member and keep some portable water ready in case evacuation is required. [1][2][3]
Unopened commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable emergency supply. For water filled at home, use an FDA-approved food-grade storage container when possible. It should be durable, unbreakable, tightly closable and preferably have a narrow opening for pouring. Never reuse a container that held bleach, pesticides, fuel or another toxic chemical, because residue can remain even after washing. [1][3][4]
Before filling a reusable container, wash it with soap, rinse completely and sanitize it according to current CDC instructions. Let it air-dry, fill it with known safe water and close it without touching the inside of the cap or container. Label it “drinking water” with the storage date. Store it cool, out of direct sun and away from gasoline, pesticides and other chemicals that could leak or migrate. [1][3]
Observe the date on commercial bottles. CDC advises replacing water filled at home every six months. Rotate supplies into normal use so the stock remains manageable. Use a clean pour or utensil rather than putting hands or a used cup inside the container. A large container becomes heavy—one U.S. gallon weighs more than eight pounds—so several manageable containers may be safer than one vessel nobody can move. [1][2]
During a boil-water, do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory, follow the local water utility or health department because each instruction addresses a different hazard. Use the specified safe water for drinking, food preparation, ice, brushing teeth and infant formula. A household filter is not automatically sufficient. If public guidance changes, use the newest notice rather than a generic disaster recipe. [4][5]
Boiling is the best household method for killing germs when authorities say microbial treatment is appropriate. CDC also provides exact disinfection instructions for certain clear water using specified unscented household bleach concentrations. Filter cloudy water as directed before treatment and allow the required contact time. Do not guess the bleach dose, use scented or splashless products, or combine treatment chemicals. [5][6]
Boiling, bleach and ordinary filters cannot make water contaminated with fuel, toxic chemicals or radioactive material safe. Find another approved source and heed a do-not-use order. Water from boilers, radiators, swimming pools, floodwater and unknown wells can carry chemical or microbial hazards. The emergency plan should therefore combine stored water, local alerts, a manual method to access updates and knowledge of distribution sites—not rely solely on last-minute treatment. [4][5][6]
Sources
- CDC How to Create and Store an Emergency Water Supply
- Ready.gov Water
- CDC Prepare for Floods
- CDC Drinking Water Advisories
- CDC How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency
- EPA Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water