Ready Stocked

How to store emergency water at home

Quick answer: store at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, and two weeks if you can. Sealed store-bought water is the easiest; water you bottle yourself goes in clean food-grade containers and gets replaced every 6 months. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Ready.gov (FEMA))

Blue five-gallon water jugs lined up

How much to store

The CDC suggests at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days and a two-week supply if possible. Two adults need 28 gallons for two weeks. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Store more for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, and hot climates. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) The food and water calculator adds pets and hot weather and turns the total into cases and jugs.

Containers

Unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest choice; watch the expiration date. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) If you fill your own, food-grade water containers are best. Otherwise use a container with a tight top, made of something that will not break, with a narrow opening for pouring. Never use a container that held bleach, pesticides, or other chemicals. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Cleaning and filling a container

  1. Wash it with soap and rinse it well.
  2. Mix 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach into 1 quart of water, pour it in, cover, and shake so it touches every inside surface.
  3. Wait at least 30 seconds, pour it out, and let the container air-dry.
  4. Fill it with clean tap water and close the lid tightly. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Where to keep it

Label each container “drinking water” with the date you filled it. Keep it at 50 to 70 degrees F, out of direct sunlight, and away from gasoline and pesticides. Replace it every 6 months. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

If you run out

Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute and let it cool. If you cannot boil it, add 1/8 teaspoon of unscented bleach with 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite per gallon, stir, and wait 30 minutes. (Ready.gov (FEMA)) Boiling does not make water with chemicals in it safe. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

The free 72-hour household plan has a line for the date you filled your water. Every number on this page is listed with its source on the sources page.