Water

Water: store it, find it, make it safe

by Joe Miller

You can live about three days without water, so it comes before food. Store at least a gallon per person per day, and know three ways to make any water safe.

How much water to store (1 gallon per person per day)1 person, 3 days3 gallons1 person, 2 weeks14 gallonsFamily of 4, 3 days12 gallonsFamily of 4, 2 weeks56 gallonsFamily of 4, 1 month120 gallonsAdd more for hot weather, nursing mothers, sick people and pets (about 1 quart per day per 10 lb of dog).
Half for drinking, half for cooking and basic cleaning.

Storing water

Good ways to store waterBottled waterKeep it until the date onthe labelFOODFood-grade bucketsWith tight lids55-gallon blue drumsOff concrete, with a pumpClean soda bottlesNever milk jugs: theyleakWaterBOB in the tubFill before a storm hitsStore in a cool, dark place. Replace water you bottled yourself every 6 months.
Use food-grade containers only.
Hidden water already in your homeWater heater30 to 80 gallons; turnoff the power or gasfirstPipesOpen the highest faucet,drain from the lowestCanned foodsFruit and vegetableliquidsFOODIce cubesMelt for drinkingToilet tankNot the bowl; purifyfirst; not if treatedwith cleanerShut off the main valve after a disaster so dirty water can't get into your pipes.
Know these before you need them.

Making water safe

Three ways to make water safe to drink1BoilA rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above6,500 feet). The surest method.2BLEACHBleachPlain unscented 6% bleach: 8 drops pergallon (6 drops of 8.25%). Stir, wait 30minutes.3FilterA filter rated for bacteria and protozoa.Follow with bleach or boiling for viruses.Cloudy water: let it settle and strain it through a cloth first, then double the bleach.
From CDC guidance on emergency water.
Water purification methods comparedMethodKills germsRemoves chemicalsCostBest forBoilingYes, allNoFuelHome, with a stoveBleachMostNoPenniesStored water, big batchesPortable filterBacteria, protozoaSome (carbon)$20 to $50Bug-out bags, hikingGravity filter (Berkey type)MostSome$150 to $400A whole family at homeWater tabletsMostNo$10Backup in every kit
Never drink floodwater, water that smells of fuel or chemicals, or water from a radiator or a waterbed. Boiling and bleach don't remove chemicals.
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Sources

Checked November 11, 2026.