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How much water to store

Water is the first thing to get right. Here is how much to keep, what to keep it in, and what to do if it runs out.

Sources read Oct 30, 2026.

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How much

  • Plan on 1 gallon per person per day, for drinking and washing up.
  • Children, nursing mothers, sick people and anyone in a hot climate may need more. Very hot weather can double it.
  • The Red Cross suggests a 3-day supply to take with you and a 2-week supply at home.

From Ready.gov: Water and American Red Cross: Survival Kit Supplies.

Worked out

  • 4 people for 3 days: 12 gallons. For 2 weeks: 56 gallons.
  • Count pets separately; they need water too.
  • The kit page does this math for your group.

Our tips.

What to keep it in

  • Store-bought water: keep it sealed in its original container, somewhere cool and dark.
  • Your own tap water: use food-grade containers. Wash them with dish soap, then sanitize with 1 teaspoon of unscented bleach in a quart of water.
  • Replace water you bottled yourself every 6 months.

From Ready.gov: Water.

How to choose

  • A gallon of water weighs about 8 pounds. Pick containers you can lift when full.
  • A spout or spigot makes big jugs much easier to pour.
  • Keep a few bottles in the car and near your go-bag, not just in the basement.

Our tips.

If you need to make water safe

  • Let cloudy water settle, or strain it through a coffee filter or clean cloth first.
  • Boil: a rolling boil for 1 full minute, then let it cool.
  • Bleach: 1/8 teaspoon of plain, unscented household bleach (5.25–6% sodium hypochlorite) per gallon. Stir and wait 30 minutes. It should smell slightly of bleach; if not, repeat and wait 15 more minutes.
  • Never use scented or color-safe bleach, or bleach with added cleaners.

From Ready.gov: Water.

Don't

  • Don't ration drinking water unless officials tell you to.
  • Soda, coffee, tea and alcohol don't replace water.

From Ready.gov: Water.

Sources

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General preparedness information, not professional or medical advice. In any emergency, call your local emergency number and follow official guidance from local authorities.