A water interruption can affect drinking, cooking and everyday hygiene. Begin by identifying your household’s needs, storing an initial supply and learning how to follow local drinking-water advisories. Build your plan gradually, with extra consideration for pets and individual needs. 

Start with at least one gallon of water per person, per day for a minimum of three days. Work toward a two-week supply when space and budget allow.

For four people, that starting amount equals 12 gallons for three days or 56 gallons for two weeks, before adding water for pets or additional household needs.

• Store extra for hot weather, pregnancy, illness and other individual needs
• Add a separate supply for pets based on their needs
• Consider water needed for food preparation and hygiene when setting your household’s storage goal
• Build your supply gradually and keep track of how many days it provides.

A stored water supply gives your household a practical starting point when normal service is interrupted. Build it during routine shopping trips so the cost and storage needs remain manageable.

Start with these actions:

• Count the safe drinking water you already have.
• Calculate how many days it provides for your household.
• Choose a storage location and add to your supply gradually.
• Include pets and individual needs in your plan.
• Know where to find notices from your water utility and local health department.

Choose containers based on your available space, budget and ability to move and dispense the water. You can combine several options.

1. Commercially bottled water
   A simple starting point that requires no filling or container preparation. Keep bottles sealed, follow storage instructions and check the dates on the packaging.
2. Water storage barrels
   Larger containers can hold a substantial supply but are difficult to move when full. Choose barrels intended for drinking-water storage, position them before filling and plan how you will dispense the water.
3. Stackable water containers
   Smaller containers let you divide your supply among several locations. Capacities and stacking limits vary, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions and choose a filled weight you can safely handle.
4. Bathtub water-storage bladders
   A bladder designed for drinking water can provide additional temporary storage when you have advance warning. Fill it only while the water supply is safe and follow its filling, use and reuse instructions. Keep a separate stored supply for interruptions that arrive without warning.

For containers you fill yourself, clean and sanitize them before use. Never use containers that previously held toxic chemicals.

A filter’s capabilities depend on its design. Some remove sediment, parasites and bacteria, but many portable filters do not remove viruses. Clear-looking water is not proof that it is safe.

• Check the specific model’s tested contaminant-reduction claims.
• Choose a format that fits your needs: gravity-fed, squeeze, pump or personal drinking filter.
• Follow instructions for cleaning, maintenance and cartridge replacement.
• Keep untreated water and equipment separate from clean-water containers.
• When germs are a concern, follow public-health guidance for disinfection after filtering.

Disinfection kills or inactivates germs. It does not make water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals safe. If chemical contamination is suspected, use bottled water or another safe source and follow local health-department instructions.

• Boiling: Bring clear water to a rolling boil for one minute, or three minutes above 6,500 feet. Let it cool and store it in clean, sanitized containers.
• Cloudy water: Before boiling or disinfecting, strain it through a clean cloth or coffee filter, or let it settle and draw off the clear water. This step alone does not make water safe.
• Disinfecting products: Follow drinking-water treatment instructions for the exact product, including dosage and contact time. Bleach concentration matters; one recipe does not fit every bottle.
• UV devices: Follow the device instructions and use clear water. Cloudiness can interfere with treatment.
• Local advisories: Follow the specific notice from your utility or health department. A boil-water advisory and a do-not-drink notice require different actions.

Make water checks part of your household’s preparedness routine. Track storage dates, inspect containers and replace your supply on a planned schedule.

• Follow the dates and storage instructions on commercially bottled water
• Replace water you fill and store yourself every six months
• Label refillable containers “drinking water” and include the fill date
• Keep water in a cool location away from direct sunlight
• Store it away from gasoline, pesticides and other toxic substances
• Check containers regularly for leaks, damage and loose closures
• Use clean dispensing equipment and avoid touching the water or the inside of the container

Use this checklist to identify gaps in your household’s water plan:

• Choosing containers without checking whether they are suitable for drinking-water storage
• Counting stored gallons without calculating how many days they provide
• Forgetting pets or individual household needs
• Filling large containers without planning how to dispense the water
• Storing water near fuel, pesticides or other toxic substances
• Assuming clear-looking water is safe or that every filter removes the same contaminants
• Overlooking replacement dates, container checks and equipment maintenance
• Treating all drinking-water advisories as if they require the same response

Choose one practical action today: count your stored water, calculate your household’s initial goal or identify a suitable storage location.

Record your quantities, storage locations and replacement dates in your Family Preparedness Center™. Make sure household members know where the water is and how to access it.

Build Your Household Water Plan

FM-003 — Water Preparedness™ brings illustrated lessons, real family scenarios and printable planning tools together to help you organize your household’s water plan.