Storing drinking water for an emergency

After a disaster, the tap may be cut off or the water contaminated. Unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable emergency supply. Filling your own containers takes under an hour.

What you need

• Food-grade water storage containers with tight lids, ideally FDA-approved
• Dish soap
• Unscented liquid household chlorine bleach, for sanitizing the containers
• A marker and labels

Steps

1. 1

   Work out how much to store

   Store at least 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days, and a 2-week supply if you can. Store more for a pregnant woman, someone who is sick, a pet or a hot climate. In very hot weather, a person's water needs can double.

   5 min

2. 2

   Pick the containers

   If you can't get food-grade containers, use ones with a top that closes tightly, made of a durable material that won't break, not glass. Never use a container that once held toxic chemicals.

   5 min

3. 3

   Wash each container

   Wash it with soap and rinse it completely with water.

   10 min

4. 4

   Sanitize each container

   Mix 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water, pour it in, cover tightly and shake well. Wait at least 30 seconds, pour it out, and let the container air-dry.

   10 min

5. 5

   Fill and label

   Pour in clean water, cover it with a tight lid, and label it "drinking water" with the date.

   10 min

6. 6

   Put it in the right place

   Keep the water somewhere cool, between 50 and 70 degrees, out of direct sunlight and away from gasoline, pesticides and other toxic substances. Check that each container is labeled and sealed tight.

   5 min

Keeping it fresh

Replace stored water every six months, and go by the expiration date on store-bought water. When you use the water, pour it out, or use a clean scoop each time, and don't scoop it out with your hands.

If the stored water runs out

Don't ration drinking water unless officials tell you to. Drink what you need today and look for more for tomorrow. Treat water of uncertain quality before you drink it. Boiling is the safest method: bring it to a rolling boil for one full minute, then let it cool.

If something goes wrong