Is one gallon per person per day enough for every household?
It is a federal starting point for drinking and sanitation, not a guarantee. Hot climates, pregnancy, illness, pets, cooking, hygiene, and medical needs can require more.
Water preparedness
Emergency Water Storage for Longer Disruptions
Water planning must cover more than drinking. Cooking, brushing teeth, medication, pets, sanitation, and hot weather can increase demand. Storage should come before complicated treatment plans because not every contaminant can be removed safely at home.
Start with these 3 steps
- Calculate at least one gallon per person per day for three days.
- Add water for pets, heat, illness, pregnancy, cooking, and special needs.
- Store it in safe containers you can lift, inspect, and rotate.
Emergency Water Storage
How much water to store
Use official guidance as a starting point and adjust for the household.
CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days and trying to store a two-week supply when possible. That water supports drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and other uses. More may be needed for people who are pregnant, sick, active, or living in a hot climate, as well as for pets.
| Household | Three-day starting quantity | Two-week quantity if practical |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 gallons | 14 gallons |
| 2 people | 6 gallons | 28 gallons |
| 4 people | 12 gallons | 56 gallons |
| 6 people | 18 gallons | 84 gallons |
Emergency Water Storage
Count all essential uses
A plan based only on drinking may run short.
- Drinking
- Food preparation and rehydration
- Brushing teeth and taking medication
- Infant feeding as directed by public-health and medical guidance
- Pet drinking water
- Handwashing and limited personal hygiene
- Cleaning food-contact surfaces
- Medical or disability-related needs
- Additional hydration during heat or physical work
Toilet flushing, laundry, and general cleaning can consume much more water than drinking. Longer-outage plans may need a separate non-potable-water strategy that follows local rules and does not create cross-contamination.
Emergency Water Storage
Choose appropriate containers
The container is part of the safety system.
- Commercially bottled water is a simple storage option when kept according to package directions.
- For filled containers, use food-grade water storage containers designed for the purpose.
- Avoid containers that previously held toxic chemicals.
- Choose closures that keep out dirt, insects, and hands.
- Use sizes that can be lifted and poured without injury.
- Keep a clean method for dispensing water without repeatedly contaminating the opening.
- Follow CDC cleaning, sanitizing, labeling, and replacement guidance.
Large containers can be space-efficient but difficult to move, clean, or use during evacuation. A mixed system of smaller portable containers and larger stationary containers may be more practical.
Emergency Water Storage
Store water where it stays safe and accessible
Avoid heat, chemicals, sunlight, freezing, flooding, and structural overload.
- Use a cool location away from gasoline, pesticides, cleaners, and other chemicals.
- Keep containers off surfaces that may flood or become contaminated.
- Distribute weight on sturdy, appropriate shelving or floors.
- Protect containers from direct sunlight and temperature extremes.
- Do not block exits or create a falling hazard.
- Keep some portable water with evacuation supplies.
- Inspect for leaks, cloudiness, damage, or broken seals.
Emergency Water Storage
Understand storage, filtration, and disinfection
These terms describe different functions.
| Method | What it may do | What it does not automatically do |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | Keeps known safe water available before an emergency | Does not make contaminated water safe |
| Sediment filtration | May remove particles or improve clarity | Does not necessarily remove germs, chemicals, or dissolved contaminants |
| Boiling | Can kill many disease-causing organisms when official instructions say it is appropriate | Does not remove many chemicals, fuels, salts, or radioactive material |
| Chemical disinfection | Can inactivate many microorganisms when correctly used | Does not solve every contaminant and depends on water condition and correct procedure |
| Specialized treatment | May target defined contaminants | Requires verified performance, maintenance, and correct use |
Local authorities may direct residents to use bottled, boiled, or disinfected water. Follow the exact advisory. Do not assume that a camping filter, household pitcher, boiling, or bleach can make chemically contaminated floodwater or fuel-contaminated water safe.
Emergency Water Storage
Inspect and refresh the supply
Water storage is a maintained system, not a forgotten reserve.
- Follow package dates and manufacturer instructions for commercially bottled water.
- Follow CDC guidance for replacing water stored in household-filled containers.
- Keep a written record of fill or purchase dates.
- Inspect containers and the storage area regularly.
- Clean dispensing tools and avoid touching the inside of caps or openings.
- Replace damaged, leaking, or questionable containers.
- Update the quantity when household members, pets, climate, or medical needs change.
Emergency Water Storage
Plan for water beyond the stored supply
Longer disruptions require resupply assumptions.
A two-week supply for a large household occupies significant space. Longer plans should identify official distribution sites, trusted delivery options, transportation, containers, and any approved alternate source. The plan should also explain what happens if roads are closed or if someone cannot lift or carry water.
Wells, cisterns, rainwater systems, and surface water each create separate treatment, power, permitting, maintenance, and contamination questions. They should not be represented as automatically potable or reliable during a disaster.
FAQ
Common questions
Can I store water in used milk or juice jugs?
Use CDC guidance and food-grade containers intended for water storage. Some containers can be difficult to clean, retain residues, or degrade. Never use containers that held toxic chemicals.
Does boiling remove chemicals?
No. Boiling can kill many disease-causing organisms but does not remove many chemicals or fuels and can concentrate some contaminants. Follow the local advisory.
Can I drink pool water during an emergency?
Do not assume pool or spa water is safe to drink. Chemicals, contamination, treatment products, and maintenance conditions make it unsuitable without specific authoritative guidance.
Where should apartment residents store water?
Use several smaller containers in cool, accessible locations, protect them from leaks and chemicals, respect floor-load and lease constraints, and keep a portable amount for evacuation.
Reviewed Sources
Reviewed sources
- How to Create and Store an Emergency Water Supply Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene-Related Emergencies and Outbreaks Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Build A Kit Ready.gov
- Individuals and Communities Federal Emergency Management Agency
Next step
Calculate the real household need
Start with people and days, then add pets, heat, illness, cooking, and special needs before choosing containers.