How much water should you store?
- Most sources recommend storing 1 gallon of water per day per person for 3-14 days for drinking
- Extra water should be stored for cooking, hygiene, etc.
- If you have pets you should also consider their water needs
- If your water is unchlorinated add a small amount of bleach to it before storing
What types of containers should you store water in?
- Plastic containers: Must be “FOOD GRADE” or PETE (soda and juice bottles will work)
- Do not store in milk jugs as they will disintegrate over time
- Boxed Water Kits: Available at Emergency Essentials, contain mylar bags housed in cardboard boxes.
- Store water in multiple sizes of containers to suit different emergency needs
- Do not use containers previously used to store non-food products.
- Clean, sanitize, and rinse all containers prior to use.
Where should you store the water?
- Store water away from too much light or heat
- Do not store water containers directly on concrete. Place on cardboard, wood pallets, or other materials.
- Store water in a variety of areas in your home (basement, bedroom closets, etc.)
How often should water be rotated?
- Plastic containers should be rotated at least once per year
- Water stored in mylar bags needs to be rotated every five years
What do you do if you run out of water?
Here are some additional resources to explore:
Jodi and Julie are the authors of the blog FoodStorageMadeEasy.NET where they walk you through the process of putting your food storage together in BabySteps. They started their food storage adventures about two years ago and love sharing what they learn along the way. You can sign up for their free BabyStep Checklists to help you on your own food storage adventures.
