Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for at least 3 days. The CDC advises trying to keep a 2-week supply if possible. Multiply the number of people in your household by the number of days to estimate your baseline; add more for pets, pregnancy, illness, or hot weather.
How many gallons does your household need?
The CDC’s planning baseline is 1 gallon per person per day. It recommends storing at least 3 days’ worth and says to try for 2 weeks if possible. The longer target is a goal, not a requirement for every household.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| People | Three-day minimum | Two-week target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 gallons | 14 gallons |
| 2 | 6 gallons | 28 gallons |
| 3 | 9 gallons | 42 gallons |
| 4 | 12 gallons | 56 gallons |
These figures are starting points, not a guarantee that one gallon per person each day will cover every need in every situation. The recommendation covers drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and other uses; the CDC does not give a separate universal sanitation allowance in this guidance. Add water for pets and additional household needs. The CDC also advises extra water for pregnant people, people who are sick, and people in hot climates. See the CDC emergency water supply guidance.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How to store water safely
Choose a suitable source and container
The CDC calls unopened, commercially bottled water the safest and most reliable emergency source. If filling containers at home, use FDA-approved food-grade containers when possible. Otherwise, choose a durable, unbreakable vessel with a tight closure, preferably with a narrow opening. Do not use containers that held toxic chemicals, including pesticides or bleach.
#1 Best Overall
- INCLUDED WATER TREATMENT DROPS - Comes complete with water treatment drops that keep your water clean and free from slime buildup for up to 5 years. Simply add them to your filled containers—no need to periodically rotate your water.
- LONG TERM EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE - Made from heavy-duty, BPA-free food-grade plastic, each 5-gallon tank measures 15" x 10" x 12" and weighs about 40 lbs when full. Includes 6 water tanks for a total capacity of 30 gallons.
- STACKABLE WATER STORAGE CONTAINERS - Designed with stackable ribs on top, these food grade water containers lock into place when stacked. Perfect for maximizing storage space in garages, pantries, or storm shelters.
- LIGHT-BLOCKING EXTERIOR - Ideal for long term water storage, the dark blue color of the tanks helps block out light, keeping your water fresh for longer. Great for camping and emergency preparedness.
- SMOOTH POURING WITH SPIGOT & VENT CAP - Each container features a large 2 ¼ inch opening and comes with 8 full sets of 3/4 inch threaded sealed caps, and 2 spigots with prepared caps for easy pouring.
Clean and rotate home-filled water
- Wash the container with soap and rinse it completely.
- Sanitize the inside with a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented household chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water. Coat the interior, wait at least 30 seconds, then pour the solution out.
- Fill and close the container. Replace water stored in household-filled containers every 6 months.
For commercially bottled water, follow the expiration date on the bottle.
What to do if your stored supply runs out
The CDC identifies water from the household tap-water heater tank and uncontaminated ice as possible sources. A tap-water heater tank is the tank supplying household faucets and showers, not a heating-system tank used for radiators. If you are unsure whether water is safe, follow local health-department or emergency instructions.
Rank #2
- LARGE-CAPACITY WATER STORAGE (55 GALLONS): Store enough emergency drinking water for a family of four for up to two weeks. Perfect for preparedness, camping, off-grid living, or disaster response.
- SPACE-SAVING STACKABLE DESIGN: Engineered to stack securely and safely, giving you big-tank capacity without taking up extra floor space—ideal for garages, basements, or sheds.
- ROBUST DESIGN: Manufactured from high-quality rotationally molded polyethylene that’s safe for long-term potable water storage and built to withstand decades of use.
- EASY FILLING, DRAINING & CLEANING: Includes a 5-inch twist lid for quick filling and internal cleaning, plus a built-in brass spigot for simple dispensing and water rotation.
- BUILT TO LAST: Backed by over 70 years of tank-manufacturing experience, our emergency water tanks are tested for strength, leak integrity, and safety—so you can rely on them when it matters most.
If the concern is germs and no safe bottled water is available, the CDC says to bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet. Its guidance also includes bleach disinfection instructions tied to product concentration; follow the current public-health directions and product-specific guidance rather than guessing a dose. Disinfection is less reliable than boiling against certain parasites. Neither boiling nor disinfecting makes water contaminated with fuel, toxic chemicals, or radioactive materials safe to drink. Follow local advisories after incidents such as a water-main break or flood. Read the CDC guidance on making water safe in an emergency.
Recommended Free Tools
Quick Recap
Best Value
- PORTABLE, STACKABLE WATER CONTAINERS: These 5-gallon water containers are designed with flat bottoms and tops that nestle together to help stack more water in less space. The handles make them ideal for moving around, and the built-in twist breathing ports make it easy to pour out the contents of your containers without them getting air locked. This kit includes 4 individual 5-gallon water containers with lids.
- 40 DAYS OF DRINKING WATER: It’s recommended to have half a gallon of water per person per day when preparing an emergency water reservoir for your household. This kit provides 4 containers that are 5 gallons each for about 40 days of washing, cooking, or fresh drinking water storage. The amount of water needed varies by a person’s size and use, and each portable container weighs about 40 lbs. when filled with liquid.
- MADE FROM BPA-FREE HDPE PLASTIC: Our high-quality water containers are made from 100% food-grade plastic, which also makes them useful for storing other liquids or food necessities. They are BPA-free and made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), so you’ll have a safe, durable, refillable water container that can weather any storm.
- IDEAL FOR TRAVEL & EMERGENCY STORAGE: If you’re looking for a reliable water container for emergency storage, camping, boating, or beach trips, or even for a watering station for an outdoor event, this kit is exactly what you need. The handle on each 5-gallon container makes it a breeze to transport, and it can easily stack in the back of your car or truck for road-tripping adventures.
- PREPARE, STORE & SAVE: As a family-founded company with years of experience, we know the importance of preparedness. Our water storage containers and accessories ensure that you’re never without the essentials when you need them the most. We provide high-quality American-made products at the fairest prices possible to help you make the best decisions for yourself and your loved ones.
Rank #4
- Space-Saving Up To 100-Gallon Emergency Water Storage: Transform your existing bathtub into a clean, safe water storage system that holds up to 100 gallons of fresh drinking water—minimizing the need for expensive bottled water purchases or bulky barrels that consume valuable storage space in your home, garage, or apartment while providing enough emergency water supply for your entire family during hurricanes, storms, or water main breaks.
- Sealed Food-Grade Liner Keeps Water Fresh Up to 16 Weeks: Heavy-duty, BPA-free plastic liner meeting USFDA food-grade guidelines protects your emergency drinking water storage from dirt, soap film, and debris that would contaminate an open bathtub, ensuring your family has access to clean, safe water for cooking, washing, and flushing throughout extended emergencies when municipal water supplies are compromised or unavailable.
- Trusted by 500,000+ Families and Featured on Major Media: As the original patented emergency water storage solution (U.S. Patent No. 8,627,980 and Patent No. 10,293,982), waterBOB has been recognized by CNN, Fox News, and Bob Vila as a reliable preparedness standard—join hundreds of thousands of prepared families who rely on the proven water container that established the category for bathtub emergency water storage systems.
- Simple setup in as little as 20 minutes with No Complicated Installation: Quickly prepare for disasters by laying the water storage container liner in any standard bathtub, attaching the included fill sock to your faucet, and filling to capacity in approximately 20 minutes—no tools, technical skills, or permanent modifications required, making emergency preparedness accessible for every nearly household when severe weather or water emergencies threaten your area.
- Included Siphon Pump for Convenient Access to Drinking Water Storage: Easily dispense your stored emergency water supply into jugs, pitchers, or water containers without heavy lifting, spills, or contamination risk—the included hand pump allows you to conveniently access clean drinking water for daily cooking, washing, and hydration needs throughout extended power outages or when municipal water systems are shut down during hurricane season or natural disasters.
Rank #3
- INCLUDED WATER TREATMENT DROPS - Comes complete with water treatment drops that keep your water clean for up to 5 years. Simply add them to your filled containers—no need to periodically rotate your water.
- LONG TERM EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE - Made from heavy-duty, BPA-free food-grade plastic, each 5-gallon tank measures 15" x 10" x 12" and weighs about 40 lbs when full. Includes 4 water tanks for a total capacity of 20 gallons.
- STACKABLE WATER STORAGE CONTAINERS - Designed with stackable ribs on top, these food grade water containers lock into place when stacked. Perfect for maximizing storage space in garages, pantries, or storm shelters.
- LIGHT-BLOCKING EXTERIOR - Ideal for long term water storage, the dark blue color of the tanks helps block out light, keeping your water fresh for longer. Great for camping and emergency preparedness.
- SMOOTH POURING WITH SPIGOT & VENT CAP - Each container features a large 2 ¼ inch opening and comes with 5 full sets of 3/4 inch threaded sealed caps, and 1 spigot with prepared caps for easy pouring.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
