During a water-related emergency or outbreak, clean drinking water may not be available. Prepare yourself for an emergency by creating and storing a supply of water that will meet your family’s needs.
How Much Emergency Water to Store
Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days for drinking and sanitation. Try to store a 2-week supply if possible.
Consider storing more water than this for hot climates, pregnant women, and persons who are sick.
Observe the expiration date for store-bought water.
Replace non-store-bought water every 6 months.
Store a bottle of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach (label should say it contains between 5% and 9% of sodium hypochlorite) to disinfect your water, if necessary, and to use for general cleaning and sanitizing.
Choosing a Container
When storing safe water (water that has been treated to make it safe to use), it is best to use food-grade water storage containers, which do not transfer toxic substances into the water they are holding. FDA-approved food-grade storage containers can be found at surplus or camping supply stores. Contact the manufacturer if you are not sure if a storage container is food grade. If you are not able to use a food-grade water storage container, be sure the container you choose:
Has a top that can be closed tightly
Is made of durable, unbreakable materials (i.e., not glass)
If possible, use a container with a narrow neck or opening, so water can be poured out.
DO NOT USE containers that previously have been used to hold liquid or solid toxic chemicals (bleach, pesticides, etc.)
Most popular portable water storage containers for preppers:
After scouring the web for recommendations as well as our own experience with these containers, these are just a few of the ones that we suggest for the best value and quality. Do let us know your experiences with these or other products, as we are always updating our information.
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