Water Storage Quick Sheet
How much water your household needs and how to store it safely.
2 min read · 5 sections
Daily Minimums
- 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day for drinking and sanitation
- Add 50% for hot climates, physical labour, or illness
- Pets: 1 cup per 10 lbs body weight per day
- Nursing mothers and young children need more
Storage by Duration
- 72-hour kit: 3 gallons per person minimum
- 7-day supply: 7 gallons per person
- 14-day supply: 14 gallons per person
- 30-day supply: 30 gallons per person
Container Rules
- Use food-grade containers only (look for HDPE #2 or PET #1)
- Avoid glass — it breaks under stress
- Never use containers that held non-food products
- Dark or opaque containers slow algae growth
Shelf Life & Rotation
- Store-bought sealed water: 2 years unopened
- Home-filled containers: rotate every 6–12 months
- Add 8 drops of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon if re-using containers
- Date every container with a permanent marker
Emergency Purification
- Boiling: 1 minute at a rolling boil (3 min above 6,500 ft)
- Chemical: 8 drops unscented bleach (6%) per gallon — wait 30 min
- Filters: Use NSF-certified filters rated for bacteria/protozoa
- UV pens (e.g. SteriPen): effective against viruses too