How to Store Emergency Water at Home

A practical guide for households who want a sensible water reserve for a short outage — not a bunker. Written for readers in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

Merritt Lang researches everyday preparedness and writes plain-language guides that point readers back to official sources such as Ready.gov, GOV.UK and the Red Cross. This article is research-based: Merritt Lang has not tested these containers hands-on, and does not claim medical, first-aid or water-treatment credentials.

Every safety claim below is linked to its source. See How we researched this piece.

Affiliate disclosure. This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect what we recommend. How we make money

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Safety note

Safe water is a health issue. After an emergency, follow instructions from your local water company or health department first — they know what has happened to your supply.

You cannot make water that contains fuel, toxic chemicals or radioactive material safe by boiling or disinfecting it. Use a different source, such as sealed bottled water, and contact your health department (CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency). Never use water from radiators or boilers that are part of your home heating system for drinking, cooking or hygiene (CDC).

In a medical emergency, call 911 in the US, or 999 / 112 in the UK (NHS 111 for non-emergency medical advice).

The short version

• Sealed, commercially bottled water is the simplest safe option. The CDC calls unopened bottled water the safest and most reliable emergency supply. GOV.UK also recommends buying and storing bottled water rather than filling your own containers.
• How much you store depends on which official list you follow, and on what you want the water for. As a drinking-water starting point, GOV.UK Be Ready and the UK water-outages guidance recommend 3 litres per person per day for 3 days. US agencies recommend at least 1 US gallon (about 3.8 litres) per person per day, covering drinking and sanitation, for several days — the CDC suggests at least 3 days and a 2-week supply if you can; the American Red Cross uses 3 days for an evacuation kit and 2 weeks at home.
• Store more if you have children, are pregnant or breastfeeding, are unwell, have pets, live in a hot climate, or need water for baby formula or medical devices.
• If you fill your own containers, use purpose-made food-grade water containers (confirm with the manufacturer if you are unsure), not milk or juice jugs, not glass, and never anything that has held bleach, pesticides or other chemicals. Clean and sanitise first, label the date, keep the water cool and dark, and replace self-filled water about every 6 months (US official guidance).
• If tap water later becomes unsafe, boiling is the most reliable way to kill germs. Chemical disinfection has limits. Follow the method from your local authority, and the official doses linked below — do not improvise.

What official guidance says (US and UK)

The US and UK figures are not the same, because they are answering slightly different questions. US household guidance usually budgets for drinking and sanitation. Current UK household guidance focuses first on drinking water, and says you will need more for cooking and washing.

United States

Ready.gov (FEMA) says to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. It also notes that a normally active person needs about three-quarters of a gallon of fluid a day from water and other drinks, and that needs rise with heat, illness, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for children.

The CDC is more specific on duration: store at least 1 gallon per person, per day, for 3 days, and try to store a 2-week supply if possible. That water is for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth and other uses. Store more for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, or a hot climate.

The American Red Cross uses the same daily amount — one gallon per person, per day — and splits the duration: a 3-day supply for evacuation, and a 2-week supply for home.

Ready.gov also says: never ration drinking water unless authorities tell you to; drink what you need today and look for more tomorrow; and do not use caffeinated drinks or alcohol instead of water, because they can increase the need for water (Ready.gov, Water).

United Kingdom

The GOV.UK Be Ready checklist (accessed 10 November 2026) asks households to keep bottled water for 3 days, at 3 litres per person per day for drinking, and notes that more would be needed for cooking and washing. It also lists bottled water under pet supplies, and says ready-to-feed baby formula is best because you may not be able to boil water safely.

The GOV.UK / Be Ready water-outages page likewise recommends 3 litres of drinking water per person per day for 3 days, plus extra for baby formula, medical devices and pets. It says bottled water is the safest way to prepare for outages.

The British Red Cross recommends around 2.5 to 3 litres of drinking water per person per day for three days. It also says that to cover basic cooking, washing and hygiene, this can increase to around 10 litres per person per day, and that you should consider children, pets and medical needs.

If you are eligible, sign up to your water company’s Priority Services Register (Customer Care Registers in Northern Ireland) so the company knows you may need extra support in an outage (GOV.UK Be Ready).

WHO figures (the source behind some UK numbers)

The World Health Organization’s technical note on water in emergencies, which draws on the Sphere Standards, gives a useful breakdown per person per day (WHO, How much water is needed in emergencies):

Those are humanitarian planning figures, not a legal household requirement, but they explain why “3 litres for drinking” and “about 10 litres if you also want to cook and wash” can both be right.

Worked examples

Use these as planning aids, not as a promise that a given volume will cover every household.

Family of four, drinking water only, 3 days (UK Be Ready): 4 × 3 litres × 3 days = 36 litres (about 9.5 US gallons).

Family of four, drinking and sanitation, 3 days (CDC / Red Cross evacuation kit): 4 × 1 US gallon (about 3.8 litres) × 3 days = 12 US gallons (about 45 litres).

The same family, 2 weeks at home (CDC / Red Cross): 4 × 1 US gallon × 14 days = 56 US gallons (about 212 litres).

The same family, “more comfortable” cooking and hygiene for 3 days (British Red Cross ~10 litres): 4 × 10 litres × 3 days = 120 litres (about 32 US gallons).

You do not have to buy all of this at once. GOV.UK Be Ready suggests building a kit gradually on ordinary shopping trips, and checking it every six months.

Pets

Official guidance is clear that pets need water, but it does not give a single litres-per-pet figure we can safely repeat as a rule.

• The CDC says to consider storing more than the human minimum if you have pets (CDC emergency water supply).
• Ready.gov’s pet guidance says to store a water bowl and several days’ supply of water, with a larger kit if you are staying at home and a lighter one if you may have to evacuate.
• GOV.UK lists bottled water under pet products and says additional water may be needed for pets (Be Ready; water outages).

Ask your vet if your animal has unusual needs, and see our planned pet emergency kit guide.

Commercially bottled water: the default choice

Both US and UK authorities prefer sealed bottled water as the starting point.

• The CDC: “Unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency.” Use it for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth. Observe the expiry or “best before” date on store-bought water (CDC).
• Ready.gov: buy commercially bottled water and store it in the sealed original container, in a cool, dark place (Ready.gov, Water).
• GOV.UK: “It is recommended to purchase and store bottled water rather than filling up your own containers with tap water, as bottled water is properly sealed in a food-grade bottle to ensure longer-lasting water safety and quality” (this wording appeared on the Prepare water-outages guidance; the current Be Ready water-outages page still calls bottled water the safest way to prepare). Follow the date on the bottle and include bottled water in your six-monthly kit check (Be Ready).

For a small home or flat, a case or two of supermarket bottles under a bed or in a cool cupboard is a perfectly respectable start. You can add reusable food-grade containers later if you want a larger reserve without a wall of single-use bottles.

Baby formula. Ready-made or ready-to-feed formula is the safest option in an outage, because you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles (GOV.UK Be Ready; water outages). The NHS does not usually recommend bottled water for powdered formula, because it is not sterile and may contain too much salt (sodium) or sulphate. In rare cases when the drinking-water supply is unavailable or contaminated, you may use still bottled water, then still boil it and follow the normal NHS method. The water-outages guidance says to check the label: no more than 200 mg per litre of sodium and 250 mg per litre of sulphate, boil it, and cool it for no more than 30 minutes (GOV.UK water outages; NHS, How to make up baby formula).

If you fill your own containers

This is reasonable if you want a larger reserve, or want less single-use plastic. It takes more care than leaving bottles sealed.

Use food-grade containers — and confirm that they are

The CDC says that if you fill your own supply, it is best to use FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers. If you are not sure, contact the manufacturer. Food-grade containers are designed not to transfer toxic substances into the water. If you cannot use a food-grade container, the CDC says the stand-in should close tightly, be durable and unbreakable (not glass), and preferably have a narrow neck so you can pour (CDC).

Ready.gov likewise recommends buying food-grade water storage containers from surplus or camping suppliers (Ready.gov, Preparing Your Own Containers of Water; Water).

Many purpose-made water containers are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is often marked with recycling code #2. That is a useful material clue, but it is not a safety test on its own. Ordinary milk jugs are often HDPE #2 as well, and Ready.gov still says not to use them (see below). What matters is:

1. The manufacturer states the container is food-grade (or FDA-compliant / LFGB-certified) for drinking water.
2. It has never held chemicals, fuel or anything other than food or drink.
3. It can be closed tightly and cleaned properly.

What not to use

• Milk jugs and fruit-juice bottles. Ready.gov is explicit: do not use plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have held milk or fruit juice. “Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them.” Cardboard also leaks and is not designed for long-term liquid storage (Ready.gov, preparing containers).
• Glass. Ready.gov advises against glass because it can break and is heavy. The CDC also lists glass as a material to avoid.
• Anything that has held toxic chemicals, including bleach bottles and pesticide containers. You cannot make those safe for drinking water (CDC).
• An uncovered bathtub. Soap film, dirt and debris will contaminate the water. If you use the bath as a short-term reservoir when an outage is forecast, use a purpose-made food-grade liner (see bathtub bladders below), not the bare tub.

Ready.gov does say that clean 2-litre plastic soft-drink bottles can be used if you are reusing household bottles — after a thorough wash and rinse, with no residual soap (Ready.gov, preparing containers).

Clean and sanitise before you fill

Follow the CDC’s steps (Ready.gov describes the same bleach-and-water sanitising mix):

1. Wash the container with soap and rinse it completely.
2. Sanitise with 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart (4 cups, about 0.95 litres) of water. Use bleach that contains 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite (CDC). Ready.gov describes the same ratio — one teaspoon of unscented bleach to a quart of water — before filling.
3. Cover, shake so the solution touches all inside surfaces, and wait at least 30 seconds.
4. Pour the solution out and let the container air-dry, then fill with clean water and close it tightly.

(CDC, How to Create an Emergency Water Supply; Ready.gov, Water.)

Where to store it

The CDC’s storage advice:

• Label the container “drinking water” and write the storage date on it.
• Keep it in a place with a cool temperature of 50°F–70°F (10°C–21°C).
• Keep it away from direct sunlight.
• Keep it away from toxic substances, such as gasoline (petrol) or pesticides.

Ready.gov likewise says a cool, dark place for bottled water, and that water that has not been commercially bottled should be replaced every six months.

Do not leave full containers where they can freeze (water expands) or where a leak would damage a ceiling below. A US gallon of water weighs about 8.3 lb (3.8 kg); plan the shelf accordingly.

Rotation

• Self-filled containers: replace the water every 6 months (CDC; Ready.gov).
• Commercially bottled water: follow the date on the bottle (CDC).
• Set a reminder every six months when you check the rest of your emergency kit (GOV.UK Be Ready).

Some container manufacturers recommend changing stored tap water more often than official 6-month guidance (for example, Reliance’s current FAQ suggests at least every 90 days). If a manufacturer is stricter, it is reasonable to follow that for their container; official public-health guidance remains the 6-month figure for self-filled water.

When you use water from a large container, the CDC says to use a clean scoop each time, and not to touch the water or the inside of the container with your hands.

A simple approach is to drink or use the older bottles in ordinary life (cooking, the kettle) and replace them, so the reserve never sits forgotten.

If you need to treat water

Treat water of uncertain quality before you drink it, wash food or dishes, brush your teeth or make ice (Ready.gov; CDC). Always follow local boil-water or do-not-drink notices first.

In the UK, if you receive a boil-water notice, the Drinking Water Inspectorate says to bring water to a rolling boil, then take it off the heat and let it cool naturally. Use that boiled water for drinking, brushing teeth, ice, food preparation, cleaning feeding equipment, and for pets. Store it in a clean container in the fridge and discard it if it is not used within 24 hours. Very occasionally you may be told not to use the tap at all — then use bottled water or the alternative supply your water company provides.

GOV.UK also notes that if you have no bottled water, boiling or water purification tablets (following the product label; most alternative sources also need filtering first) can help make other water safer. A garden water butt is not for drinking; it may be used for flushing toilets or watering plants (water outages).

Boiling (best for killing germs)

The CDC: boiling is the best way to kill germs in water. If the water is cloudy, filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel or coffee filter, or let it settle and pour off the clear water. Then bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (for 3 minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet / about 2,000 metres). Let it cool, and store it in clean, sanitised containers with tight covers (CDC, How to Make Water Safe).

Ready.gov likewise calls boiling the safest method and says to boil for one full minute, then cool (Ready.gov).

The US EPA also says to boil for at least one minute, and for three minutes above 5,000 feet (about 1,500 metres) (EPA, Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water, page updated 24 February 2026). The CDC and EPA elevation thresholds differ slightly; follow your local health department if they specify a time, otherwise the longer of the two (3 minutes at higher elevation) is the cautious reading of the US federal advice.

Boiling does not remove heavy metals, salts or most chemicals (EPA; Ready.gov).

Disinfecting with unscented household bleach

Use this only if you cannot boil, and only with regular, unscented liquid household chlorine bleach. Do not use scented, colour-safe or “added cleaner” bleaches (CDC; Ready.gov; EPA).

Important limits. The CDC says chemical disinfectants do not work as well as boiling against some parasites, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Bleach will not make chemically contaminated or fuel-tainted water safe. UK household bleach is not always the same strength as US bleach; the CDC notes that concentrations can differ by country and publishes a separate table for 1% bleach. If you are in the UK, prefer boiling or a water-purification product used exactly as labelled, unless a competent UK authority has given you a bleach dose for your product.

If you do use bleach, follow the label first. The CDC’s table for 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite (typical in the US) includes, for 1 US gallon of water: 8 drops, or ½ ml, or a little less than ⅛ teaspoon; stir, and wait at least 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, murky, coloured or very cold, double the amount. Store the treated water in clean, sanitised containers (CDC).

Ready.gov’s shorter chlorination method (for bleach containing 5.25% to 6.0% sodium hypochlorite) is: ⅛ teaspoon of bleach per gallon, stir, stand 30 minutes; the water should have a slight bleach odour. If it does not, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes; if it still does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source (Ready.gov).

The EPA uses a drop chart by bleach strength (for example, 8 drops of 6% bleach, or 6 drops of 8.25% bleach, per gallon of clear water), then the same 30-minute wait and “slight chlorine odour” check (EPA).

Because these tables are easy to mix up, do not rely on a remembered dose. Open the CDC or EPA page (or your local notice) when you need it. The CDC also suggests keeping a bottle of unscented bleach (5%–9% sodium hypochlorite) for disinfecting water if necessary and for general cleaning (CDC emergency water supply).

For filters, tablets and the difference between a filter and a purifier, see Best portable water filters for emergencies and Water purification tablets and drops vs filters. A portable filter will not remove every type of germ; the CDC notes that many will not remove viruses, and that filters must be combined correctly with disinfection if you need virus protection (CDC, How to Make Water Safe).

How to choose a container

Match the container to your space, how you will lift it, and whether you need water on standby all year or only when a storm or outage is forecast.

Weight is the constraint most product pages skip. Water weighs about 1 kg per litre (about 8.3 lb per US gallon). A 20 litre (5 US gallon) can is about 20 kg (44 lb) when full; a 26 litre (7 US gallon) can is about 26 kg (58 lb). A 55 US gallon (about 208 litre) drum is around 200 kg (about 460 lb) and is not something you will carry downstairs.

Budget in qualitative terms only: bottled water is the entry-level option; a couple of food-grade jerry cans is mid-range; a large drum or a big stack of bricks is for people with space and a plan to keep the water rotated.

Container options we looked at

The products below are examples of types that match official “food-grade water container” advice. Specs are manufacturer-stated unless noted, checked on 10 November 2026. We have not tested them. Availability and exact SKUs change, so check current price and availability on Amazon. ASINs almost always differ between Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We only link a store where the product is genuinely listed, and we give a verified ASIN for every store in the link. Button wording: Check current price on Amazon (paid link).

We favoured containers whose makers clearly state food-grade, FDA-compliant or LFGB-certified status. We left out no-name cans where we could not verify that claim, and we have not named a specific 55-gallon drum because we did not verify a current manufacturer-backed listing on both stores for this article.

Rigid jerry can, about 20 litres — US: Scepter 5 gallon / 20 litre water can

Best for: a manageable, portable can you can actually lift when it is full, in the US market.

Scepter’s official product page describes a 5 gallon / 20 litre can made of rugged HDPE, with BPA-free construction for water storage, a tall slim profile, and an easy-pour flexible spout that stores inside when not in use (Scepter).

• Availability: US-only. Linked on Amazon.com (ASIN B00ZLYUOP6). We did not find a reliable Amazon.co.uk local listing (a .co.uk page we opened was an Amazon Global Store 2-pack shipped from the US and was not offering UK delivery). Check availability on Amazon. UK readers should use the ITP 20 litre can below. For a larger US rigid can, see the Jumbo-Tainer 2.0, which is the US lead pick in that category.
• Who should skip it: anyone shopping on Amazon.co.uk; anyone who wants a built-in tap/spigot rather than a pour spout (this design uses a stored spout).

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Rigid jerry can, 20 litres — UK: ITP Packaging 20 litre food-grade jerry can

Best for: UK households who want a food-grade, stackable HDPE can that is actually sold locally. This is the UK counterpart to the Scepter can above, and also the stackable alternative to WaterBrick for UK readers.

ITP Packaging (UK) states that this 20 litre jerry can is food grade, UN approved, made of HDPE, stackable with an interlocking design, weighs 900 g, measures 290 × 240 × 400 mm, and comes with a 60 mm (DIN61) tamper-evident cap. Colour options on the manufacturer’s site include natural, blue, white, red, green and black (ITP Packaging). A compatible tap is sold separately on the manufacturer’s site.

The main pick is a single 20 litre can. On Amazon.co.uk we verified a single-can listing sold by ITP Packaging Ltd, Blue, with number of items: 1, capacity 20 litres, and dimensions matching the manufacturer page (ASIN B0DGGXDQBG). Choose a colour you will not confuse with a fuel can, and buy a new food-grade can, not one previously used for chemicals.

If you need several cans, ITP also lists a 6-pack of the same 20 litre food-grade can on Amazon.co.uk (ASIN B09XFD832T) — usually the cheaper way to buy in bulk. Check availability on Amazon.

• Availability: UK-only. No Amazon.com listing found. The single can is the UK lead pick. Check availability on Amazon. US readers looking for a similar can should use the Scepter 20 litre can above, or the larger Jumbo-Tainer 2.0, which is the US lead rigid can.
• Who should skip it: US shoppers looking for a domestic listing; anyone who wants an integrated spigot already fitted (the standard cap is a screw cap; a tap is an extra part).

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Larger rigid can, 26 litres — Reliance Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 (7 gallon)

Best for: a bigger household reserve in one can, if you can lift about 26 kg (58 lb) when it is full, or can fill it in place.

Reliance’s official page states a 7 gallon (26 L) capacity; dimensions 15.3 × 8.5 × 18.0 inches (about 39 × 22 × 46 cm); empty weight 2.9 lb (about 1.3 kg); dual handles; a slender profile; and an easy-pour, leak-proof hideaway spigot. It is described as food safe: LFGB certified and FDA compliant (test report no. T32520370655SC) and PFAS- and BPA-free (Reliance Outdoors, Jumbo-Tainer 2.0). Reliance’s FAQ also says its water containers, including the Jumbo-Tainer, meet LFGB and FDA standards, are food-safe and BPA-free, should be stored out of prolonged direct sun, and must never be used for petrol or other chemicals (Reliance FAQs).

• Availability: US-only. This is the US lead rigid can. Linked on Amazon.com (ASIN B09NP5538N, manufacturer part 8630-03). Check availability on Amazon. We did not find a current Amazon.co.uk listing for this model. UK readers who want a similar volume can use one or two of the ITP 20 litre cans above (20 litres is a little under 26 litres; two cans give 40 litres).
• Who should skip it: UK shoppers (use the ITP can instead); anyone who cannot safely move a 26 kg can; anyone who needs containers that stack when full (Reliance says the Aqua-Tainer should only be stacked empty; the Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 page does not make a filled-stacking claim, so treat filled stacking as not stated).

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Stackable water bricks — WaterBrick standard 3.5 gallon container

Best for: tight US storage spaces where a low, interlocking stack is easier than tall jerry cans.

WaterBrick International’s official specifications for the standard container: 3.5 gallon capacity (about 13.2 litres); 9 × 18 × 6 inches (about 23 × 46 × 15 cm); empty weight 2.52 lb (about 1.14 kg); about 27 lb (about 12 kg) when filled with water. The container is HDPE; the lid, container and gasket are described as BPA-free and FDA-compliant for water and food. Not for fuels or oils. Wide, gasketed lid and a carry handle (WaterBrick, Product Specifications).

The Amazon.com link below is a 4-pack of the standard 3.5 gallon container (ASIN B0CKTMNJJS).

• Availability: US-only. Check availability on Amazon. No Amazon.co.uk listing found. Another US rigid option is the Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 above, which is the US lead rigid can. UK readers who want a stackable food-grade option should use the ITP 20 litre jerry can, which the manufacturer describes as interlocking and stackable.
• Who should skip it: UK shoppers wanting a local Amazon listing; anyone who dislikes wide-mouth containers (the wide lid is useful for cleaning, but it is not a narrow pour neck).

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

Bathtub bladder, short-notice volume

Best for: filling a large, short-term reserve in a bathtub when a storm or outage is forecast — not as your only, year-round store. Anyone without a bathtub, anyone who wants a reusable always-full store, or renters who cannot leave a filled tub in place should skip this type and use bottles or jerry cans instead.

A food-grade bathtub liner can hold a large short-term reserve, but it is a forecast-and-fill product, usually intended for one-time use, and it is not a substitute for a year-round store in bottles or jerry cans.

US lead pick — Godwolf 100 gallon bathtub bladder

This is the US lead pick for a short-notice bathtub reserve. It is linked on Amazon.com (ASIN B0DJXRK52Q). The Amazon listing states a capacity of up to 100 gallons (about 379 litres), food-grade LLDPE, BPA-free, a packed weight of about 1 lb (about 0.45 kg), an included manual pump, a fill time of less than 20 minutes, and that water can stay fresh for up to 8 weeks in the right conditions. Those figures are listing-stated, not taken from a separate manufacturer site, and we have not tested the product. Check availability on Amazon. We have not added an Amazon.co.uk link for this product; UK readers should use the waterBOB listing below, or bottled water and the ITP cans.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

waterBOB

The manufacturer’s product page states that the waterBOB holds up to 100 US gallons (about 379 litres) in a standard bathtub; that most standard tubs hold about 60–70 gallons (about 230–265 litres); that it should not be filled over the edge of the tub; that it is made of heavy-duty 10 mil food-grade LLDPE plastic intended to follow US FDA guidelines; that a fill sock and siphon pump are included; that filling typically takes about 20–30 minutes; and that water can stay fresh up to 16 weeks, depending on humidity and temperature, if kept out of direct sun. It is designed for one-time use and is recyclable (waterBOB product page).

• Availability: the same ASIN appears on both Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (B001AXLUX2). Check availability on Amazon.

Check current price on Amazon (paid link to Amazon)

UK lead pick — food-grade jerry cans and bottled water

For a short-notice reserve in the UK, add bottled water and one or more of the ITP 20 litre food-grade cans above, and fill them from a currently safe mains supply when an outage is forecast. That is a smaller reserve than a full bathtub, but it uses a container sold in the UK. Check availability of waterBOB on Amazon as well; the link is in the section above.

Large drums (55 US gallon / about 208 litres)

A food-grade barrel can store a two-week household supply in one place, but a full 55 US gallon drum of water weighs around 200 kg (about 460 lb). It belongs on a solid, ground-level floor, with a proper siphon or bung pump — not on a flat’s upper floor, and not as a first buy. We have not included a named drum because we did not verify a current manufacturer-backed listing on both stores for this article. If you pursue this route, buy a new food-grade HDPE drum, confirm food-grade status with the manufacturer (CDC advice), and never reuse a chemical drum.

Common mistakes

• Buying a huge container you cannot lift or store safely.
• Reusing milk or juice jugs, or old chemical bottles (Ready.gov; CDC).
• Assuming recycling code #2 automatically means “safe for long-term drinking water”.
• Leaving containers in a hot loft, in a sunny window, or next to petrol, paints or garden chemicals (CDC).
• Never rotating the water, or never writing the date on a self-filled can.
• Treating chemically contaminated or flood-tainted water as if boiling or bleach will fix it (CDC; EPA).
• Making powdered infant formula with untreated or unsuitable water when ready-to-feed formula would have been the safer plan (GOV.UK; NHS).
• Forgetting pets, or forgetting that toilets and hand-washing use water too — see Emergency sanitation when the water is off.

A simple checklist

• Work out a starting volume using the official figures above (and extra for pets, formula and medical devices).
• Start with sealed bottled water if you do nothing else.
• If you add reusable containers, confirm they are food-grade with the manufacturer.
• Wash, sanitise, fill, label “drinking water” and date them.
• Store cool, dark, and away from chemicals; do not overload shelves or upper floors.
• Set a six-month reminder to rotate self-filled water and check bottled dates.
• Keep unscented household bleach or (UK) a labelled purification method, plus a way to boil water, for if the stored supply runs out.
• If you are in the UK and eligible, join the Priority Services Register.
• Know how you will get information in an outage (water-company site, local radio).

This sits alongside a wider 72-hour emergency kit / grab bag. Renters and small homes may prefer the approach in apartment- and small-home preparedness.

FAQ

Is tap water all right to store, or do I have to buy bottles? Sealed commercial bottles are the option both US and UK authorities call safest and simplest. If you fill your own food-grade containers from a currently safe mains supply, US guidance still says to clean and sanitise the container first and to replace that water every six months. In an outage or boil-water notice, do not assume the tap is still safe — follow local instructions.

How long does stored water last? Follow the date on commercially bottled water. For water you have bottled yourself, the CDC and Ready.gov say to replace it every six months. A bathtub bladder is a short-term product: waterBOB’s manufacturer states freshness of up to 16 weeks in its liner, under stated conditions, and intends the bladder for one-time use. The Godwolf Amazon.com listing states freshness of up to 8 weeks.

Can I drink water from the toilet cistern or the water heater? Do not improvise from heating-system boilers or radiators (CDC). Some US emergency pages discuss water heaters as a possible source in specific conditions; only use a source your local authority has said is appropriate, and treat uncertain water first. A UK toilet cistern is not a recommended drinking source.

Do I need to add bleach when I first store mains water? Official US container advice is to sanitise the empty container with a weak bleach solution, then fill it with clean water. That is not the same as dosing the stored drinking water. If you later have to disinfect suspicious water, use the CDC, EPA or Ready.gov method linked above, or UK official / labelled-tablet instructions — not a guessed capful.

What about rainwater or a water butt? GOV.UK says not to drink water from a rain butt; it can be used for flushing or plants. Outdoor or floodwater may also contain chemicals that boiling will not remove. Use stored bottled or treated water for drinking.

How we researched this piece

On 10 November 2026 we compared current official guidance from Ready.gov (FEMA), the CDC, the US EPA, the American Red Cross, GOV.UK Be Ready / Prepare (including the water-outages page), the British Red Cross, the NHS, the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate, and the WHO. Product specifications were taken from manufacturer pages (Scepter, Reliance Outdoors, ITP Packaging, WaterBrick International, waterBOB) and, for the Godwolf bladder, from its Amazon.com listing. Listings were cross-checked on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. We have not tested these containers in person, and we have not invented capacities, materials or certifications. Prices are deliberately omitted; use “Check current price on Amazon”.

If a local authority’s advice differs from a general national page, follow the local advice.

Sources

1. CDC, How to Create an Emergency Water Supply — accessed 10 November 2026 (page dated 27 June 2025).
2. CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency — accessed 10 November 2026 (page dated 19 September 2024).
3. Ready.gov / FEMA, Water — accessed 10 November 2026 (page dated 22 February 2021).
4. Ready.gov, Preparing Your Own Containers of Water — accessed 10 November 2026 (page dated 18 September 2011).
5. Ready.gov, Prepare Your Pets for Disasters — accessed 10 November 2026 (page dated 20 March 2026).
6. US EPA, Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water — accessed 10 November 2026 (page dated 24 February 2026).
7. American Red Cross, Survival Kit Supplies — accessed 10 November 2026.
8. GOV.UK Be Ready, Be ready for emergencies — accessed 10 November 2026.
9. GOV.UK Prepare / Be Ready, Water supply interruptions or outages — accessed 10 November 2026.
10. British Red Cross, Prepare an emergency kit — accessed 10 November 2026.
11. UK Drinking Water Inspectorate, Receiving a Boil Water Notice — accessed 10 November 2026.
12. NHS, How to make up baby formula — accessed 10 November 2026 (page last reviewed 31 August 2023).
13. WHO, How much water is needed in emergencies (Technical Note 9) — accessed 10 November 2026.
14. Scepter, 5 Gallon / 20 Litre Water Can — accessed 10 November 2026.
15. Reliance Outdoors, Jumbo-Tainer 2.0 and FAQs — accessed 10 November 2026.
16. ITP Packaging, 20 Litre Plastic Jerry Can with T/E Cap — accessed 10 November 2026.
17. WaterBrick International, Product Specifications — accessed 10 November 2026.
18. waterBOB, Product page — accessed 10 November 2026.
19. Amazon.com listing, Godwolf Bathtub Drinking Water Bladder — accessed 10 November 2026 (listing-stated specs; no separate manufacturer page used).