Last updated November 1, 2026 by the BasicSurvivalKit.com team
Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day: 3 gallons each for 72 hours and about 14 gallons each for two weeks. Use food grade containers, replace self stored water about every 6 months, and keep a water filter and purification tablets to make more water safe.
You can live weeks without food but only days without water. That makes water the first thing to prepare.
1. How much water you need
Ready.gov recommends 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation. That works out to:
- 3 gallons per person for a 72 hour kit
- About 14 gallons per person for a two week home supply
- More in hot weather, for nursing mothers, and for people who are ill
Remember pets too. A medium dog needs roughly as much water as a small child.
2. The best ways to store water
- Small kits: sealed water pouches last for years
- Homes and apartments: 7 gallon containers or stackable WaterBricks
- Houses with space: a 55 gallon barrel kit or a large water tank
- When a storm is coming: fill a bathtub water bag
Use only food grade containers, store them out of sunlight, and keep them off bare concrete.
3. How long stored water lasts
Commercially bottled water is good until its printed date. Water you store yourself should be replaced about every six months, or treated with a water preserver for longer storage.
4. How to make more water safe
Stored water runs out, so have a way to treat new water:
- A Sawyer Squeeze or LifeStraw for go bags
- A gravity water filter for the home
- Purification tablets as a light backup
- Boiling, which works when you have fuel and a stove
Follow the directions for any filter or tablet. If water may contain chemicals, filters may not make it safe; use your stored water instead.
Shop all water storage and filters.
Common questions
How much water should a family of four store?
At 1 gallon per person per day, a family of four needs 12 gallons for 3 days and 56 gallons for two weeks.
Can I store water in milk jugs?
Milk jugs are not recommended. They are hard to clean fully and break down over time. Use food grade water containers or bottled water.
This guide shares general preparedness information based on public guidance from Ready.gov, the American Red Cross and the CDC. It is not professional advice. Always follow local officials during an emergency.