Water Storage

Do I need to put chlorine in the water before I store it?

If the water source is not chlorinated, household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) should be added. Regular, unscented bleach is best but brand does not matter. No bleach needs to be added if you are storing chlorinated water from a public water supply. If you don’t know if your tap water has been chlorinated, you can call your water provider or test your tap water with a spa kit.

How much chlorine do I need to use? What kind?

Add 1 teaspoon (16 drops) of bleach per gallon of water if the water is cloudy and ½ teaspoon (8 drops) if the water is clear.

How long will it keep?

Commercially packaged water can be stored for about 5 years, home filled stored water should be changed annually. Stored water will go flat but can be aerated prior to consumption by pouring it between two containers a few times.

What kind of container can I use?

Storage containers should be airtight, resistant to breakage, and heavy enough to hold water which weights 8.6 pounds per gallon. They should have a lining that will not rust or affect the flavor. See the list of common containers below.

How much do I need?

Water is more essential than food in sustaining life. While the average person can survive weeks without food, most people will die within days without water. It is wise to have an emergency storage or treatment method for at least two weeks worth of water. Two gallons per person per day should provide enough for sanitary and hydration needs in an emergency.

How do I store it?

Stored water must be pure, treated to prevent microbial growth, and stored in food-grade containers. Stored water should be protected against light and heat to prevent algae growth. Water should also be stored in areas that will not cause damage to the home if leakage were to occur.

How long do I need to boil contaminated water?

Boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes will kill pathogens. The higher the elevation the longer (as much as 12 minutes) you should boil the water. Note that boiling will change the taste of the water and care should be taken to ensure the water temperature is reduced to consumable levels.

Storage Containers

Container Description / Pros Cautions / Cons

Plastic Juice or Soda Bottles

Use clear plastic containers with a PETE recycle code on the bottom. Used containers should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed. They are inexpensive and readily available. Do not use milk bottles.

Used containers often taint the flavor of the water. Storage area needs to consider bottle shape and size. These containers need to be protected against light and leakage as they are typically thinner plastic.

Heavy Plastic Buckets or Drums

These should be food grade and also either stamped with a PETE or HDPE recycle code. Can be purchased new at emergency supply stores and sometimes used ones are available (such as from soda syrup).

More expensive than used bottles. Larger drums are heavy when filled and often bulky for storage. You also need to consider how you will get the water out for use and rotation.

Commercially Packaged Water

You can purchase water that has been commercially bottled. This water will keep for up to five years. You can also get five-gallon containers (typically in boxes or bags) at emergency supply stores.

These are convenient, clean, you can pick the taste you prefer, and they are sealed for longer storage. They will be more expensive per gallon than storing your own and they are not reusable.

Water Heaters

You may close the inlet valve immediately after the water supply is disrupted and use the water in your water heater.

This will not protect against contamination of the water supply but would be a good source of water for non-potable needs.

Water Beds

A double water bed holds about 2000 gallons of water. This water contains an algaecide. Do NOT drink it.

Not usable for potable water but may be used for sanitation needs.

Bleach Bottles

These are made from good plastic for storage but are not considered "food-grade".

Since it is hard to determine whether you have cleaned out all of the bleach these are technically not suitable for potable water but may be used for sanitation needs.