Water Storage Guide: How Much & How Long It Keeps
Rule of thumb: 4 liters of water per person per day – half drinking, half cooking/hygiene. A 10-day supply for a family of four is 160 liters. Heat, illness, nursing mothers and pets increase demand.
Containers that work
Food-grade HDPE canisters (10–20 L, stackable, with tap), glass jars for small quantities, water tanks (60–250 L) for garages/basements. Do NOT use milk jugs (brittle, not food-grade) or open barrels. Fill directly from the cold tap, not via old filters or softeners.
Shelf life
Untreated tap water in clean, sealed, dark containers: 6 months, then rotate. Boiled (3 min rolling boil) or with 2 drops of unscented household bleach (5.25 %) per liter: up to 12 months. Commercially bottled water: until the printed date.
Placement
Split across at least two locations (kitchen + basement/garage) – a single event should not wipe out everything. Never store directly on concrete or in sunlight. Keep a manual siphon for large tanks.
When it runs low
Backup sources: water heater tank (30–200 L – drain via the bottom valve, cut gas/power first), toilet cistern (not the bowl), rainwater (filter/boil before use). A gravity water filter turns any of these into drinking water.
Recommended gear
Nutrition & Supplements for the long run
Stockpiled food covers calories, but not always micronutrients: vitamin D in winter, B12 on a shelf-stable diet, magnesium under stress. Our partner platform SuperHealth.expert covers evidence-based supplements and long-term nutrition for exactly these gaps.