Common gaps
- A well pump has no power, so the taps run dry.
- A storm or main break puts the public supply under a boil water advisory.
- Water is fine, but you only stored a day’s worth.
How much to store
Ready.gov’s kit guidance is one gallon per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. Add water for pets, and plan on more in hot weather or for anyone with medical needs.
Quick math: people × days × 1 gallon
Four people for three days is 12 gallons. Several days means more.
Layers
| Layer | What it is | Good for |
|---|
| 1. Stored drinking water | Sealed bottles or food-grade containers. Replace water you bottled yourself every six months | The first days |
| 2. Water you can treat | Boiling, or a filter or tablets that match the threat | Longer outages |
| 3. A way to carry and store it | Clean containers with tight lids | Moving water from a source |
Making water safe
CDC lists boiling first: bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet, let it cool, and store it in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers. Boiling does not remove chemicals, so follow your local authorities if the problem is contamination and not germs.
CDC also notes that most portable water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses. Choose one labeled to remove parasites, follow its instructions, and then add a chemical disinfectant to the filtered water, as CDC advises. For disinfecting with bleach, use CDC’s published steps and amounts, not a rule of thumb.
What to buy
Start with containers, not gadgets.
| Item | What to look for |
|---|
| Water containers | Food-grade plastic, tight lids, a size you can lift when full |
| A filter or purifier | What it says it removes (bacteria, viruses, parasites), flow rate, how often parts need replacing |
| A pot or camp stove for boiling | Fuel that is safe to use where you plan to use it (never indoors for gas stoves that give off carbon monoxide) |
Water picks
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Igloo 6 Gallon Water Container
A rugged, BPA-free container for stored drinking water.
Does well
- Holds 6 gallons, enough for about a day and a half of drinking water for a household of four at one gallon per person per day.
- BPA-free plastic with a heavy-wall build and a molded-in handle.
- The flexible spout stores inside the container, which keeps it clean.
- Made in the USA. About 14 by 8 by 21 inches.
Keep in mind
- A full container weighs about 52 pounds, so it is hard to carry up stairs.
- It has a spout, not a tap, and the top opening is small, which makes it harder to clean.
- It is not insulated. Store water in a cool, dark place and follow the CDC and Ready.gov guidance on replacing stored water.
Good for: A house with a garage or pantry floor. For an apartment, use smaller containers.
See it on Amazon
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filtration System
A small hollow-fiber filter that removes bacteria, protozoa and microplastics from clear water, and screws onto the included pouches or a standard 28 mm bottle.
Does well
- A 0.1 micron absolute hollow-fiber membrane.
- Sawyer states it removes 99.99999% of bacteria (including salmonella, cholera, leptospirosis and E. coli), 99.9999% of protozoa (including giardia and cryptosporidium) and 100% of microplastics, citing Hydreion, LLC, Microbiological Report S05-03.
- The filter itself weighs about 3 ounces and fits standard 28 mm bottle threads.
- The kit includes two reusable BPA-free collapsible pouches, a cleaning plunger and coupling, gravity tubing, inline hydration-pack adapters and a mesh bag.
Keep in mind
- Sawyer's own FAQ says it does not remove viruses, dissolved chemicals, heavy metals or salt.
- A filter alone does not make water safe when viruses may be present. After filtering, add a chemical disinfectant, as CDC advises.
Good for: Treating water after stored bottles run out, when you also add a chemical disinfectant, as CDC advises.
See it on Amazon
Potable Aqua with PA Plus
Tablets that disinfect water when you cannot boil it, with a second tablet that removes the iodine taste.
Does well
- Iodine-based tablets: two treat one quart or liter of water, and one 50-tablet bottle treats about 25 quarts, a little over 6 gallons.
- The EPA-registered label says it makes most water bacteriologically suitable to drink when used as directed.
- PA Plus neutralizing tablets remove the iodine taste and color.
- Unopened bottles are rated for about 4 years. Light and compact, about 3 ounces.
Keep in mind
- It does not work against Cryptosporidium. Boiling or a filter does.
- It takes time: wait at least 30 minutes after the iodine tablets, then add the neutralizer and wait 3 more minutes.
- Iodine is for short-term or emergency use. CDC lists people who should avoid iodine-treated water, so check before you use it.
- An opened bottle should not be kept more than a year, and 50 tablets treats a limited amount of water.
Good for: A backup to boiling and filtering.
See it on Amazon
A filter alone does not make water safe when viruses or chemicals may be present. After you filter, add a chemical disinfectant, as CDC advises, and follow the tablet or bleach directions. See every pick on the gear page.
Keep going
Sources: Ready.gov, Build a Kit; CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency; CDC, Boil water advisory; Ready.gov, Water (six-month replacement for water you bottle yourself).
