How to Store Water at Home Before a Scheduled Outage
The notice arrives: the water supply will be interrupted. You start thinking about meals, showers, the children and the containers you have available.
Preparing ahead gives you time to organize your reserve and protect the water you will use for drinking.
Start by reading the full notice. Check which areas it covers, the expected hours and whether it includes any instructions about water quality.
Calculate a reserve for your household
As an emergency planning guideline, the CDC recommends storing at least one US gallon—approximately 3.8 liters—per person per day for three days. This covers drinking and some basic uses; it is not the same as normal household consumption for showers, laundry and cleaning.
You may need more because of heat, illness, pregnancy or other needs. Include what your pets will need too. Source: CDC
For example, for four people:
4 people × 3 days × 3.8 liters = approximately 46 liters.
This is a starting point for emergency planning. For a scheduled interruption, consider its duration and allow extra in case service takes longer than expected to return.
Keep drinking water separate from water for other uses
Organize your containers before filling them.
Containers for drinking, preparing food or brushing teeth must hold safe water. Label them clearly to avoid confusion.
If you store water for flushing toilets or other tasks, keep it separate and labeled. Having a bucket available does not make it suitable for storing drinking water.
A simple arrangement could be:
- Drinking water reserves in a clean, accessible space.
- Water for other uses in a separate place.
- A note showing the available quantity and storage date.
Choose suitable containers
Use containers suitable for storing drinking water, with secure lids and surfaces that are easy to clean. Never use containers that have held fuel, pesticides or other toxic products.
Before filling them, follow the cleaning and sanitizing instructions for water storage. The CDC provides a procedure that distinguishes these two steps. Source: CDC
Choose containers you can pour from without putting your hands or utensils inside. A very large container can also be difficult to move when full: consider who will need to handle it.
Fill with safe water and protect your reserve
Do not store water from a supply under a contamination advisory as though storing it would solve the problem.
If you are unsure whether the water is safe, follow official instructions and use a safe source. Sealed, commercially bottled water is one emergency reserve option. Source: CDC
Close the containers, label them with the date and keep them away from direct sunlight and chemicals. Avoid touching the inside or dipping drinking glasses in to remove water. Source: CDC
If you maintain a longer-term reserve, the CDC recommends replacing water you have stored yourself under suitable conditions every six months. For commercially bottled water, follow the date and instructions on the packaging. This interval does not apply to an open pitcher used every day. Source: CDC
When service returns
Check your provider's instructions before returning to normal use. Water flowing again does not necessarily mean a health advisory has ended.
If officials say to boil the water, keep doing so even if you have a household filter. If they issue a do-not-drink or do-not-use advisory, follow its scope and use an alternative source. Source: CDC
Also check your equipment's instructions for cleaning, restarting or replacing the cartridge after a water supply incident.
Create a system you can use again
Keep a list of your containers, their capacity and where you store them. Next time, you can prepare without calculating everything again.
At PFC, we want to help you care for your water every day. If you have questions about using your product again after an interruption, tell us which model you have and what notice your community received.
Free your water with PFC.
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