Water: quick reference card

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In this section (4)

How to store it
Disinfecting water with chlorine (EPA)
Boil
Hidden water and forbidden water

Water: quick reference card
How much	Per day	14 days
Each person	1 gal (3.8 L)	14 gal (53 L)
Each ~15 lb (7 kg) dog	~1.5 pints (0.7 L)	~2.6 gal (10 L)
Your household: people + pets	1 gal (3.8 L) per person + water for pets	14 gal (53 L) per person + pets
In extreme heat	up to double	28 gal (106 L)

How to store it

Food-grade jugs (HDPE, 5 gal). Never milk jugs, glass, or chemical containers.
Sanitize the jug: wash with soap; 1 tsp of unscented bleach in 1 quart (0.95 L) of water; shake, wait 30 sec, empty.
Water from your water utility (chlorinated): fill directly, without adding anything. Label "DRINKING WATER" + date.
Replace every 6 months (March and November). Commercial: by its date.
Cool (50–70 °F / 10–21 °C), dark, inside your home or apartment, on a pallet, away from chemicals.
Storm warning: fill the tub liner bag, pots, and collapsible water jugs.

Disinfecting water with chlorine (EPA)

Only regular unscented bleach. Clarify first. Stir and wait 30 min. It should smell slightly of chlorine; if not, repeat the dose and wait 15 min. Double the dose if the water is cloudy, colored, or very cold.

Disinfecting water with chlorine (EPA)
Water	Bleach at 6%	Bleach at 8.25%
1 quart or 1 liter	2 drops	2 drops
1 gallon (3.8 L)	8 drops	6 drops
2 gallons (7.6 L)	16 drops (¼ tsp)	12 drops (⅛ tsp)
4 gallons (15 L)	⅓ tsp	¼ tsp
8 gallons (30 L)	⅔ tsp	½ tsp

Boil

Rolling boil 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet / 1,981 m). Let it cool covered.
Boil-water notice from your water utility: rolling boil 2 minutes (or whatever the notice says), until the notice is lifted. Refrigerator and ice maker filters do not disinfect. Never use grills, camp stoves, or other open-flame devices inside the house.

Hidden water and forbidden water

Hidden water and forbidden water
Yes (treat it if in doubt)	Never for drinking
Water heater (30–80 gal), pipes, toilet tank (without tablets), ice, liquid from cans	Floodwater, water that smells like fuel or chemicals, undistilled seawater, pool or hot tub water, radiator water, toilet bowl water