2.2 Water for two weeks
In this section (3)
The math
Ready.gov says to store at least 1 gallon (3.8 L) per person per day, for drinking and basic hygiene. It warns that more is needed in hot climates and that, in very high temperatures, the need can double. Children, nursing mothers, and sick people also need more.
For pets, a state preparedness guide (Rhode Island DEM) gives these daily consumption references: a 10 lb (4.5 kg) animal drinks about 1 pint (0.47 L); a 20 lb (9 kg) one, about 1 quart (0.95 L); a 50 lb (23 kg) one, about half a gallon (1.9 L). More heat and more activity mean more water.
| Who | Per day | 14 days (minimum) | 14 days in extreme heat (x2) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Each person | 1 gal (3.8 L) | 14 gal (53 L) | 28 gal (106 L) |
| Each dog of ~15 lb (7 kg) (~1.5 pints / 0.7 L); adjust for your pets' weight | ~0.2 gal (0.75 L) | ~2.6 gal (10 L) | ~5.25 gal (20 L) |
| Total: each person + your pets | 1 gal (3.8 L) per person + pets | 14 gal (53 L) per person + pets | 28 gal (106 L) per person + pets |
Realistic goal for an apartment: store the base 14 gallons (53 L) per person, plus water for your pets, and have a plan ready to get more as soon as there is a warning (fill the bathtub using a bathtub liner bag, empty collapsible water jugs, the water in the water heater; see chapter 3). A gallon of water weighs about 8.3 lb (3.8 kg), so 14 gallons per person is about 117 lb (53 kg): spread the containers across several places and, if you live on an upper floor, keep the weight in mind.
What 14 gallons (53 L) per person looks like
Which containers to use in an apartment
| Option | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed commercial bottled water | The easiest; no need to treat it; Ready.gov says to keep it in its original unopened container | Takes up more space per gallon; thin plastic; check the date |
| Food-grade 5–7 gal water jugs or drums | Lots of volume for the space; reusable | Heavy; they must be washed and filled, and the water changed every 6 months |
| Stackable "brick"-style containers (3–3.5 gal) | Fit under beds and on shelves; they stack | More expensive per gallon |
| Collapsible water jugs | Take up almost no space when empty | Only useful if you fill them before the water fails |
| Bathtub liner bag | Holds dozens of gallons in the tub when there is a warning | Only a last-minute reserve; not permanent storage |
- Use only food-grade containers. Never milk or juice jugs (they break down and are hard to clean) or containers that held chemicals.
- Store water in a cool, dark place, away from gasoline, pesticides, and cleaning products.
- Water you bottle yourself gets replaced every 6 months (Ready.gov). For cleaning and sanitizing containers and for making water safe to drink, see chapter 3.
