Emergency Water Kit: What Your Home Kit Needs (and How Much Water to Store)

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Most families have a flashlight in a drawer and some canned food in the pantry. Far fewer have a real emergency water kit, even though water is the one supply you can’t go without for long. Storms, boil-water notices, broken mains and long power outages can all cut off safe tap water with little warning.

This guide covers what a home emergency water kit should contain: how much water to store, which containers to use, how to treat water, and when a filter earns its place. If you want a deeper dive on storage alone, our guide to emergency water storage solutions goes further.

Why water deserves its own kit

Water is easy to forget because it always comes out of the tap. But a water kit is not just a stack of jugs. It is stored water, plus the tools to keep it clean, plus a plan for making more when the stored supply runs low.

Preparedness is in the news this fall. The U.K. government has urged families to keep food and water at home, and according to Pentagon documents reviewed by Fox News, major U.S. bases are being asked to plan to sustain essential operations, including water, for at least 90 days on their own. The Pentagon has not released the memo publicly, and Snopes rates the reporting “mostly true.” You don’t need to expect the worst to take the hint: a few days to two weeks of water at home is a sensible plan for any family.

How much water goes in an emergency water kit?

The CDC recommends storing at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day, for at least 3 days, and a 2-week supply if possible. That gallon covers drinking plus basic sanitation. Ready.gov notes that a normally active person needs about three quarters of a gallon of fluid a day, so the rest goes to cooking and hygiene.

• 1 person: 3 gallons for 3 days, 14 gallons for 2 weeks
• 2 people: 6 gallons for 3 days, 28 gallons for 2 weeks
• Family of 4: 12 gallons for 3 days, 56 gallons for 2 weeks

Store more if anyone in the house is pregnant or sick, if you have pets, or if you live in a hot climate (CDC). And if water does get tight, Ready.gov’s advice is clear: don’t ration drinking water unless officials tell you to. Drink what you need today and look for more tomorrow.

The 6 parts of a home emergency water kit

1. Stored drinking water

The CDC calls unopened, commercially bottled water the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency. Keep it sealed in its original packaging, in a cool, dark place, and use it before its expiration date. Cases of bottled water are also easy to rotate: drink the oldest case and buy a new one.

2. Food-grade storage containers

If you fill your own containers, the CDC recommends FDA-approved, food-grade water storage containers. Never use a container that once held toxic chemicals. Before filling:

1. Wash the container with soap and rinse it.
2. Sanitize it with 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart (4 cups) of water.
3. Cover, shake, wait at least 30 seconds, pour it out and let it air-dry.
4. Fill with tap water, label it “drinking water” with the date, and replace it every six months.

Store containers somewhere cool (the CDC says 50°F to 70°F), out of direct sunlight and away from gasoline, pesticides and other chemicals. For help choosing jugs, barrels and stackable bricks, see our roundup of the best water storage containers for emergencies.

3. Treatment supplies

Stored water can run out, and the water you find next may not be safe. Keep a small treatment pouch in your emergency water kit:

• Unscented household bleach labeled 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite, plus a dropper. The CDC says to add 8 drops per gallon of clear water, stir and wait at least 30 minutes. Double it for cloudy, colored or very cold water.
• A way to boil water. Boiling is the best way to kill germs, according to the CDC: a rolling boil for 1 minute, or 3 minutes above 6,500 feet.
• Clean cloths or coffee filters to strain cloudy water before you treat it.

One big limit to know: the CDC says water contaminated with fuel, toxic chemicals or radioactive material can’t be made safe by boiling or disinfecting. If you suspect that kind of contamination, use stored water and follow your health department’s advice.

4. A gravity water filter

A filter turns your emergency water kit from a fixed supply into a renewable one. A gravity filter is the most practical choice for a home, because it needs no power, no pump and no plumbing.

The Alexapure Pro Water Filtration System is a gravity-powered unit with 2.5-gallon chambers, built to work without electricity. Its filter is made in the USA, and the maker says it has been independently tested against 220+ contaminants across 12 categories, including heavy metals, pesticides, industrial chemicals and waterborne pathogens. The maker also notes that results are based on lab testing and vary with water quality, so follow its instructions and replace filters on schedule. Our Alexapure replacement filter guide covers that part.

5. A plan for water already in your house

Your home holds more emergency water than you might think. The CDC lists these clean sources inside the home:

• The tank of your tap water heater (the one feeding faucets and showers, never a radiator or boiler tank)
• Melted ice cubes made from uncontaminated water
• Toilet tank water (the tank, not the bowl) if it’s clear and has no cleaning chemicals in it
• Liquid from canned fruits and vegetables

Pool and hot tub water can be used for washing and cleaning, but not for drinking. Learn where your home’s main water shutoff valve is too. The CDC notes you may need to close it to keep contaminated water out of your pipes.

6. The small stuff that makes water usable

• A spigot or pump for large containers, so you’re not tipping a heavy jug
• Cups, a funnel and a measuring cup
• Moist towelettes and hand sanitizer, so drinking water isn’t spent on washing
• A permanent marker and labels for dates

Don’t forget the water your food needs

Freeze-dried and dehydrated emergency food stores for years, but it needs water to prepare. Count that water in your emergency water kit, or you’ll come up short.

For example, the 1-Week Food Supply Ammo Can provides 14,860 calories (2,000+ per day for one person for a week) and needs 2.96 gallons of water to prepare the entire supply. The larger 4-Week Emergency Food Supply feeds one person for four weeks or a family of four for one week, and needs 9.14 gallons to prepare everything. Add those gallons to the drinking water totals above.

Emergency water kit checklist

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day, 3 days minimum, 2 weeks if possible
• Extra water for pets, hot weather, illness and food prep
• Sealed bottled water or labeled, food-grade containers
• Unscented 5% to 9% bleach and a dropper
• A pot and heat source for boiling
• Cloths or coffee filters for pre-straining
• A gravity water filter and spare filter elements
• Spigot, cups, funnel, wipes and sanitizer
• A note of where your water heater and main shutoff valve are

Water is one part of a bigger plan. Our power outage emergency kit guide covers food, heat, light and power alongside it.

How much do you need? Use our free Emergency Food Calculator to see exactly how many calories and gallons of water your family needs, from 72 hours to a full year.

Frequently asked questions

How long does stored water last?

The CDC says to replace water you stored yourself every six months. Store-bought bottled water should be used before its expiration date. Mark the date on every container so rotation is easy.

Can I store water in milk jugs?

The CDC recommends FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers, cleaned and sanitized before use, and never anything that held toxic chemicals. Purpose-made water containers are the safer bet for a long-term emergency water kit.

Is a water filter enough on its own?

Not as your only water plan. A filter needs a water source, so you still want stored water for the first days. Treat the filter as the backup that keeps you going after the stored supply runs low, and keep bleach or a way to boil as a second backup.

How much water does a family of four need for two weeks?

At the CDC’s 1 gallon per person per day, that’s 56 gallons, plus extra for pets, hot weather and any emergency food that needs water to prepare.

The bottom line

A good emergency water kit has three layers: stored water for the first days, simple treatment supplies, and a filter that lets you make more. Start with 3 days for everyone in the house this week, then build toward two weeks. When the tap stops being an option, you’ll be glad you did it while the water was still running.

Sources: CDC: How to Create an Emergency Water Supply, CDC: How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency, CDC: How to Find Clean Water in an Emergency, Ready.gov (FEMA): Water, Fox News, Fortune, Snopes. Product details are from My Patriot Supply product pages as of October 27, 2026.