How to store emergency water in an apartment or small home

Space is the constraint, not just the number of gallons. Build a realistic, safe supply in stages instead of putting heavy containers on an unsuitable shelf or treating every household tap as a guaranteed emergency source.

Start with three days; extend when you can

CDC recommends at least one gallon per person per day for three days; try for fourteen days when possible. The baseline for two people is six gallons for three days or twenty-eight gallons for fourteen days, before extra needs. Use the free water calculator to size your household.

Choose the container and location

1. Prefer unopened, commercially bottled water or clean, food-grade containers intended for water.
2. Use small containers where a heavy, full tank would be hard to lift or place safely. Check the weight and total load with your landlord, building manager or qualified professional if unsure.
3. Choose cool, shaded storage away from sunlight, solvents, pesticides and fuels. Keep lids sealed.
4. Label filled containers and their fill dates. Replace water you fill yourself every six months; follow package expiration dates for commercially bottled water.

What not to count as drinking water

Unverified rainwater, water from a decorative pond, floodwater or any supply suspected of fuel/chemical contamination is not automatically safe. Boiling and routine household disinfection do not remove fuel or toxic chemicals. Use a safe alternative and follow official advisories.

Quick space-conscious checklist

Choose two or more safe accessible locations; measure the footprint and weight; keep emergency water separate from cleaning chemicals; record rotation dates; and plan for carrying the water if evacuation becomes necessary. Keep an accessible supply, not all of it in a remote or difficult-to-reach place.

CDC emergency water storage guidance · CDC emergency water safety guidance