College of Agricultural Sciences ● Cooperative Extension

How to Store Water for

Drinking or Cooking

S Method B
toring water for an emergency is
○

○
○

○
simple, especially when the water How can I store
○

○
If your current water source is contami-
○

○
is not contaminated. Here are
drinking water?
○

○
some guidelines for storing water. nated or you do not wish to prepare your
○

○
○

○
own water for storage, purchase bottled
Select the option that best suits your
○

○
water from a store. Bottled water is
○

○
family.
○

○
How much water available in local discount stores or
○

○
grocery stores. Many local stores have
○

○
should I store? Method A
○

○
bottled water in one-gallon containers.
○

○
○

○
If your water comes from a public water This water costs about as much as a large
Standard emergency guidelines suggest
○

○
supplier or is disinfected, you can store it container of carbonated beverage or less.
○

○
that you store one gallon of water per day
○

○
in clean soda bottles or milk jugs with
○

○
for each person in your household for a
For Contaminated Water Only:
○

○
three-day to two-week period. Generally, screw-on tops. Follow the directions
○

○
below.
○

○
a normally active person needs to drink at
Water from a contaminated source must
○

least two quarts (1/2 gallon) of water each

○

1. Thoroughly wash plastic soda bottles be disinfected or purified before use. Two
○

day.
○

or milk jugs with warm, soapy water. methods of purifying water are discussed
○

Use containers with screw-on tops. below. If the contaminated water contains
○

Keep in mind that you must consider your

○

family members’ needs and habits. You Sanitize the container by putting one visible particles, let the particles settle to
○

○
○

will have to decide the actual amount of teaspoon of household liquid bleach the bottom first, then strain the water
○

(5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite) in through clean cloths or layers of paper

○

water you store for an emergency. Your

○

storage space and individual situation may one gallon of water. Pour this solution towels before disinfecting. The water
○

in the container and leave it there for cannot be disinfected unless particles are
○

be such that you should store less or more

○

two minutes. Pour the sanitizing removed by filtration first.

○

than the guidelines recommend. Remem-

○

ber, you might adjust your normal habits solution from the container. Rinse the
○

container with potable (suitable for Boiling Method

○

to get through the emergency period.

Boiling is a good way to purify water.
○

drinking) water.
○

Bring the water to a rolling boil for 1 to 3

○

Water Storage Guidelines

○

2. Fill bottles or jugs directly from the minutes. After the water has cooled, fill
○

faucet. Cap tightly and label each clean containers as outlined in Method A.
○

1 gallon per person per day

○

container with the words “Drinking (Boiled water will taste better if you put
○

○
○

3-day supply x 1 person = 3 gallons Water” and the date stored. oxygen back in it before drinking. To
○

restore the oxygen, pour the water back

○

○
○

14 days (2-week supply) x 1 person = 3. Store sealed containers in a dark, dry, and forth between two clean containers
○

14 gallons and cool place.

○

several times.)
○

○
○

(number of days of water needed) x 4. If after six months you have not used Liquid Bleach Method
○

○
○

(number of persons in your home) = the stored water, empty it from the Regular household liquid bleach contains
○

containers and repeat steps 1 through 3

○

gallons to store a compound (5.25 percent sodium

○

above. hypochlorite) that will disinfect water. Do

○

○
○

not use bleaches that are scented, color-

○

○
○

safe, or have added cleaners.

○

○
○

○
○

○
Use regular liquid bleach containing 5.25 Prepared by Cathy Faulcon Bowen,

○
○

○
percent hypochlorite. Add 16 drops assistant professor and extension special-

○
○

○
(about 1/4 teaspoon) per gallon of water. ist, consumer issues programs, Depart-

○
ment of Agricultural and Extension

○
The treated water should be mixed

○
Education, and William Sharpe, professor

○
thoroughly and allowed to stand for 30

○
of forest hydrology, School of Forest

○
minutes before use. The water should Resources and the Environmental

○
have a slight bleach odor. If it does not,

○
Resources Research Institute.

○
repeat the dosage and let the water stand

○
○
for an additional 15 minutes before use.

○
Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences research,

○
Fill clean containers and store as described extension, and resident education programs are

○
○

○
in Method A. funded in part by Pennsylvania counties, the

○
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the U.S.

○
○
Department of Agriculture.

○
The guidelines listed in this publication
○

○
are the simplest options available in most
○

○
This publication is available from the Publications
○

○
communities.
○

○
Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State
○

○
University, 112 Agricultural Administration
○

○
The following references were used to
○

Building, University Park, PA 16802. For

○
○

prepare this publication:

○
information telephone (814) 865-6713.
○

○
○

○
Food and Water in an Emergency. ARC
○

Where trade names appear, no discrimination is

○
○

○
#5055, FEMA #L210. A joint brochure of intended, and no endorsement by Penn State
○

○
○

the American Red Cross and Federal Cooperative Extension is implied.

○
○

○
Emergency Management Agency.
○

○
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension
○

○
○

Work, Acts of Congress May 8 and June 30, 1914,

○
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
○

○
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
○

○
Office of Water Web site: Agriculture and the Pennsylvania Legislature. T. R.
○

○
○

http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw/faq/

○
Alter, Director of Cooperative Extension, The
○

○
emerg.html Pennsylvania State University.
○

○
○

○
○

This publication is available in alternative

○

Clorox Web site: http://www.clorox.com

○

media on request.
○

○
○

○
○

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to

○

○
○

the policy that all persons shall have equal access to

○
○

programs, facilities, admission, and employment

○

without regard to personal characteristics not related

○

○
○

to ability, performance, or qualifications as

○
○

determined by University policy or by state or

○

○
○

federal authorities. The Pennsylvania State

○
○

University does not discriminate against any person

○

because of age, ancestry, color, disability or

○

○
○

handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex,

○
○

sexual orientation, or veteran status. Direct all

○

inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to

○

○
○

the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania

○

State University, 201 Willard Building, University

○

○
○

Park PA 16802-2801; Tel. (814) 865-4700/V; (814)

○
○

863-1150/TTY.
○

○
○

○
○

© The Pennsylvania State University 1999

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

5M899ps29143
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○

○
○