How much water should you store for an emergency?

The short answer: the UK government’s Be Ready checklist advises keeping bottled water for 3 days, at 3 litres per person per day for drinking. That’s 9 litres per person. More is needed for cooking and washing.

How much water does your household need?

Drinking water only, at 3 litres per person per day:

Babies are different: Be Ready advises ready-to-feed formula, because you may not be able to boil water to make up powdered formula safely.

Don’t forget pets

Pets need water too. A common rule of thumb is around 50 ml per kilogram of body weight a day – so a 20 kg dog needs about a litre a day, and an average cat about a quarter of a litre. They’ll need more in warm weather or on dry food. Ask your vet if your pet has health conditions.

Storing water safely

• Shop-bought bottled water is the simplest option. Check the best-before date and rotate it into everyday use.
• If you fill your own containers, use clean, food-grade containers with a tight lid.
• Store water somewhere cool and dark, away from chemicals and fuel.
• Set a reminder every six months to check dates and swap bottles out.

Backups if your water runs out

• Purification tablets are light and cheap. Follow the pack instructions for how much water each tablet treats and how long to wait.
• A gravity or bottle filter is worth considering for longer plans. Check it’s rated to remove bacteria.
• Boiling water kills germs – but you may not be able to boil water in a power cut if you cook with electricity.

Always follow your water company’s instructions. If they issue a “boil water” or “do not drink” notice, do exactly what it says.