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Emergency water storage calculator
How much water should you keep for an emergency? Enter your household and how many days you want to cover.
The rule: one gallon per person per day
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency's Ready.gov advises storing at least one gallon (3.8 litres) of water per person per day, for several days, for drinking and basic hygiene. A normally active person needs about three-quarters of a gallon of fluid a day; the rest is for washing and cooking. Children, nursing mothers and people who are ill may need more, and in very hot weather needs can double.
Storing it
- Commercially bottled water is the safest choice; keep it in its original sealed containers and note the use-by date.
- Water you bottle yourself should go in clean, food-grade containers and be replaced every six months.
- Keep it somewhere cool and dark, away from fuel and chemicals.
- Do not forget pets: they need water too.
If your stored water runs out, see how to make water safe with household bleach or by boiling.
For planning and general information. In an emergency, follow the instructions of your local authorities and call your emergency number (911, 112, 999 or 000).
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Source: Ready.gov, Water (US Federal Emergency Management Agency).