The baseline
Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation.
That's from Ready.gov, which also notes that children, nursing mothers and sick people may need more, and that in very hot temperatures water needs can double. Ready.gov suggests storing commercially bottled water in its sealed original container in a cool, dark place, and replacing water that wasn't commercially bottled every six months.
| People | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 gal | 7 gal | 14 gal | 30 gal |
| 2 | 6 gal | 14 gal | 28 gal | 60 gal |
| 3 | 9 gal | 21 gal | 42 gal | 90 gal |
| 4 | 12 gal | 28 gal | 56 gal | 120 gal |
| 5 | 15 gal | 35 gal | 70 gal | 150 gal |
| 6 | 18 gal | 42 gal | 84 gal | 180 gal |
Run the Kit Calculator Water storage & filters
A filter is a backup, not a replacement for stored water. The Water Index ranks filters by cost per rated gallon.