Water Preparedness For Tough Times

When discussing emergency preparedness, there is quite a bit of talk surrounding emergency food supplies and storage, but what about water preparedness?

Food is a necessity; we all know that. Who likes to even go a half day without food? Not me! But if we had to, we could survive days, and even weeks, without food.

That's not true with water, though. It's hard to go a few hours without water, especially when you know you don’t have any. The thought of not having accessible drinking water is really hard to fathom.

Our Family Experienced a Water Disruption

We experienced a local temporary disruption recently when a main water pipe burst, leaving everyone in our neighborhood without running water for a few hours.

It was an eye-opening experience, seeing the many ways we use water but suddenly couldn't. After that experience, I’d much rather lose my electricity for a day than my water!

What about storms and other disruptions?

What if bottled water sells out, or the power is out and an electric filter won’t run? How do you prepare?

Emergency Preparedness – Water

No matter where you live, short water disruptions can happen.

I happen to live in the South, where tornado warnings are common some months of the year.

How would I provide drinking water for my family if we lost power or had to stay with relatives for a night?

Would I really enjoy standing in a long line for a few bottled waters? I think not.

Maybe you live in an area with earthquakes, hurricanes, or winter storms. Are you prepared?

I’ve thought a long time about emergency water storage. In the past, we’ve filled several two-liter bottles with tap water just in case. In a real disruption, that would not last long if you also need water for cooking and washing hands.

Top 5 Ways to Prepare Your Water Supply for Emergencies:

1. Store Drinking Water in Advance – Use clean, food-grade containers like two-liter bottles or water bricks. Fill them with municipally treated tap water.

2. Invest in a Gravity Water Filter – Choose one that reduces chlorine, PFAS, and heavy metals and does not need electricity.

3. Keep Water Barrels for Longer Storage – Useful for storing larger amounts of tap water in a garage or shed if you have space.

4. Know Official Emergency Guidance – Follow current public-health or utility instructions if your city issues a water notice.

5. Use Storage Aids as Directed – Products like BioFilm Drops are used by some families when storing water. Follow the label.

My Solutions – Water for an Emergency Kit

This has been a tough subject only because it is easy to assume the faucet will always work.

It’s smarter to be ready for a short outage than to scramble later. You don’t have to live in fear.

My first solution is having portable gravity filters on hand.

A gravity filter is useful because it is not dependent on electricity.

If your only filter is tied to household plumbing, it may not help during a power outage.

A portable system is also useful if you stay with family or in a hotel and still have access to tap water.

I have a larger system and a small one. They are easy to transport.

Look for a quality filter tested to reduce common tap-water contaminants described in EPA drinking water regulations.

Water for Emergencies: Option #2

My second solution is a water barrel in the garage, filled with municipally treated tap water.

There are several types of water barrels, and some people prefer more than one if they have the space.

Learn the basics of how to store drinking water before you go this route.

Final Thoughts on Water Preparedness

I don’t claim to know everything about emergency preparedness. I just want a simple plan that helps my family during an outage.

What about you? Leave a comment with your water-preparedness setup. Do you keep stored tap water and a gravity filter ready?