Keep at least a 3 day supply of water for each person, 1 gallon per person-per day (2 quarts for drinking and 2 quarts for cooking/sanitation)
This means for 1 person you will need at least 3 gallons of water, 2 people you will need at least 6 gallons of water, 3 people you will need at least 9 gallons of water). Infants on formula and others with special needs may require additional water each day.
How to Store Water:
Purchase store bought water or store your own tap water in thoroughly washed soft drink bottles. Seal containers tightly, label them and store in a cool, dark place. Rotate water every 6 months.
Hidden Water Sources in your Home:
As soon as you hear reports of broken water or sewage lines; shut off the main water line coming into your house to stop contaminated water from entering your pipes. If a disaster catches you without enough clean water, you can use the water in your hot-water heater or ice cubes. To use water in your hot-water heater be sure the electric or gas is shut off to the heating tank then open the drain valve and fill your container.
Two Ways to Treat Water:
Contaminated water can contain microorganisms that cause diseases. You should treat all water of uncertain purity before drinking it or using it for food preparation or hygine.
Boiling:
Boiling is the safest method of treating water. Bring water to a rolling boil for 3-5 minutes, keep in mind that some water will evaporate. Let water cool before drinking. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back into it by pouring the water back and forth between two clean containers. This will also improve the taste of stored water.
Disinfection:
You can use household liquid bleach to kill microorganisms. Use only regular household bleach that contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. Do Not use scented bleach, color safe bleach or bleach with added cleaners.
Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water, stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach odor, repeat the dosage and let stand another 15 minutes.