Water storage
Best Emergency Water Storage Containers
Storing water is the cheapest insurance in any prep plan, and the only real questions are how much to keep and what to keep it in. FEMA puts the floor at 1 gallon per person per day, with two weeks recommended. Below are the containers that earn their space, from stackable bricks to a 55-gallon barrel, plus the rotation and treatment habits that keep that water drinkable.
Quick picks
Short on time? Start here
WaterBrick 8-Pack
Stackable 3.5-gallon bricks for tight spaces and grab-and-go.
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gal
Built-in spigot, ideal size, the default jug for most people.
Augason 55-Gallon Kit
Most water per dollar, with pump and treatment included.
At a glance
How the containers compare
| Container | Best for | Capacity | Spigot |
|---|---|---|---|
| WaterBrick 8-Pack | Modular storage | 3.5 gal each | Sold separately |
| Reliance Aqua-Tainer | Everyday balance | 7 gal | Built-in |
| Scepter Military Can | Rugged outdoor use | 5 gal | Spout cap |
| Augason Farms Kit | Bulk home storage | 55 gal | Hand pump |
| WaterBOB | Last-minute prep | Up to 100 gal | Siphon pump |
The picks in detail
Our top water storage containers
WaterBrick 3.5 Gallon Stackable Water Storage Containers 8-Pack
Capacity: 3.5 gal eachMaterial: Food-grade HDPE, BPA-freeBest for: Tight spaces, grab-and-go
WaterBricks are the answer when you do not have a corner for a 55-gallon barrel. Each one holds 3.5 gallons, cross-stacks like real bricks, and stays light enough to carry full at around 29 pounds. You buy a few at a time and grow the reserve as your budget allows, and the same containers double as dry food storage. For an apartment, a closet, or a vehicle you want to load and go, this is the most flexible way to store water.
What we like
- Interlocking design stacks high in small spaces
- Light enough to carry each one full
- Modular: add capacity over time
Worth knowing
- Spigot is usually sold separately
- More caps to fill than a single barrel
Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Water Container
Capacity: 7 galSpigot: Built-in, reversibleBest for: Most home and camp setups
The Aqua-Tainer is the jug most people should buy first. It has a hide-away spigot built in, a screw-on vent cap so it pours without glugging, and it stacks when empty. Seven gallons is a sweet spot: enough to matter for a few days, small enough that the container itself is cheap and easy to find anywhere. The one honest caveat is weight, since a full one runs about 58 pounds, so fill it where you plan to store it.
What we like
- Integrated spigot, no extra purchase
- Great size and price balance
- Widely available and trusted
Worth knowing
- About 58 pounds full, heavy to move
- Spigot can seep if cross-threaded
Scepter 5 Gallon Military Water Container
Capacity: 5 gal / 20 LBuild: Military-spec HDPEBest for: Overlanding, truck, 4x4
If your water cans live in a truck bed or get tossed around at a base camp, the Scepter is the one built to take it. It uses the same rugged military-spec design that survives drops and vehicle transport, where a thinner home jug would crack. It stacks, it is BPA-free, and it simply does not care how rough you are with it. The trade-off is that it has no built-in spigot, so plan on a separate cap or spout for pouring.
What we like
- Toughest container here, abuse-proof
- Trusted mil-spec design, stackable
- BPA-free 20 L capacity
Worth knowing
- No built-in spigot, needs a spout cap
- Heavier-duty build costs more
Augason Farms 55-Gallon Water Storage Kit
Capacity: 55 galIncludes: Hand pump, hose, treatmentBest for: Cabins and homes with floor space
When you have the floor space, a 55-gallon barrel stores the most water per dollar and per square foot of any option here. This kit is the easy way in because it bundles the siphon hand pump, the hose, and the water-treatment drops you actually need to fill and dispense it. Set it once and forget it. The catch is obvious in the math: full it weighs roughly 458 pounds, so it is not portable, and you fill it in place on a level base raised off bare concrete.
What we like
- Most water per dollar and per footprint
- Complete kit with pump and treatment
- Long-term, set-and-forget reserve
Worth knowing
- Not portable once filled (about 458 lb)
- Needs a sturdy, level base off concrete
WaterBOB Bathtub Emergency Water Storage
Capacity: Up to 100 galUse: Fills a standard bathtubBest for: Hurricane and boil-notice prep
The WaterBOB solves a different problem: you need a lot of water right now, and the supply might be cut soon. It is a food-grade liner that fills a standard bathtub with up to 100 gallons in about 20 to 30 minutes, with a siphon pump to draw it back out. Covered and sealed, that water stays clean far longer than an open tub would. The one rule is that it only works if you fill it before the water goes out, so it lives in the closet until a storm is forecast.
What we like
- 100 gallons with zero permanent storage space
- Keeps tub water clean and covered
- Cheap insurance for forecast events
Worth knowing
- Only useful if filled before supply is cut
- Ties up a bathtub during the event
Aquamira Water Treatment Drops
Type: Chlorine dioxide, two-partTreats: About 30 gal per kitBest for: Treat on fill or on use
Storage is only half the job; the other half is keeping that water drinkable. Aquamira is EPA-registered chlorine dioxide that kills bacteria, viruses, and the cysts (Giardia and Crypto) that a basic filter can miss. Use it to treat water as you fill long-term containers, or to make a questionable source safe later. It has a long shelf life and rounds out any storage plan. The only quirks are the required contact time and the two-part mix.
What we like
- Kills viruses, unlike a basic filter
- Long shelf life for the kit
- Works on fill or on use
Worth knowing
- Contact and wait time required
- Two-part mixing, slight taste
How to buy and store emergency water
Start with the number, because it drives everything else. FEMA and Ready.gov say to plan for at least 1 gallon per person per day, with a 3-day minimum and two weeks preferred. Split that roughly in half for drinking and for cooking and hygiene, and do not forget pets. Run the math for your own household before you buy a single container: a family of four planning two weeks needs around 56 gallons, and seeing that figure usually changes how you shop.
Next, match the container to where it will live and how you will use it. Almost nobody should buy just one kind. The smart approach is a layered reserve: a bulk 55-gallon barrel for the bulk of your water if you have the floor space, several stackable jugs or WaterBricks you can actually pick up and carry if you have to move, and a bathtub bladder you fill only when a storm is forecast. A barrel is unbeatable on cost per gallon but useless if you need to evacuate, so portability and bulk solve different problems.
Insist on food-grade, BPA-free containers, and never improvise with old milk or juice jugs. Those jugs biodegrade, split at the seams, and hold onto sugars that feed bacteria no matter how hard you scrub. The containers here are all rated for potable water, which is the whole point. Where a container has no built-in spigot, like the Scepter can, factor in a separate spout or pump so you can actually dispense the water without contaminating it.
Finally, treat storage as an ongoing habit, not a one-time purchase. Tap water in clean food-grade containers is good for about 6 to 12 months, so put a date on every container and rotate every six months, or treat it for longer holds. Keep everything cool, dark, and off bare concrete, and away from fuel and pesticides whose vapors creep through plastic. Water you stored and forgot for three years is not automatically safe, so plan to rotate it or treat it before you ever rely on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much emergency water should I store?
FEMA and Ready.gov recommend at least 1 gallon per person per day, with a 3-day minimum and a 2-week supply preferred. About half of that is for drinking and half for cooking and hygiene. The math is easy to run for your household: a family of four planning for two weeks needs roughly 56 gallons, which is why most people end up mixing portable jugs with one bulk barrel.
How long does stored tap water stay safe?
Tap water in clean, food-grade, BPA-free containers stays safe about 6 to 12 months. Rotate it every 6 months, or add a water preserver or chlorine-dioxide treatment, or 1/8 teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon for longer storage. Commercially sealed bottled water generally lasts 1 to 2 years. When in doubt, treat or boil before drinking.
Where and how should I store water containers?
Keep them cool, dark, and off bare concrete, since concrete can pull temperature and flavor into the plastic over time; set them on plywood or a pallet instead. Store them well away from gasoline, pesticides, and solvents, because those vapors can permeate plastic and contaminate the water even through a sealed lid. A closet, basement corner, or shaded shed works well.
Can I reuse old milk or juice jugs?
No. Milk and juice jugs are nearly impossible to fully sanitize, they biodegrade over time, and they split at the seams when stacked or moved. Sugars and proteins left behind feed bacteria. Use containers specifically rated food-grade and BPA-free for water, such as the Aqua-Tainer, the WaterBrick, the Scepter can, or a dedicated 55-gallon barrel.
Is long-stored water a bacteria risk?
It can be. Stagnant water can develop biofilm and bacteria, including Legionella, over months and years. Keep containers sealed, cool, and dark, and rotate on a schedule to limit it. If water has been stored a long time or its quality is uncertain, treat it with bleach or chlorine dioxide, or boil it 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 feet), before you drink it.