📋 Home Water Backup Checklist

A short, practical list to get a basic water backup in place. Print it, stick it on the fridge, and check things off.

1. Store enough

• Plan on about 1 gallon per person per day for drinking and basic cooking and hygiene.
• Start with at least a 3-day supply, then build toward 2 weeks if you have room.
• Add extra for pets, hot weather, nursing mothers, and anyone who is sick.

2. Use the right containers

• Store-bought sealed bottled water is the easiest option. Keep it sealed until you need it.
• If you fill your own, use food-grade containers with tight caps (water jugs or food-grade barrels).
• Never reuse milk or juice jugs (hard to clean, break down fast) or anything that held chemicals.
• Wash new containers with soap and water and rinse well before filling.

3. Store it in the right spot

• Keep water somewhere cool and dark, off bare concrete if you can (put it on a shelf or a pallet).
• Keep it away from gasoline, paint, pesticides, and cleaning products. Plastic can pick up fumes.
• Split your supply between two spots (for example, a closet and the garage) in case one area is hard to reach.

4. Rotate it

• Label every container with the date you filled or bought it.
• Replace water you bottled yourself about every 6 months.
• For store-bought water, follow the date on the package.
• Set a phone reminder twice a year (daylight saving time changes work well) to check and rotate.

5. Have a way to make water safe

• Keep a portable water filter and read the box: look for one that says it removes bacteria and protozoa. Most filters do not remove viruses or chemicals unless the label says so.
• Boiling: bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes at high elevations), then let it cool.
• Unscented household bleach: keep a small, fresh bottle and follow the disinfection directions on its label. Bleach loses strength over time, so replace it yearly.
• If water is cloudy, let it settle and pour it through a clean cloth or coffee filter first.
• Keep a pot, a lid, and fuel for a camp stove or grill so you can boil water if the power is out (cook outdoors only).

6. Know your hidden water at home

• Your water heater tank holds water you can drain in an emergency. Learn where the drain valve is now.
• Ice in the freezer and canned fruits and vegetables have usable liquid.
• Toilet tank water (not the bowl) can be used for flushing or, if no chemical cleaners are in it, treated before drinking.
• Know where your home's main water shut-off valve is, so you can close it and keep dirty water out if there's a main break.

7. Be ready for a boil-water notice

• Sign up for your town or water utility's text or email alerts.
• Keep a stack of disposable cups and a few gallons set aside just for brushing teeth and cooking.
• When a notice ends, flush your taps and replace fridge water filters as your utility advises.

8. If you're on a well

• Your well pump needs electricity. Have a plan for an outage (stored water or backup power).
• Test your well water regularly, and after any flood.
• Keep an eye on water levels and pressure during long dry spells.

9. Cut waste and lower the bill

• Fix drips and running toilets. Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank: if color shows up in the bowl, the flapper is leaking.
• Water the garden early in the morning, and use mulch to hold moisture.
• A rain barrel is great for the garden. Check your local rules first, and treat any rainwater before drinking it.

Want to go further than storage? One farmer built a backup water setup at home and shows how in a free video.

Affiliate disclosure: This page is an advertisement and an independent review. WisePicks is not the maker of this product. If you click a link and buy, WisePicks may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed. Photos are illustrative. Check your local rules before collecting or using water at home.