Step 2 of 8

What to do when your stored water runs out

What official guidance says, in the order it matters.

1. Don't ration, and lower your needs

• Never ration drinking water unless authorities order you to (Ready.gov).
• Drink what you need today, and look for more for tomorrow (Ready.gov).
• Reduce activity and stay cool to lower your body's water needs (Ready.gov).
• Children, nursing mothers and people who are sick may need more water, not less (Ready.gov).

2. Make questionable water safer

1. Clear it. Let particles settle, or strain the water through coffee filters or layers of clean cloth (Ready.gov).
2. Boil it. Bring clear water to a rolling boil for one minute, or three minutes above 6,500 feet (CDC). Ready.gov calls boiling the safest method.
3. Cool it. Let it cool before drinking. Pouring it back and forth between two clean containers improves the taste (Ready.gov).
4. Store it in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers (CDC).

3. If you cannot boil: household bleach

• Use only regular liquid household bleach with 5.25 to 6.0 percent sodium hypochlorite. Do not use scented, color-safe, or added-cleaner bleach (Ready.gov).
• Add 1/8 teaspoon per gallon of water, stir, and let it stand for 30 minutes (Ready.gov).
• The water should smell slightly of bleach. If it does not, repeat the dose and wait 15 more minutes. If it still does not smell of chlorine, discard it and find another source (Ready.gov).

Disinfectants do not work as well as boiling for some germs. Check the instructions on your bleach label and your local health department's guidance. (CDC)

4. Know the limits

• Fuel or toxic chemicals: you cannot make this water safe by boiling or disinfecting it. Use bottled water or another source and contact your local health department (CDC).
• Heating-system water: never use water from radiators or boilers that are part of your home heating system for drinking, cooking or hygiene (CDC).
• Portable filters: they do not remove all types of germs, and they do not remove viruses, so add a disinfectant after filtering (CDC).

Sources

• Ready.gov: Water
• CDC: Emergency water supply preparation

Free official resources

• Ready.gov: Build a Kit (supply list, printable PDF, CDC water guides)

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