How Much Water Do You Really Need to Store?

[PrepperLinda65]

Most guidelines say 1 gallon per person per day, but that never seems like enough for washing and cooking, especially with kids around. How much water does everyone really set aside for a two-week emergency? Would love to hear what works for larger families.

 

[MarigoldBreeze]

One gallon per person a day is honestly pretty bare bones—enough for drinking but not much else. I always double that for a more realistic buffer, especially with grandkids running around, since spills and extra messes happen. For a family of five, that's 10 gallons a day, so

 

[BlueHarborTea]

Doubling the amount really does make sense, especially once you count in cooking and the messes that come with kids. I tried sticking to the one gallon per person guideline at first, but I ran out way too fast just doing dishes and keeping hands clean. These days, I store closer to two gallons per person per day, and it feels a lot less stressful. Do you ever rotate your stored water or just keep adding to it?

 

[AquaFern1028]

I always aim for at least 2 gallons per person per day—just feels safer, especially for cooking and cleaning. Anyone else have trouble keeping the water tasting fresh after a few months?

 

[TeaTimeTalisman]

Two gallons per person feels about right here too, especially in summer—kids use up so much for washing! Anybody have tips for keeping stored water from tasting plasticky after a while?

 

[AquaFern1028]

Doubling up to two gallons really is the sweet spot, especially if you’re washing produce or dealing with sticky hands all day long. I rotate my water every six months or so, just to keep it from going stale or tasting off. For that plasticky taste, storing in glass or food-grade barrels helps a lot—plastic jugs never seem to taste quite right after a while. Has anyone tried adding a few drops of lemon juice to freshen up flavor?