The Essentials of Emergency Water Preparedness: Stay Ready with Total Prepare 

Key Elements of Emergency Water Preparedness 

Emergency water preparedness goes beyond simply storing water. It involves understanding how much water you need, how to ensure its safety, and how to access it when needed. Below are the core elements of water preparedness that you should consider: 

1. Know How Much Water You Need 

When planning for an emergency, it’s important to have a clear understanding of how much water you will need. A general guideline is to store at least four liters of water per person per day for drinking and basic sanitation. This means for a family of four, you should plan for a minimum of 16 liters per day. 

For long-term preparedness, you might want to have more water on hand, particularly if you're in an area prone to extended disruptions or emergencies. 

2. Ensure Clean and Safe Drinking Water 

While water may be available in an emergency, it might not always be clean or safe to drink. That’s why it’s essential to have a strategy in place to purify or filter water, especially if you’re relying on natural sources like lakes, rivers, or streams. 

Investing in water purification tablets, portable filters, or even large-scale filtration systems can be invaluable during an emergency. Having access to clean water can drastically reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses. 

3. Water Storage Solutions 

Storing water is an essential part of any emergency preparedness plan. Depending on your needs, you can store water for a short-term emergency or plan for long-term storage solutions. Safe water storage helps ensure you have a reliable water supply when the tap runs dry. 

At Total Prepare, we offer a variety of options to meet your water storage needs. From emergency 5 and 10-year packaged water to 50-year Blue Can Water, we provide products that allow you to store clean, safe water for years. If your needs are more extensive, we also offer 13 liter Water Bricks, a flexible, scalable solution for larger water storage. For large scale emergency prep, we also offer a 900 liter Water Storage Tank.  

4. Consider Water Distribution and Accessibility 

In an emergency, water needs to be accessible to everyone in your household, including pets. Think about how you will distribute water, especially if you’re storing it in large containers. Using easy-to-carry bottles, portable water bags, or large jugs that can be divided into smaller portions can help make the water you store more accessible when you need it. 

5. Regular Maintenance and Monitoring 

Water storage requires ongoing attention to ensure it remains safe to drink. It’s essential to regularly check your stored water and rotate your supplies. This is especially important for packaged water with a limited shelf life. Some water containers have expiration dates, while others—like Blue Can Water, which lasts for up to 50 years—are designed for long-term storage. 

Depending on the climate of your area, certain products may be more suitable than others. For example, canned emergency water may risk damage if temperatures fall below freezing, whereas water pouches are generally less susceptible to temperature fluctuations. 

Make sure to monitor the condition of your water storage containers, checking for leaks or damage that could compromise your supply.