Winter storms can knock out power or water service. Ready.gov, the federal government's preparedness site, has simple guidance on how much drinking water to keep at home. Here is the short version, plus bottles and a reservoir from our guides for carrying water when you need it.

How much water to store

Ready.gov says to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days, for drinking and sanitation. A normally active person needs about three quarters of a gallon of fluid a day from water and other beverages, and needs vary with age, health, physical condition, activity, diet and climate. Source: Ready.gov, Water.

Quick math: a household of four planning for three days needs at least 12 gallons.

How to store it

Ready.gov's first choice is commercially bottled water, kept in the sealed original container in a cool, dark place.

If you fill your own containers, use food-grade water storage containers. Ready.gov says to wash them with dishwashing soap and sanitize them with one teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water.

Replace water that was not commercially bottled every six months. A calendar reminder helps.

Bottles for every day and for the go-bag

Klean Kanteen says its Sale Specials collection of closeouts and overstocks is 20-40% off while supplies last, and its Free Personalization offer runs through November 15. A wide-mouth insulated bottle is easy to fill and easy to clean. Klean Kanteen Sale Specials (paid link)

Klean Kanteen 32oz TKWide insulated bottle in lime green with a straw cap — *Klean Kanteen 32oz TKWide, from the Sale Specials collection. Image: Klean Kanteen*

Carry more: HydraPak HydraSleeve Reservoir 3L

A 3-liter reservoir holds about 0.8 gallon. The HydraSleeve 3L listed at $70.00 on HydraPak's site on November 8. HydraPak HydraSleeve Reservoir 3L (paid link)

HydraPak HydraSleeve 3-liter reservoir in its dark gray sleeve beside the clear inner reservoir with drink tube — *HydraPak HydraSleeve 3L. Image: HydraPak*

Keep everyday bottles clean: HydraPak Bottle Bright

For day-to-day bottle and reservoir cleaning, a 12-tablet pack of Bottle Bright listed at $10.00 on HydraPak's site on November 8. For long-term storage containers, follow Ready.gov's soap-and-bleach steps above. HydraPak Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets (paid link)

Hand holding a blue bottle foaming with Bottle Bright cleaning tablet suds over a kitchen sink — *HydraPak Bottle Bright. Image: HydraPak*

Day-to-day water at home

On normal days, WaterVO makes drinking water from the water vapor in room air, with no plumbing line: https://watervo.com. It runs on power, so keep your stored water too.

More bottle, reservoir and filter picks in our accessories guide.

Disclosure: Hydrology University may earn a commission on purchases made through links marked (paid link), at no extra cost to you.

Hydrology University (https://hydrologyuniversity.com) · WaterVO (https://watervo.com)

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