1 gallon / person / day
Half for drinking, half for cooking and hygiene. Double it in heat, for kids, or pets.
The simple per-person math for 2 weeks and a month — plus the point where storing stops working and you need a source.
Half for drinking, half for cooking and hygiene. Double it in heat, for kids, or pets.
The FEMA-style minimum. About seven 7-gallon jugs, or one small tank.
A serious buffer — and where jugs get bulky. A tank or barrels make more sense here.
Label the fill date. Store cool and dark. Treat before drinking if in doubt.
The clearest step-by-step system we've found for building water you actually own is Joseph's Well — plans for a shallow backyard water source and filtration from common parts. It's real work, not a gadget, which is exactly why it holds up. Our honest breakdown:
Garden beds, rainwater sizing, pantry days-of-supply and the weekly rhythm — free spreadsheet, straight to your inbox.