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Having a source of clean drinking water is a top priority in an emergency situation. Nowadays, we take clean water for granted, but anyone who has experienced or witnessed a natural disaster knows how important it is to have a water supply on hand.
It’s a good idea to plan ahead how much water you’ll need to meet your family’s needs (see the link to American Red Cross guidelines below). This will help you narrow down your search and help you find the right size emergency water storage container to accommodate your family’s needs. Investing a little time and money now could save you a lot of headaches down the road.
One of my favorite quotes about water is…
On this page, I cover all your emergency water storage options and the best devices to store water for long periods of time. Let’s cover some basics.
What is the Shelf Life of Water?
Water doesn’t necessarily have an expiration date, but it can get contaminated. The shelf life of water depends on how it’s stored. There are many types of storage devices. Below, I’ll show you some quality storage containers for different types of emergencies. Some of them provide a shelf life of 50+ years!
How Much Emergency Water Per Person Should I Store?
The National Guard and American Red Cross emergency water guidelines recommend 64 ounces of water per day per person. This number increases significantly during hot days or if you’re heavily active. Water storage devices are cheap, so it’s a good idea to have one handy in-case an emergency situation should arise.
What Size Water Storage Tank Should I Buy?
The optimal size water tank for you depends on the size of your family and how long you want to be covered. If you do decide on a smaller tank, I recommend having a reliable water filter handy.
How Should Water be Stored?
You want to make sure your water doesn’t freeze or get too hot. If you can, the ideal place to store your water is in the basement of your home. If your water does freeze, it can cause damage to the holding tank and make it undrinkable. Even if the water in the tank doesn’t freeze all the way through, if the nozzle freezes, it makes it impossible for the water to flow out.
Ideally, you want to store your water in a UV-resistant food-safe container. Double-check that your storage device is BPA free, this will ensure your water stays fresh and safe for the long haul.
I will cover all your water storage options below including pouches, bladders, storage barrels, jugs, and other options. I hope this list helps you find a container that meets your needs.
Here Are the Best Water Storage Containers
Best Emergency Water Storage Containers | USP | Amazon |
---|---|---|
RomoTech Horizontal 125 Gallon Reservoir | Best in over 100 Gallons | Click here |
RomoTech 50 Gallon Translucent Tank | Best in under 100 Gallons | Click here |
Reliance Aqua-Trainer 7 Water Containers | Best in Ratings | Click here |
DATREX Emergency Drinking Water Pouches | Best for Emergency Purposes | Click here |
Augason Farms Water Storage Barrels | Best in Barrels | Click here |
1. Stackable Containers (Recommended for Most People)
My Review: If you’re looking for a long-term emergency water storage containers, these 5-gallon jugs are PERFECT!
The stackable design allows you to add to your supply and take a jug with you on the go. So, for example, if you’re heading out hunting or fishing for a day you can just throw one of these in the back of the truck. You can also easily move a jug to the kitchen or living area during an emergency situation without having to keep going back to the garage or basement.
I attached a link to above to where you can buy these containers on Amazon. If you do what to buy Aquamira water treatment you can find it on Amazon here.
How High Can They Be Stacked?
Around 4 high, but I’ve heard of people stacking them even higher. It probably depends on how many you have on the base layer as well.
If They Aren’t Marked BPA Free, Are They Actually?
Yes, HDPE plastic is naturally BPA free, so you’ll have nothing to worry about with either of these products below.
Here are two companies I recommend. You can read reviews about both products to see which you prefer. They should come with dust plugs, gasket caps, lock rings, Spigot, and Wrench to tighten the cap
Option 2: Samson Stackers Blue Jugs (6 Pack)
Key Features
- Portable and Stackable Design
- Multiple Jugs
- High-Density Polyethylene Plastic (HDPE)
- Food Grade Plastic (BPA Free)
- Non-Toxic
- Satisfaction Guarantee
- Versatile for Cleaning, Hygiene, Cooking
2. RomoTech 50 Gallon Translucent Tank (Best Mid-Sized)
My Review: As far as emergency preparedness water storage tanks go, this one is top-notch and hard to beat. The 55-gallon BPA free tank is handy and versatile (also good for camping trips).
Along with holding a significant amount of water, it is somewhat portable (weighs 25 pounds empty), stackable, and translucent (see-through) with graduation marks (in liters and gallons), so you’ll know precisely how much water is remaining.
It has molded channels for saddle straps if that is something you are looking for.
The company also sells this tank design varying sizes including 30 gallons, 50 gallons, and 100 gallons)
Key Features
- It has molded channels for saddle straps if that is something you are looking for.
- The company also sells this tank design varying sizes including 30 gallons, 50 gallons, and 100 gallons)
3. RomoTech Horizontal 125 Gallon Reservoir (Best Large Tank)
My Review: I have never personally used this tank by RomoTech, but it seems to have good reviews. The company sells the tank in three sizes including 125 gallons, 325 gallons, and 550 gallons.
The tank is translucent, so you can easily see how much water is remaining. The container is made from food-grade polyethylene.
Key Features
- Translucent see-through design
- Extra strength standing supports
- Available in three sizes
4. Vingli Tote Tank
My Review: First things first, this was originally designed for transporting grey and black water from an RV or camper to a sewage dumpsite. With that said, so long as you don’t put dirty water into it, it makes for an excellent water storage container and if you’re incapable of carrying a heavy water container due to physical limitations or injury, this tote is perfect as it rolls on three wheels and has an easy to use pull handle.
These are available in both 10 and 20-gallon models and whichever you choose will include 2 6.7” wheels with a third swivel wheel towards the front of the unit. These really make great camping containers but they also work just as well at home for storing and transporting water when you need them.
Located on the outside of the containers are level indicators and air release vents to depressurize the container if need be. Aside from the pull behind handle you also get two handles in the middle of the unit, making lifting the unit extremely easy and comfortable.
I’m a big fan of these portable water containers as they make being prepared with water a lot easier for the elderly or children to access and move about if need be. Water containers can be extremely heavy and in the case of an emergency, the last thing you need is to be overcomplicating your life with containers you cant carry and move. First things first, this was originally designed for transporting grey and black water from an RV or camper to a sewage dumpsite. With that said, so long as you don’t put dirty water into it, it makes for an excellent water storage container and if you’re incapable of carrying a heavy water container due to physical limitations or injury, this tote is perfect as it rolls on three wheels and has an easy to use pull handle.
These are available in both 10 and 20-gallon models and whichever you choose will include 2 6.7” wheels with a third swivel wheel towards the front of the unit. These really make great camping containers but they also work just as well at home for storing and transporting water when you need them.
Located on the outside of the containers are level indicators and air release vents to depressurize the container if need be. Aside from the pull behind handle you also get two handles in the middle of the unit, making lifting the unit extremely easy and comfortable.
I’m a big fan of these portable water containers as they make being prepared with water a lot easier for the elderly or children to access and move about if need be. Water containers can be extremely heavy and in the case of an emergency, the last thing you need is to be overcomplicating your life with containers you cant carry and move.
5. Good Ideas RW50 Oak Rain Wizard
My Review: These probably aren’t the most ideal for long-term water storage, however, in the case you live in a place where it rains often, you’ll be able to collect water, store it, and access it fairly easily with this nice looking set up.
In the event of a catastrophe, you may not have stored water that is any good and even if you do, you might run out due to longer than expected events, so you’ll need a reliable way to collect and store water and this product does exactly that! You set it up outside your house and connect the entry point to your water downspout directly off your house. This allows all the rain that comes into contact with your roof to run off and instead of being disposed of away from the house into the ground, you’ll be collecting each and every drop!
Now, this won’t give you instant drinking water, as the water collected will be off your roof, but you can prepare ahead of time with a method of filtering and worst comes to worst, you can filter it with a T-shirt and then boil the water to ensure its safe to drink as a last resort.
A lot of people like to use these as a means to water their gardens and plants using water that is otherwise just wasted. It’s a good way to shave down your monthly water bill and, if there ever comes a time when you need it, you’ll already have a reliable way to collect water setup and ready to go.
The container itself is a synthetic whiskey barrel in Oak finish with a very nice brass spigot. The overall quality is quite nice and is capable of being used outdoors in sunlight for many years. If you’ve got a system that removes water from around your home already and you use a lot of water regularly for plants, this product will probably pay itself off and more in the long run!
Note: You can find these in 40 and 50-gallon capacity.
6. DATREX Emergency Drinking Water Pouches
My Review: Emergency drinking water pouches are great because there is no oxygen contact or transfer from air to water. This means there is no chance of bacterial contamination. They are also a great long term emergency water storage option because they have a shelf life of up to 5 years.
They are great for survival and emergency situations. They can withstand harsh temperatures ranging from negative 40 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit, which means they will not burst even if they are frozen. They are also BPA free, so you can be assured your water is pure and safe to drink.
Water pouches aren’t the cheapest emergency water storage option; however, they are very convenient and can be easily placed into a backpack, car, survival pack, or first aid kit. You can buy as many as you need, with case sizes of 12,18,64, or 128 at a time.
The water used to fill these pouches comes from Oxnard California and carries a USCG certification.
Bottom line:
Water Pouches are convenient, but they are more expensive than other options on this list. They should be used in conjunction with other options below, not as a standalone water source unless you can afford that.
Key Features
- Best on the go solution
- Not centralized – meaning they are difficult to be tampered with
- Multiple case sizes
7. WaterBOB Drinking Water Bladders
My Review: WaterBOB drinking water storage bladders provide an effective way to store water during emergencies.
You can choose from assorted sizes, including 100 gallons, 200 gallons, and 300 gallons.
These water bladders are easily filled from a sink or bathtub faucet. They fill very quickly and come with a convenient pump, so you can easily fill smaller water containers and bottles.
It is recommended to lay the WaterBOB liner in your bathtub, attach the filling socket to the faucet and fill to max capacity.
The bladders are made from FDA approved food-grade materials and are BPA free, so you can rest assured your water is not contaminated.
They are designed to keep water safe for up to 12 weeks, and they are disposable!
Key Features
- Fill by faucet or use the included water pump
8. Augason Farms Water Storage Barrels
Augason Farms 55 gallon water storage barrels make storing water long term a breeze. They are perfect for an emergency water storage solution. The durable BPA free container is built to last under strict quality standards.
You can expect treated water to have a shelf life of around 4 years when stored in one of these barrels. The treated water shelf life is not affected by partially filling the bottle, and is effective against viruses, cysts, and bacteria. When used correctly the water will still taste great.
They have two 2-inch barrel plug fittings, a 6-inch siphon hose, and a hand pump for easy drainage and filling.
Note: How long water is safe to drink depends how and at what temperature it is stored, Augason Farms notes that water is best stored in a dark and dry place at temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Key Features
- 55 Gallon Water Storage Drum
- 2 Two Inch Barrel Plug Fittings
- 6 Inch Siphon Hose with Hand Pump
- Barrel Opener
- Water Treatment Ingredients
9. Blue Can Premium Canned Drinking Water
There are 24 cans per case and each can has 12 ounces of water, which means each case provides about 2.25 gallons of water.
The cans are hermetically sealed after they go through a 12 step water purification process, including reverse osmosis, UV light treatment, and other processes.
The ecofriendly packaging is BPA free and contains no chlorine or fluoride, ensuring your water is pure and safe to drink.
You can get Blue Can drinking water here. It is very cheap and easy to store, so you can keep emergency cans in the office, around your home, in the car, or other places you think might be convenient.
Unlike a lot of other canned beverages, Blue Canned drinking water can be frozen without having to worry about the can exploding.
Key Features
- 50-year shelf life
- 24 cans per case
- Hermetically sealed
10. Coleman Water Jug (Good for Camping)
If you’re a camper, prepper, hunter, or farmer, this jug is probably exactly what you’re looking for. This 5-gallon water storage jug is ideal to use to fill other containers or as a handwashing station.
The carrying handle makes it a great portable water container. The carrying handle, along with the easy to access spigot, makes this a good water just for camping.
Like the other products on this list, it is made with high-quality BPA free materials, ensuring your water is safe to drink.
You can get the Coleman 5 gallon jug here. The fast flow spigot design makes accessing water quick without having to tip the jug.
The Spigot is also drip resistant, so you won’t have to worry about the water slowing draining out of the jug over time.
I’ve personally used this jug for camping trips for the past 12 years! It’s probably one of the longest-lasting pieces of camping gear I’ve used without upgrading or needing to replace. It’s been filled up and taken dives off of the back of my truck and it still lives! I love this little jug and I highly recommend it!
Key Features
- Will handle abuse
- Makes for a great portable hand and dishwashing station
- Includes spigot
11. Reliance Aqua-Trainer 7 Water Containers (Best Seller)
Reliance Products makes some high quality and cheap water storage containers that store up to 7 gallons of water.
Their space-saving design makes them great to stack on each other for long term storage. The dimension of each container is 15-5/8” by 11-1/2” deep. These containers are BPA free, ensuring your drinking water will be free of toxins that can be present with other plastic water storage containers.
It also comes with a spigot so you can easily control water release and fill other bottles without wasting water. This also makes them great water storage containers for camping. The spigot makes filling other containers or washing hands a breeze.
Pick up a Reliance water container here. The company backs these portable water containers with a 5-year warranty against defects, so if for any reason something goes wrong, you can send it back for a full refund.
Key Features
- BPA free
- Includes spigot
- 5-year warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Water doesn’t necessarily have an expiration date, but it can get contaminated. The shelf life of water depends on how it’s stored. There are many types of storage devices. Below, I’ll show you some quality storage containers for different types of emergencies. Some of them provide a shelf life of 50+ years!
The National Guard and American Red Cross emergency water guidelines recommend 64 ounces of water per day per person. This number increases significantly during hot days or if you’re heavily active. Water storage devices are cheap, so it’s a good idea to have one handy in-case an emergency situation should arise.
The optimal size water tank for you depends on the size of your family and how long you want to be covered. If you do decide on a smaller tank, I recommend having a reliable water filter handy.
Final Thoughts
When hurricanes, floods, or other emergencies arise, once safe water sources maybe become tainted by pollutants. Having an emergency drinking water storage system will ensure you’ll have plenty of clean water should the need for one arise.
While others are rushing to the store to buy water, only to find empty shelves, you’ll have a long term water storage system ready.
Thanks for visiting my site, I hope you learned a lot about storing water long term, and some of the different ways to store drinking water.
If you have questions, comments, or want to see a product added to our list, leave a comment below.
Semper Fi,
Corporal Wabo
I do agree that water does not have an expiration date which is why I want to store some for emergencies. It would be a good idea to get a container that can accommodate the size of my family of three. Once I am able to buy some containers online, I’ll make sure to store it in the basement.