How Much Water Do I Need?
Water disappears faster than most people expect. Let's figure out what your household would actually need.
Household water planning is more than drinking. When the tap stops, water quietly shows up in three places:
- Drinking — What everyone in the household drinks through the day.
- Basic Food Preparation — Rinsing, mixing, and cooking what you already have.
- Hygiene / Sanitation — Hand washing, cleaning up, and keeping things sanitary.
Emergency planning guidance gives you one simple number to start with: 1 gallon per person per day, covering drinking and sanitation. Anything beyond that — laundry, long showers, bathing a whole household — is extra water you'd plan for separately.
Guidance basis: Ready.gov (FEMA) — Water (https://www.ready.gov/water), reviewed 2026-08-27. Some households need more — hot climates, pregnancy, illness, young children and pets all raise the amount. Treat the planning number as a floor, not a ceiling.
Let's plan your first 3 days
Set the number of people you're preparing for.