Water is easy to put on a checklist and surprisingly easy to forget in practice. A container can sit in the camping cupboard for months without anyone checking whether it is filled, clean or easy to pour.
Start with a number, then work out where that amount will fit. You can make a useful plan with ordinary bottled water or suitable refillable containers; you do not have to begin with specialised equipment.
How much drinking water should you keep?
Queensland Government's emergency-kit guidance gives 10 litres of drinking water per person for three days as a starting point. That is 20 litres for two people or 40 litres for four.
Those figures cover the drinking-water allowance in that guidance. Plan additional water for cooking, hygiene and pets, and allow more supplies if local conditions could leave you isolated for longer. Individual care needs can also change the plan.
How can you organise that amount in a small home?
Write down the total before choosing containers. Then compare a few arrangements:
- Several smaller bottles: easy to distribute and carry, but they take more counting.
- A larger drinking-water container: fewer pieces to organise, but check that you can move it when full.
- A mix: keep some water convenient to carry and the rest organised for use at home.
Try the arrangement rather than guessing. Can you get the container out of its cupboard? Can you fill a cup without lifting it awkwardly? Does the cap close properly after use?
What should you check before buying a container?
Look for a container intended for drinking water and read its cleaning, filling and storage instructions. Capacity is only one detail. The opening, handle, tap and space it occupies all affect how practical it is.
Our water and food collection is a place to compare options if you find a gap. An empty container still needs a filling and maintenance plan; buying one does not complete the water part of your kit.
Where should emergency water be stored?
Follow the bottled-water label or container manufacturer's directions. Choose a spot where you can inspect the supply and reach it without moving a pile of unrelated equipment. Keep a simple note of the quantity and your next review date.
When checking the kit, look at the containers as well as the amount. A leaking tap or missing lid is easier to deal with on an ordinary afternoon. Avoid turning a familiar cupboard into a storage puzzle that only one person understands.
What if there is a boil-water alert?
Check your council or water utility for the current instructions. Queensland Health's disaster water guidance explains that an interrupted supply may be unsafe and that local authorities issue advice about what action is needed. Follow that advice rather than judging water by its appearance.
The same guidance warns that rainwater tanks can be contaminated by floods or bushfires. Do not assume tank water is safe after a disaster. Use an approved safe alternative and seek the relevant official advice.
A camping filter is not a substitute for that advice. Check its stated treatment limits and do not assume it makes chemically contaminated water safe. Outdoor fuel-burning cooking equipment must remain outdoors and be used according to its instructions.
Put the water plan beside the food plan
Read the preparation instructions on the meals you have set aside. If a meal needs added water, record that requirement separately so you do not accidentally count the same water twice.
Keep a few meal choices that need no heating for conditions when cooking is impractical. Our emergency food storage guide helps you work through portions, storage and rotation.
A quick check for this weekend
- Count the people and pets your plan covers.
- Write down your drinking-water target and other water needs.
- Check what is already stored and the directions on each container.
- Identify the gap, decide where the extra supply will fit and set a review date.
You can record the result on our free printable emergency checklist. The useful outcome is a supply your household can find and use, with a clear plan to keep it ready.
Reviewed 8 October 2026. Follow current water-utility and emergency-authority advice for your area.