Used 2 liter soda or juice containers
Pros
– Essentially FREE if you buy them anyway or get from someone else
– Convenient size for smaller water emergencies
– Easy to store anywhere in the house
Cons
– Must rotate every 6 months to 1 year
– Hard to clean out enough so the taste isn't “off”
– Concern about bacteria if not cleaned out well enough
Best Used For
– 72 Hour Kits
– People on a tight budget
– Small spaces storage solutions
Store Bought Water Bottles
Pros
– Great tasting
– Easy to rotate through the individual bottles
– Easy to store anywhere in the house
Cons
– Must rotate every 6 months to 1 year
– Price per gallon can be fairly expensive
– Difficult to store in large quantities
– Bottles will freeze in winter, and chemicals can leach into them in severe heat, so not ideal for car kits in extreme conditions
Best Used For
– 72 hour kits
– People concerned with taste of drinking water
– Small emergencies
Water Pouches or Cartons
Pros
– 5 year shelf life!
– Awesome for 72 hour kits
– Water typically won’t freeze in the pouches or small water boxes
Cons
– Expensive storage method
– Not ideal for large quantities
– Not available in local stores everywhere
Best Used For
– 72 Hour Kits
– Car kits
Found Online
5/6 Gallon Plastic Jugs
Pros
– Decent price per gallon
– More convenient size than large barrels
– Pretty easy to empty and rotate
– Easy to find in the camping section of most stores
Cons
– Many of these jugs end up having problems with cracking and leaking so beware
– 5 or 6 gallon jugs can be HEAVY if you are trying to pour with them and haul them up and down stairs by yourself
– Must be rotated every 6 months to 1 year
– Take up a lot of space in storage since you can’t stack them
Best Used For
– Smaller storage spaces
– Tighter budgets
Found Online
– Options at Amazon.com
Water Box Kits ( Mylar bags inside cardboard boxes)
Pros
– Good price per gallon
– Stackable up to 3 boxes high
– Only have to rotate every 5 years
Cons
– A little bit complicated to set them up and fill them
– Wasted space in your storage room above the stack of boxes
– Not very convenient for accessing small amounts of your water storage
– Not available in local stores everywhere
Best Used For
– Larger quantities for people who don’t like rotating
– Great for sliding under beds or sticking on closet shelves
Found Online
– Boxed Water Kit
Water Bricks
Pros
– 3.5 gallons per brick makes it more manageable than 5/6 gallon containers
– Stackable from floor to ceiling!
– They are safe to freeze so can be stored outside
– Great size to stash under beds, in closets, etc.
Cons
– A little more expensive per gallon
– Not available in local stores everywhere
Best Used For
– Storage rooms where space is an issue
– Shorter term water emergencies for drinking and cooking
– People without considerable budget restraints
Found Online
– Water Bricks
Water Barrel
Pros
– Best solution for storing LOTS of water
– Available in multiple sizes from 30 gallons up to 250 gallons
– With additives, can extend rotation needs to every 5 years
– Great use of floor space in a storage room with a water barrel tower
Cons
– Slightly difficult to fill and rotate
– Not very accessible when you have to actual USE the water
– Not an ideal solution in small homes/storage areas and can’t be stored outside
Best Used For
– Longer term water shortages
– Large quantities of water storage
Found Online
– Water barrels from emergency essentials
– Water Barrel
There are larger water storage containers available as well. If you have the space available they can be a great option. I use a combination of these containers. Find what works for you and get started on your water storage today!
