In an emergency, having a reliable water supply is essential. To ensure that you and your family have enough water to last, it's important to store at least one gallon of water per person per day. This should be enough to cover drinking, sanitation, and hygiene needs. For a two-week supply, you should store 14 gallons of water per person.
Individual needs may vary depending on age, health, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate. To make sure your water supply lasts as long as possible, it's important to reuse water whenever you can. Additionally, it's recommended that you run a water supply cycle at least once a year or every six months to keep microorganisms and bacteria out of your supply. You can buy five-gallon containers at emergency supply stores or online.
If you're looking for a more cost-effective option, consider using large plastic containers or jugs that can be filled with tap water. To learn more about long-term food storage, check out my article on Long-Term Rice and Bean Storage. This covers a solid methodology that can be applied to almost any dry food.