If War Starts Tomorrow, Skip Bottled Water — Stockpile This Instead

Summary

The video ranks seven ways to prepare for a disruption to tap-water service, evaluating them by cost, storage space, shelf life, and ability to support a household beyond the first two weeks.

It uses a planning estimate of 1 gallon of water per person per day—or 4 gallons daily for a family of four—for drinking and some basic cooking and washing.

Options ranked from worst to best

1. Emergency water pouches or cans Sealed and long-lasting, but expensive per gallon and limited in quantity. Better suited to a car or emergency bag than as a household’s main supply.

2. Straw filters Lightweight and useful for an individual, but they provide water one sip at a time and cannot meet a household’s cooking or washing needs. Many do not remove viruses or chemicals.

3. Bathtub bladder Can hold around 100 gallons, but must be filled before the water supply fails and cannot replenish itself once emptied. The video also notes water that may already be in a tank-style water heater or toilet tank. Use toilet-tank water only if there is no cleaning tablet in it.

4. Bottled water Convenient for short outages, but bulky and finite. The video estimates that two weeks of water for a family of four would require 56 gallons—about 18 large cases. Store bottles away from sunlight, heat, chemicals, and the floor, and use older bottles first.

5. Food-grade containers Reusable jugs or barrels can store tap water compactly and cheaply. The video recommends cleaning containers before filling, storing them in a cool, dark place away from chemicals, dating them, and replacing stored water about every six months. A full 55-gallon barrel is very heavy, so a pump or siphon is useful.

6. Gravity water filter Can process water from sources such as rain, ponds, or creeks without electricity or fuel. The video recommends choosing an independently tested filter and keeping spare filter elements. Many filters remove bacteria and parasites but not viruses or chemical contaminants.

7. Plain, unscented household bleach The video presents bleach as an inexpensive way to disinfect water, including against viruses that many filters do not remove. It stresses following the product label and EPA guidance. Its stated directions are:

   • Use plain, unscented bleach without added cleaners or “splashless” formulas.
   • For bleach at about 6% strength, add 8 drops per gallon. For 8¼% strength, add 6 drops per gallon.
   • If the water is cloudy, filter it or let it settle first.
   • Stir and wait 30 minutes. If there is no faint chlorine smell, repeat the dose and wait another 15 minutes.
   • Never mix bleach with other cleaners, especially ammonia. Replace bleach about once a year and store it away from heat.

Additional treatment guidance

The video identifies Cryptosporidium as a parasite that can resist chlorine. It therefore recommends combining filtration with bleach treatment rather than relying on either method alone.

Boiling is described as a backup: bring water to a rolling boil for one minute, or three minutes at high elevation. Because boiling uses fuel, the video does not present it as the preferred everyday plan.

Suggested preparation sequence

1. Buy plain, unscented bleach and an eyedropper.
2. Fill and date food-grade water containers.
3. Add a gravity filter and spare filter elements.
4. Add a rain barrel under a downspout, checking local rules on rainwater collection.

The overall approach is summarized as “store, find, treat, collect”: store tap water, find water already in the home, treat gathered water, and collect additional water where possible.

Researchers and sources featured

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — bleach treatment guidance
• FEMA
• American Red Cross

No individual researchers are named.