Best Emergency Water Storage Containers for Natural Disasters

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These compact WaterBrick containers stack tightly together like bricks so you can customize your water storage system according to your needs. If you don’t have the space for a single, large container but still want to have a decent supply of water on hand, break up your supply into several locations around your house, car or RV.

Thanks to their wide, 3.25-inch lid opening and rubber gasket, these containers are more functional than others, and can store non-water items like pet food, dry goods or other emergency supplies. When it’s time to move, a top-mounted handle makes it easy to grab and carry each container, and two interior reinforcement columns enhance stability when stacked.

Pros

• Versatile storage system
• Easy to grab and transport
• Large mouth opening

Cons

• Inconvenient to drain and clean

Why You Should Trust Us

As a California resident who must be wary of earthquakes, wildfires, flash flooding and heat waves, I’m very familiar with the importance of emergency preparedness, particularly water-related issues. I’ve written several in-depth articles on emergency gear and supplies which, like this piece, involved extensive research and expert outreach. For this article, I spent several days combing through online research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Red Cross and other emergency preparedness sources, and I reached out to Ben Green, a plumbing expert and CEO of Green Leaf Air, to get a more hands-on perspective of water containment materials.

How We Found the Best Emergency Water Storage Containers

I first compiled a pool of around 20 popular emergency water storage container options, based on my own personal experience, recommendations from federal emergency organizations, insight from Ben Green as well as relevant picks from online guides and tested reviews. I then narrowed down that list by removing products with quality control issues or unsafe materials, as well as products currently unavailable for purchase, or those that were inferior to a newer or updated version. I then selected a variety of categories that would be the most useful to a wide range of users, and finally landed on the six options shown here.

FAQ

What is the best type of container for water storage?

According to the CDC, you should store water in FDA-approved, food-grade storage containers, as it will not transfer toxic substances into the water. Green specifically recommends looking for containers made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene (PP), advising that you also ensure the containers are clean and free from any previous residues before filling them.

How long can water be stored in plastic containers?

If you’re storing water in plastic containers, the CDC advises replacing the water every six months. Green agrees, adding that “Labeling the containers with the filling date and rotating the water supply every six months is recommended.” Commercially bottled water lasts much longer, and according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has an indefinite shelf life.

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