In October 2026 the government launched its Be Ready campaign, encouraging households to take small, simple steps to prepare for emergencies such as severe weather, power cuts or disruption to water supplies. At the heart of the advice is being ready to manage for 3 days while support reaches those who need it most.
Water is the most important item on the list, and it’s the one most people underestimate. This guide explains how much water the government recommends, how to store it safely, which containers to use, and how to keep stored food in good condition.
What does the Be Ready advice say?
The Be Ready checklist suggests every household keeps enough supplies for 3 days, including:
- Water: bottled water for 3 days, allowing 3 litres per person per day for drinking. More is needed for cooking and washing.
- Food: non-perishable food for 3 days that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking, such as tinned meat, fish or vegetables, dried fruit and nuts. Ideally, food you usually eat.
- Other essentials: a torch and spare batteries, a battery or wind-up FM radio, a charged power bank, a first aid kit, essential medication, hygiene products, warm clothing, some cash and copies of important documents.
You don’t need to do it all at once. The government suggests building your supplies gradually, picking up an extra item or two on your regular shop, and checking everything every six months. You can also check whether you’re eligible for the free Priority Services Register, which lets your energy and water suppliers know if you need extra support during an outage.
How much water should you store?
Using the Be Ready figure of 3 litres per person per day for drinking, here’s the minimum for 3 days:
| Household size | Drinking water for 3 days |
|---|---|
| 1 person | 9 litres |
| 2 people | 18 litres |
| 3 people | 27 litres |
| 4 people | 36 litres |
| 5 people | 45 litres |
Remember to add extra for cooking, washing and pets, as well as any medical needs. If you have a baby, the Be Ready advice recommends ready-to-feed formula, as you may not be able to boil water safely.
Bottled water or your own containers?
The government checklist recommends bottled water for drinking, and shop-bought bottled water is the simplest option. Check the best-before dates and rotate it into everyday use.
Many households also keep a larger supply of tap water in their own containers, especially for cooking, washing and flushing toilets, where you’ll need far more than 3 litres a day. If you store your own water, the container makes all the difference.
Choosing a water storage container
Whatever you choose, always use a new, food grade container that has only ever held water. Never use a container that has held chemicals, fuel or anything else, even after cleaning.
- Jerry cans (5 to 25 litres): easy to fill, carry and stack. Our 20 litre and 25 litre food grade jerry cans each hold more than enough drinking water for two people for 3 days. Their 60 mm neck takes our jerry can tap, so you can dispense water without lifting the can. See our full range of plastic jerry cans.
- Plastic drums (60 to 220 litres): for larger households, community groups or businesses that want a bigger reserve. Choose a food grade drum, and remember a full 220 litre drum weighs over 220 kg, so fill it where it will stay. See our plastic drums.
- IBCs (1,000 litres): ideal for collecting rainwater for flushing toilets, washing and gardens, but not for drinking water unless the IBC is food grade and kept specifically for that purpose. See using IBCs as water tanks.
How to keep stored water fresh
- Start clean. Wash new containers with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly before the first fill.
- Fill from the mains tap. Fill straight from your mains-fed kitchen tap and seal the cap straight away.
- Label it. Write the date you filled it on the container.
- Store it somewhere cool and dark. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which encourages algae, and away from chemicals, fuel and strong smells.
- Rotate it. Use or replace stored water regularly. Doing it every six months, when you check the rest of your Be Ready kit, is an easy routine to follow.
For more detail, see how long will water stay fresh in a plastic drum?
Storing emergency food
The Be Ready advice is to keep 3 days of non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as tins, dried fruit and nuts. It’s best to buy food you’d usually eat, so you can rotate it into your normal meals before it goes out of date.
- Keep food in a cool, dry place, off the floor.
- Decant opened dry foods into airtight containers to keep out moisture and pests. Our plastic buckets and tubs with tamper-evident lids are useful for this. Check the product page to make sure the container is food grade.
- Keep a tin opener with your supplies.
- Check dates every six months and replace anything close to expiring.
Frequently asked questions
How much water do I need for an emergency?
The government’s Be Ready advice is 3 litres per person per day for drinking, for at least 3 days. That’s 9 litres per person, or 36 litres for a family of four. You’ll need more for cooking and washing.
Can I store tap water for emergencies?
Many households do. Use a clean, new, food grade container, fill it straight from the mains tap, seal it, label it with the date, store it somewhere cool and dark, and replace it regularly. The government checklist recommends bottled water for drinking.
How long can you store water in a jerry can?
Water in a clean, sealed, food grade container stays in good condition for a long time if it’s kept cool and dark. Even so, it’s good practice to use and replace it every six months, at the same time as you check the rest of your emergency supplies.
What is the best container for storing water at home?
For most homes, 20 or 25 litre food grade jerry cans are the most practical: easy to carry, stackable, and able to take a tap. For larger reserves, use food grade plastic drums.
Where can I find the government’s emergency checklist?
On the Be Ready website, where you can download the checklist and a household emergency plan. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, see Ready Scotland and NI Direct for local advice.
This guide summarises the UK government’s Be Ready advice (October 2026) and general good practice for storing water. Always follow official advice during an emergency, and call 999 if someone is in immediate danger. Need help choosing containers for your home, business or community group? Contact our team.
