The simple rule
3 litres per person, per day, for 3 days. That is 9 litres for each person in your home, just for drinking. GOV.UK
Keep extra for cooking and washing, and remember pets need water too.
Your household at a glance
| Household | Per day | 3 days | 500 ml bottles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 L | 9 L | 18 x 500 ml |
| 2 people | 6 L | 18 L | 36 x 500 ml |
| 3 people | 9 L | 27 L | 54 x 500 ml |
| 4 people | 12 L | 36 L | 72 x 500 ml |
| 5 people | 15 L | 45 L | 90 x 500 ml |
| 6 people | 18 L | 54 L | 108 x 500 ml |
Drinking water only. Add extra for cooking, washing and pets.
How to store it
- Buy sealed bottled water and keep it in a cool, dark place. Our tip
- Keep it away from sunlight, heat and chemicals such as cleaning products or paint. Our tip
- Write the best-before date on the box and set a reminder to swap it. Our tip
- Smaller bottles are easier to carry and share than one big container. Our tip
If you're warned the water will go off
Fill clean containers, jugs and the bath before the supply stops, so you have water for flushing and washing. Our tip
If you or someone at home would struggle to collect water from a bottle station, ask your water company about its Priority Services Register.
Skip the shopping list.
Everything on the checklist, sized for your household and delivered in one box.
Sources: GOV.UK Be Ready. BeReady2Day is an independent business, not part of the government.