Water storage for apartments and small spaces
The short answer
Two people need 28 gallons for 2 weeks, the supply the CDC suggests if you can manage it. That's 6 five-gallon jugs: about 234 lb of water taking up roughly 4 cubic feet. Spread it across closet floors, under beds and low cabinets, keep it at 50–70°F out of the sun, and replace water you fill yourself every 6 months.
How much water your apartment needs
Plan on 1 gallon per person per day, for drinking and basic hygiene. The CDC says to store at least a 3-day supply, and a 2-week supply if possible.
| People | 3 days | 2 weeks | Weight of 2 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 gal | 14 gal | 117 lb |
| 2 | 6 gal | 28 gal | 234 lb |
| 3 | 9 gal | 42 gal | 350 lb |
| 4 | 12 gal | 56 gal | 467 lb |
Pets and very hot weather add more: see how much water pets need. The water storage calculator works it out for your household.
Where to keep it
The CDC's storage rules are simple: somewhere between 50 and 70°F, out of direct sunlight and away from toxic substances like gasoline or pesticides. In an apartment, these spots usually work:
- Closet floors, at the back, behind shoes or boxes.
- Under the bed, with cases of bottles or low, flat containers.
- Low kitchen or pantry cabinets, away from cleaning products.
- Behind or under furniture, like a sofa or a sideboard.
Balconies, sunny windows and spots next to heaters or radiators break the cool, dark rule. So does the cabinet under the sink if that's where your cleaning chemicals live.
Spread the water out instead of stacking it all in one corner. A few containers in each spot keeps the weight down in any one place, and standing them in a plastic tub or tray catches drips if one leaks.
Pick containers that fit small spaces
| Container | Holds | Weight full | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case of 24 bottles (16.9 fl oz) | 3.2 gal | 26 lb | Sealed, slides under a bed, easy to carry upstairs |
| 1-gallon jugs | 1 gal | 8 lb | Light, fit in cabinets |
| Clean 2-liter soda bottles | 0.5 gal | 4.5 lb | Free, sturdy, fill odd gaps |
| Stackable water bricks | Up to 3.5 gal | Up to 29 lb | Stack like books in a closet |
| 5-gallon jugs | 5 gal | 42 lb | Most water per square foot, but heavy to move |
In a small space, smaller containers usually win: they fit odd gaps and you can carry them up the stairs. Skip 55-gallon drums. Full, one weighs about 460 lb and can't be moved.
Never reuse old milk or juice jugs. Ready.gov says milk proteins and fruit sugars can't be fully cleaned out and can feed bacteria. Our guide to emergency water containers covers every option and how to clean and fill your own.
Weight and your floor
Water is heavy: about 8.34 lb per gallon. A 2-week supply for a family of four, 56 gallons, weighs about 467 lb. Spreading containers across rooms keeps the load low in any one spot. If you're thinking about something big, like a drum or a large tank, check with your building manager first.
Water already in your apartment
If the taps stop, the CDC lists these safe sources inside the home:
- The water heater tank, if your unit has its own (the one for your taps, not a heating system)
- Melted ice cubes made with clean water
- The toilet tank, not the bowl, if the water is clear and has no cleaning chemicals in it
- The liquid in canned fruit and vegetables
When a big storm is forecast, many people also fill the bathtub with water for flushing and cleaning, not for drinking. Flushing uses a lot: up to 1.6 gallons per flush for a toilet that meets the federal standard.
Replace it on time
Replace water you fill yourself every 6 months, as the CDC and Ready.gov advise. For store-bought water, go by the date printed on the bottle. Write "drinking water" and the fill date on every container. The calculator can put the replace-by date in your calendar, and our label maker prints labels for your containers.