A · Drink + cook
People × daily amount × planned days; add personal extra needs.
Emergency preparedness · 19 min
Prepare drinking and utility water
Plan needs, containers, storage and careful use together.
Water becomes critical sooner than food. Drinking, cooking, medication, illness, heat, animals and hygiene all create demand. Stored water, suitable containers, transport and consumption control therefore belong in one plan.
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Decision compass
Decide safely
Four questions lead from observation to a clear, safer action.
What needs to be clarified now?
What must I notice first?
- Record household needs, dependencies, current official information and available safe locations.
- Agree responsibilities, communication rules and a fallback before time pressure develops.
Remember: Observe → assess → choose a safer option → act.
Protect drinking water and label utility water separately.
EXPLANATORY GRAPHIC · PRACTICAL GUIDE
FIGHTandSURVIVECalculate and separate water needs
Protect the drinking reserve from unnoticed use for other purposes.
B · Medical + infants
Label separately and protect carefully.
C · Animals
Consider species, feed and heat.
D · Hygiene
Plan and label as utility water.
Container test
Food-safe, sealed, portable, cool/dark; use several units.
RESULT / SAFETY CHECKReality check: one litre weighs about one kilogram. Intended users must be able to move the containers.
Learning goals
- Estimate personal water needs realistically
- Store water hygienically
- Distinguish drinking water from utility water
Divide needs by function
Protect safe water for drinking and cooking first. Add personal additional needs and water for animals. Hygiene, cleaning and toilet use can greatly increase consumption and should be calculated separately so protected drinking water is not used accidentally.
Containers and storage
Use food-grade, tightly closing containers in sizes you can carry. Label contents and filling date, store them cool and dark, and follow manufacturer guidance. Several containers provide redundancy and are easier to move than one very large unit.
Respond carefully to disruption
Follow official instructions first. If quality is uncertain, do not drink the water or use it for food preparation without approval. Close leaks and postpone non-essential cleaning. Treatment may reduce some biological hazards but does not make chemically contaminated water safe.
Practical check
- Calculate drinking needs separately
- Add health needs and animals
- Choose portable food-grade containers
- Label date and purpose
- Plan consumption for the first days
Important
- Do not assume boiling removes chemical contamination
- Never reuse chemical containers for drinking water
- Do not store heavy containers across escape routes
Decision training
Authorities warn of possible chemical contamination in tap water. What is correct?
- ABoil it for longer
- BUse stored safe water and await official instructions
- CSmell it and drink if the odour seems normal
Show answer
Correct: B. Boiling does not reliably remove chemical contamination; official guidance is decisive.