You Can Store Water For Survival Under Your Bed
You can store water for survival under your bed, you really can. I store 56 gallons under a queen size bed (depends on your bed frame and leg height) in my guest room. I always recommend several ways to store water. Today I am talking about the WaterBricks brand. They are available in two sizes, 3.5-gallons, and 1.6-gallons. They come with a handle and you can purchase a spigot if desired. I have both sizes. The water storage under the queen size bed, as shown above, is the 3.5-gallon size. I have the smaller ones ready to grab and go with my 72-hour kits or bug out bags. The bed skirt actually covers the WaterBricks. This room looks like any ordinary bedroom but has water stored underneath the bed for long-term storage. This is just another way we can store water long term.
I’m updating this post I wrote a few years ago to inspire you to store more water. You may remember that the American Red Cross recommends a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day. I recommend four gallons per person per day. I get thirsty just thinking of only having one gallon of water for myself each day. The reason I suggest four gallons is for drinking, personal hygiene, and cooking. American Red Cross
You Can Store Water Under Your Bed:
You can see the WaterBricks above under the queen-size bed: ***please note an awesome reader asked about the weight of the water in the WaterBricks, plus the bed and the weight of those who sleep on the bed. It reminded me of the “waterbeds” that were very popular back in the ’70s. If you have a concern about weight in an upstairs apartment or bedroom consider lining up the WaterBricks behind a couch. You can also make side tables with them and you will have water when you need it. Or store some in different closets or cupboards. Buy one WaterBrick a month so you can store water for survival.
- Dimensions of the WaterBricks (3.5-gallons) 9″ X 18″ X 6″ WaterBrick 1833-0001 Stackable Water and Food Storage Container, 3.5 gal of Liquid, 27 lb of Dry Food Products, Blue
- Each container holds 3.5-gallons
- These are stackable, 16 will fit under a queen-sized bed (56 gallons total)
- They stack/interlock for easy storage as well, yet you can easily grab one and go.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of Water Preserver to store for five years, change the water every five years (for the 3.5-gallon size) Water Preserver Concentrate
These are a great way to store water long term because you fill and forget them for five years before needing to rotate the water if you use the Water Preserver above.
Tips on water:
Minimum water needed per day:
- 1 gallon per day per person to stay hydrated. If you live in an extremely HOT area you might need more.
- 4 gallons per day, per person, allows for personal hygiene, washing of dishes, etc.
- 5 to12 gallons per day would be needed for a conventional toilet.
- 1/2 to two gallons for a pour-flush latrine.
Boiling water for use:
- Boil filtered and settled water vigorously for one minute (at altitudes above one mile, boil for three minutes).
- To improve the flat taste of boiled water, aerate it by pouring it back and forth from one container to another and allow it to stand for a few hours, or add a pinch of salt for each quart or liter of water boiled.
Bleaching/purifying water:
- Information from Clorox: When boiling water for 1 minute is not possible in an emergency situation, you can disinfect your drinking water with Clorox®Regular-Bleach as follows:
- Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom.
- Pour off clear water into a clean container.
- Add 8 drops of Clorox® Regular-Bleach (not scented or Clorox® Plus® bleach) to one gallon of water (2 drops to 1 quart). For cloudy water, use 16 drops per gallon of water (4 drops to 1 quart).
- Allow the treated water to stand for 30 minutes. Water should have a slight bleach odor. If not, repeat and wait another 15 minutes. The treated water can then be made palatable by pouring it between clean containers several times.
Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. You never know when you will need extra water, food, and fuel. You can store water, today. May God bless you and your family.
My favorite things:
WaterBrick 1833-0005 Stackable Water Container, 1.6 gal of Liquids/Up to 13 lb of Dry Foods, Blue
WaterBrick 3.5 Gallon BPA Free Portable and Stackable – 10 Pack
Can water bricks (with water in them) be stored in a garage or shed or should they be stored inside?
Hi Tara, yes you can store WaterBricks with water in a garage or shed. I would stack them on top of some two by fours to keep them off the concrete floors. I do this with all my water tanks and water barrels as well. These are great! Linda
Thanks for this idea. I just purchased my first Water Brick to store under my bed. I’m planning to buy one each paycheck until I feel comfortable with my water storage needs. The Bricks have a very strong plastic scent when you open them. Should I let it off gas outside before filling it got long term storage?
Hi Megan, yay for WaterBricks! I washed mine out with a drop of bleach only because I wanted to make sure they were clean. I didn’t want to use dish soap because then I would get bubbles. I would for sure air them out. I know they are high-density polyethylene (HDPE)but they are still a plastic of some kind. I remember my VitaMix container had a smell right out of the box. So did my BlendTec. I think that’s why every company says to “wash before using”, I guess. I’m so glad you have a plan of getting one a month! I love it!! Linda
Do you fill your water bricks right to the very brim or do you leave a headspace? I am getting ready to fill my containers with water and was curious.
Thanks so much!
Erin
I fill them to the “neck”, so yes I leave headspace, you rock for being prepared! Hugs! Linda
This is something I need to start doing. I have seen the water bricks for awhile but never purchased any. I am going to start doing that as well. As I can store them under my bed as well as in shed after I get it reorganized. I have several 6 gal. water containers in the loft of the shed but have only used them for hurricane season. I will be keeping these filled as well, once I get them off the loft. Will need to transfer a few things up to the loft as the weight of water might be to much for a loft. Will have place on floor for them.
Hi Mary, good thinking! I love WaterBricks, but any good food grade water jugs will work. I chose the WaterBricks because they fit under my queen size guest bed. Keep prepping! Linda