An emergency water plan should have two layers: a dependable supply stored before a disruption, and a documented way to treat an appropriate backup freshwater source if stored water runs low.
The CDC recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of three days. When space and resources allow, households should try to maintain a two-week supply. More water may be needed for pets, medical needs, pregnancy, hot climates, or physically demanding conditions.
A gravity-fed emergency water filter can supplement stored water during an extended outage or emergency.
Store at least 1 gal/person/day
3-day minimum, aim for 2 weeks
Extra for pets, medical needs, pregnancy, heat
Use food-grade containers
Date and rotate every 6 months
Treat a filter as backup, not first resort
Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day. A three-day supply is the minimum starting point, while a two-week supply provides a stronger household reserve when storage space permits. The amounts below are baseline quantities — add more for pets, medical needs, pregnancy, and hot weather.
| Household | 3 days | 7 days | 14 days |
| 1 person | 3 gallons | 7 gallons | 14 gallons |
| 2 people | 6 gallons | 14 gallons | 28 gallons |
| 3 people | 9 gallons | 21 gallons | 42 gallons |
| 4 people | 12 gallons | 28 gallons | 56 gallons |
| 5 people | 15 gallons | 35 gallons | 70 gallons |
Based on one gallon per person per day. Planning minimums, not universal limits.
Storing bottled water is easy, but it eats up a lot of space — cases stack up fast when you're trying to keep enough on hand for a real emergency. And over long periods, plastic bottles can degrade, corrode, or leak, leaving you with a mess instead of a reliable supply right when you need it.
A compact water filtration system, like the Outback, is a better long-term solution. Instead of stockpiling and rotating bottles every six months, you get on-demand access to clean water without the storage footprint or the shelf-life guesswork
A power outage doesn't automatically make your tap water unsafe. But it can disrupt two things: treatment at your municipal water plant, and the pumping that keeps water pressure up to get water to your home. Low pressure can let contaminants into the pipes.
Check your local utility or public-health department for notices, and if a boil-water advisory is issued, follow it exactly.
No — a small amount of stored water is the first layer, an emergency water filter is the the next.
What to look for in any emergency filter:
- gravity-fed
- documented reduction data
daily output, clear source limitations, understandable instructions, available replacement filters.
How to Choose the Best Emergency Water Filter.
The Outback Ready Emergency Water Filter System is a gravity-fed, four-stage system designed for situations in which electricity may be unavailable. It can produce up to 24 gallons of filtered water per day.
The current Outback Ready uses the same NF filtration configuration tested under the system's historical name, Outback-Plus. The published test-results summary reports:
Third-party tested by AQUADIAGNOSTICS and BioVir Laboratories, Inc. under the conditions described in the published summary. Not presented as an EPA approval, EPA certification, or water-purifier designation.
Gravity-fed, no electricity required. Produces up to 24 gallons of filtered water per day.
The Outback's design has been proven effective by rescue, relief and religious organizations in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and is widely used by missionary and government organizations throughout the world.
The Outback Ready is designed to treat visually clear freshwater. Water that looks clear can still contain microorganisms, so appearance alone does not establish microbiological quality.
Pool water is not the first recommended water source for the Outback system. However, in an emergency, water from a non-saltwater pool may be used if it is the best available option.
Because pool water typically contains higher chlorine levels than tap water, the Outback’s multi-media/refining filter may become exhausted two to three times faster than normal. Customers should plan on treating approximately 600 gallons per filter rather than the typical 1,800 gallons. Actual capacity may be lower if the pool contains significant algae, organic matter, or sediment.
Some customers run the water through the Outback twice to further reduce chlorine odor or pool-water taste. Doing so uses may be effective, but will reduce the filter capacity further and reduce the total amount of finished water produced.
This field demonstration shows an Outback system processing visibly yellow Mara River water in Tanzania and producing visibly clearer water. Appearance alone does not confirm microbiological quality — refer to the published test-results summary for verified microbial reduction performance.
The Outback Water gravity-fed system in everyday use — at a campsite, no electricity required.
According to company history, Outback systems have been used for more than two decades by the Peace Corps and by other missionary groups and NGOs providing emergency and relief services. Framed explicitly as company background, not an endorsement by any organization.
For broader household emergency planning, consult Ready.gov and your local emergency-management agency.
Stored water is the foundation of emergency preparedness. The Outback Ready adds a gravity-fed filtration option for situations in which stored supplies run low and an appropriate freshwater source is available.
How much emergency water should I store per person?
Store at least one gallon per person per day for a minimum of three days. If possible, build toward a two-week supply. Plan for additional water when household members have medical needs, when pets are included, or when conditions are hot.
How much emergency water does a family of four need?
At one gallon per person per day, a family of four needs at least 12 gallons for three days, 28 gallons for seven days, or 56 gallons for two weeks.
Can an emergency water filter replace stored water?
No. A filter should complement a stored emergency supply, and it also requires access to a source the system is designed to treat.
Does a gravity water filter work during a power outage?
Yes. A gravity-fed system does not require household electricity to move water through its filters. The Outback Ready operates by gravity and can be used when electrical service is unavailable.
Can I use pool or spa water in the Outback Ready?
Pool water isn't the preferred source for the Outback, but in an emergency, water from a non-saltwater pool can be used if it's the best option available. Its higher chlorine levels can exhaust the refining filter two to three times faster, so plan on about 600 gallons per filter instead of 1,800, or fewer if the pool has algae, debris, or sediment.
Can clear-looking water still contain microorganisms?
Yes. Water's appearance does not establish its microbiological quality — this is why the field demonstration above should be considered separately from controlled laboratory reduction testing.
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