Drought & Water Shortage Preparedness Guide
Drought affects more Americans than any other natural disaster: over 40% of the contiguous US has experienced abnormal dryness or drought conditions at various times, with severe multi-year droughts impacting water supplies across the Southwest, California, and the Great Plains. Unlike sudden disasters, drought develops slowly and its effects compound over months and years: municipal water restrictions, well failures, crop failures, wildfire risk, and eventually: for unprepared households: genuine water security emergencies. Drought water shortage supplies and conservation strategies are critical for anyone dependent on wells, rural water systems, or municipal systems in drought-prone regions. This guide covers water storage, purification, conservation, and the supplies needed to maintain household water security during an extended shortage.
How Much Water You Actually Need
Water needs vary significantly by activity level, climate, and health status. FEMA recommends 1 gallon per person per day as a minimum emergency baseline: but this is a survival minimum, not comfortable living. Understanding actual needs helps plan storage quantities:
| Use | Gallons/Day (Per Person) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drinking | 0.5–1 | Higher in hot weather, physical activity, illness |
| Cooking | 0.5 | Boiling, rehydrating food, cleaning cookware |
| Hygiene (minimal) | 0.5–1 | Sponge bath, hand washing, teeth brushing |
| Hygiene (comfortable) | 10–15 | Full shower; realistic daily household use |
| Toilet flushing | 15–25 | Most significant household water use |
| Laundry | 15–40/load | Varies by washer type |
| Outdoor/garden | Variable | First use restricted under drought conditions |
Survival baseline: 1 gallon/person/day (drinking + minimal cooking + minimal hygiene)
Emergency comfortable: 3–5 gallons/person/day
Normal household use: 80–100 gallons/person/day in the US
Water Storage Strategy
Water storage is the most direct drought preparedness measure. The goal is a reserve that bridges from normal supply disruption to restored supply: typically measured in weeks to months, not days:
Short-Term Storage (72-Hour to 2-Week Kit)
- Commercial bottled water: Convenient; rotate annually; 5-gallon jugs from water delivery services store more efficiently than individual bottles
- WaterBOB bathtub bladder: Fills a bathtub with 100 gallons of fresh tap water before a disruption event; requires advance setup
- 7-gallon aquatainers: Rigid food-grade containers; stackable; easy to transport; 4–6 per household member provides a 2-week reserve
Medium-Term Storage (1–3 Month Reserve)
- 55-gallon food-grade barrels: The most cost-effective large-volume storage; $50–100 each; requires a hand pump for water retrieval; store in a cool, dark location; treat with food-grade water preserver
- 250-gallon IBC totes: Intermediate bulk containers: large plastic tanks in metal cages; used for agricultural and industrial water storage; can be found used for $50–100; store enormous volumes at low cost per gallon
- Above-ground cisterns: Purpose-built polyethylene tanks from 500 to 2,500 gallons; the long-term solution for rural households with drought risk
Water Storage Best Practices
- Use only food-grade containers: never store drinking water in containers previously used for chemicals, even if rinsed
- Store away from sunlight: UV exposure degrades plastic containers over time and promotes algae growth
- Treat tap water with food-grade water preservers (sodium hypochlorite solution) for long-term storage; commercially pre-treated water has a 5-year shelf life
- Rotate stored water annually if using plain tap water in food-grade containers
- Keep containers off concrete floors in hot climates: heat transfer through concrete degrades stored water faster
Water Purification Options
During a drought, alternative water sources (rainwater catchment, streams, wells with degraded water quality) require purification before drinking. Multiple purification methods address different contaminants:
| Method | Removes | Does NOT Remove | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling (1 min at altitude; 3 min above 6,500 ft) | All biological pathogens | Chemical contaminants, heavy metals | All biological purification needs; fuel-dependent |
| Portable filter (Sawyer Squeeze, LifeStraw) | Bacteria, protozoa (0.1 micron) | Viruses, chemicals, heavy metals | Surface water from streams/ponds |
| Purification tablets (iodine, chlorine dioxide) | Bacteria, protozoa, some viruses | Heavy metals, chemical contaminants; iodine ineffective vs. Cryptosporidium | Emergency backup; lightweight travel |
| Gravity filter (Berkey, Alexapure) | Bacteria, protozoa, most viruses, some heavy metals | Dissolved solids, desalination | Extended home use without electricity |
| Reverse osmosis | Bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, dissolved solids | Chloramine (may require carbon pre-filter) | Permanent home installation; requires water pressure |
For extended drought scenarios, a gravity-fed countertop filter (Berkey or Alexapure) is the most practical solution: it filters large volumes daily, requires no electricity or water pressure, and removes a wide range of contaminants that portable survival filters may miss.
Water Conservation Under Restrictions
Most drought responses are voluntary or mandatory conservation rather than complete supply cutoffs. Understanding where household water goes enables targeted reduction:
Highest-Impact Reductions
- Stop all outdoor watering: Landscape irrigation accounts for 30–50% of residential water use in dry climates; this is always the first restriction and the biggest reduction
- Fix leaks immediately: A single dripping faucet wastes 3,000+ gallons per year; a running toilet 200 gallons per day
- Reduce toilet flushing: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow”: reduces toilet water use by 50% or more; alternatively install dual-flush conversion kits ($20–30 per toilet)
- Shorter showers: Each minute of shower reduction saves approximately 2 gallons; a 5-minute shower uses 10 gallons vs. a bath’s 30–50 gallons
- Full loads only: Run dishwasher and washing machine only when fully loaded; reduces water use by 25–50% vs. small loads
Greywater Reuse
- Capture rinse water from handwashing, vegetable washing, and shower warm-up in buckets for toilet flushing or plant watering
- Laundry-to-landscape greywater systems are legal in many drought-prone states and can redirect 20–50 gallons per wash load to landscape irrigation
- Do not reuse water from kitchen sinks (food particles, grease) or toilet flushing: these require treatment
Well Water & Drought
Households on private wells are particularly vulnerable to drought: aquifer depletion from drought and neighbouring over-pumping can reduce or eliminate well yield:
- Monitor your water table: If you notice reduced water pressure during drought periods, this may indicate your well pump is running dry; operating a well pump dry causes rapid pump failure ($500–2,000 to replace)
- Increase storage, reduce pumping: Fill a large pressure tank or storage tank overnight when aquifer levels recover, then draw from tank during the day rather than continuous pumping
- Well deepening: If your well repeatedly goes dry during drought, deepening to reach a deeper aquifer may be the long-term solution; requires a licensed well driller
- Drought changes water chemistry: Reduced flow through aquifer material can concentrate minerals, bacteria, and naturally occurring contaminants; test your well water annually and more frequently during extended drought
Alternative Water Sources
- Rainwater harvesting: Legal in most states (some with restrictions on quantity or use); 55-gallon rain barrels collect roof runoff; 1 inch of rainfall on 1,000 sq ft of roof generates approximately 600 gallons
- Atmospheric water generators: Extract water from air humidity; effective in humid climates, ineffective in low-humidity environments; energy-intensive; useful in coastal drought-affected areas
- Municipal water haul: During severe rural drought, water delivery services and self-haul from municipal fill stations are used; requires bulk storage tanks
- Grey water reuse: Legal in most states with proper systems; see above
Drought Preparedness Checklist
- Water storage: 14-day supply minimum at 1 gal/person/day (food-grade containers)
- 55-gallon food-grade water barrel × 1–2 per household member (for longer-term storage)
- Hand pump for water barrel retrieval
- WaterBOB bathtub bladder × 2: for capturing tap water before disruptions
- Gravity water filter (Berkey Big Berkey or Alexapure Pro) for continuous-use purification
- Sawyer Squeeze filter: for portable backup and field water sourcing
- Water purification tablets (Aquatabs or chlorine dioxide) × 100
- Rain barrel × 2–4 with downspout diverters (if roof catchment is practical)
- 5-gallon water containers × 4 per household member: for portable water transport
- Water test kit: for testing well water and stored water quality
- Dual-flush toilet conversion kits (reduces toilet water use by 50%)
- Low-flow showerheads × 1 per shower (1.5 gal/min vs. standard 2.5 gal/min)
- Leak detection dye tablets: for identifying running toilets
- Food-grade water preservative solution: for long-term storage treatment
Recommended Products
Berkey Big Berkey Gravity-Fed Water Filter System (2.25 Gallon)
The Big Berkey is the most recommended gravity-fed home water filter for drought preparedness: it requires no electricity, no water pressure, and no installation. Fill the top chamber with water from any source (tap, well, stream, rain barrel) and gravity draws it through the Black Berkey purification elements that remove bacteria, viruses, protozoa, heavy metals, chlorine, and hundreds of other contaminants. The 2.25-gallon capacity filters approximately 3.5 gallons per hour and the four included filter elements provide 6,000 gallons of filtered water before replacement. For households facing extended drought or water quality concerns from well contamination, this is the most comprehensive non-electric water purification solution available for home use.
- Removes bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, chlorine: no electricity required
- 6,000-gallon filter life per pair of elements
- 3.5 gallon/hour flow rate; suitable for household daily use
Augason Farms 55-Gallon Water Storage Barrel with Pump Kit
A 55-gallon food-grade water barrel is the most cost-effective bulk water storage solution for drought preparedness. The Augason Farms barrel is BPA-free food-grade polyethylene rated for water storage, includes a bung wrench for sealing, and comes with a hand pump for retrieval (the most overlooked part of barrel storage: you need a pump to get the water out). At approximately $75 for a 55-gallon capacity, this is far cheaper per stored gallon than bottled water or smaller containers. Store 2–3 per household member for a 1–3 month emergency supply. Keep in a cool, dark area and treat with a water preserver or rotate annually.
- 55-gallon BPA-free food-grade barrel: most cost-effective bulk storage
- Includes hand pump for water retrieval
- ~$1.35 per gallon stored: far cheaper than bottled water alternatives
First Alert WT1 Home Water Testing Kit
During drought conditions, water quality changes: well water concentrates minerals and potential contaminants, municipal water systems may temporarily deviate from normal parameters, and stored water can degrade. The First Alert WT1 tests for 13 common water quality parameters including bacteria, lead, pesticides, nitrates, chlorine, pH, and hardness: providing a comprehensive picture of whether your water source is safe during a drought event. At under $20 for a 10-test kit, annual testing of well water and periodic testing of stored water is inexpensive insurance against consuming contaminated water. Pair with a Berkey filter if results indicate contamination.
- Tests 13 parameters: bacteria, lead, pesticides, nitrates, pH, hardness, chlorine
- 10-test kit: suitable for annual well testing
- Essential for confirming stored water and well water safety during drought
Drought Preparedness FAQ
How long can you store tap water before it goes bad?
Tap water stored in clean, sealed food-grade containers is generally safe for 6–12 months before it should be replaced. Water doesn’t “expire” the way food does: the concern is contamination introduced during storage, degradation of container material (especially in heat or UV exposure), and the growth of bacteria if the container was not clean when filled. Commercially bottled water has a 2-year shelf life. Using food-grade water preservatives (sodium hypochlorite solution, available in preparedness stores) can extend safe storage to 5 years. Store in cool, dark conditions, use clean containers, and either rotate annually or treat with a preserver for longer storage periods. Water with an off smell, taste, or visible contamination should be filtered and treated before drinking even if recently stored.
Is rainwater safe to drink?
Rainwater collected from a clean roof may contain airborne contaminants, bird droppings, dust, algae, and dissolved atmospheric pollutants (including some pesticides in agricultural areas and industrial pollutants in urban areas). While the rain itself is distilled (pure water) as it falls from clouds, it picks up contaminants on the way down and from collection surfaces. Rainwater should always be filtered and ideally purified before drinking: a gravity filter like the Berkey handles most rainwater contaminants effectively. In areas with significant air pollution or agricultural pesticide use, a filter with activated carbon (the Berkey Black elements include carbon) is important. Rainwater collected from older roofs (pre-2000 lead flashing or painted surfaces with lead paint) may also contain lead and requires testing. For outdoor plant watering and toilet flushing, unfiltered rainwater is generally safe to use.