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Water resilience

Prepare for water shortages and supply outages.

A water plan must cover drinking, food preparation, hygiene, additional health needs and pets. Start with official local guidance, then build a realistic margin.

Build my water planSee water evidence

1. Store safe water

Use unopened commercial water or clean, food-grade containers intended for water. Keep it cool, dark, away from chemicals and where every household member can reach it. Follow the container maker's and local authority's replacement advice.

Official minimum amounts differ by climate, health needs and country. Treat published figures as a starting point, not a universal ceiling. Heat, pregnancy, breastfeeding, illness, physical work and pets can all increase need.

2. Protect the supply

  • Do not use containers that previously held chemicals, fuel or non-food substances.
  • Label drinking water clearly and record when it was stored.
  • Use clean hands and utensils; avoid touching the inside of caps and containers.
  • Keep a smaller everyday container so the main supply is opened less often.
  • Store some water in more than one place in case part of the home is inaccessible.

3. Understand the notice

Water authorities may issue different instructions. The words matter:

  • Boil-water advice usually addresses microbiological risk; follow the specified method and timing.
  • Do-not-drink advice can mean boiling will not solve the problem. Use an approved alternative source.
  • Do-not-use advice can restrict washing, flushing or any contact. Follow the local instruction exactly.

4. Treat only when appropriate

Treatment depends on the contaminant and the water's clarity. Filters, disinfectants and boiling do different jobs; no single household method removes every hazard. Use current public-health instructions for quantities, contact times and approved products.

Your household water check

Store and review

  • Local emergency water guidance found and saved
  • Drinking and food-preparation needs counted
  • Extra needs for babies, illness, heat and pets counted
  • Food-grade containers checked and labelled
  • Water stored in a cool, dark and accessible place
  • A review date written on the plan
  • A clean pouring method prepared
  • Backup collection point or supplier identified

If a water outage is forecast

  1. Confirm the warning on your water provider's or local authority's official channel.
  2. Read whether water is safe to use before filling any container.
  3. Fill clean, food-grade containers only if authorities say the supply is safe.
  4. Prioritise drinking, medicine and safe food preparation.
  5. Contact anyone in your plan who may need help collecting or carrying water.