Water is essential to everyday life, but emergencies such as water main breaks, power outages and other unexpected events can disrupt water service. Having an emergency supply of drinking water on hand is one of the simplest ways to prepare and protect your household.
Remember to include enough water for pets and consider storing additional water for household members who are pregnant, sick or living in hot climates.
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Commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable option for an emergency water supply. Store bottled water in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and chemicals, and follow the manufacturer's expiration or best-by date. If you plan to fill your own containers, it's important to use FDA-approved food-grade containers and follow proper cleaning, sanitizing and storage procedures to keep your water safe.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides detailed guidance on creating and safely storing an emergency water supply, including choosing appropriate containers, sanitizing containers and determining when stored water should be replaced. Visit the CDC's How to Create and Store an Emergency Water Supply webpage for additional information and step-by-step instructions.
A WSSC Water critical customer is a customer whose service connections are crucial to maintaining life or public health. This includes customers who require a continuous supply of drinking water to maintain life, as well as certain businesses and facilities. WSSC Water encourages eligible customers to self-identify so we can communicate quickly during water emergencies.