Calculate a starting quantity
Health Canada's emergency food and water guidance recommends two litres per person per day, plus two additional litres per person per day for cooking and cleaning. Your household may need more for heat, illness, pets or specific health needs.
Emergency water calculator
Enter your household size and planning period. These values are separate from your household plan.
Based on the values above. 2 L per person per day baseline, plus up to 2 L for cooking and cleaning. Pets and special needs are extra.
Storage comes first
Stored potable water gives you an immediate supply when the tap stops or a boil-water advisory begins. Use appropriate containers, follow the product's storage instructions and make sure you can lift and access them. Spread the supply across manageable containers if space is tight.
Filtration isn't the same as safe stored water
A filter's label tells you which contaminants it is designed to remove. Not every filter removes viruses or chemical contaminants. A boil-water advisory has specific local instructions; a household filter is not automatically a substitute. Follow your water authority's directions for the actual incident.
Account for a private well
Confirm whether the pump, pressure system or treatment equipment needs electricity. Plan an immediate stored-water supply and follow local health guidance before using a well after flooding, contamination or an extended outage.
Start with enough drinkable water for the first three days. Add a treatment or filtration approach only after you know the likely water source and its risks.
Sources: Public Safety Canada emergency kit checklist ↗; Health Canada emergency food and water guidance ↗.
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Useful products for this plan
Start with what you already own. When you do need something, compare the features below rather than buying the first “emergency” product you see.
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Availability, specifications and prices can change. Confirm that a product fits your household and the intended use before buying.