Emergency water sources in your home
The CDC lists water you can use from inside your home: your water heater tank, melted ice cubes made with uncontaminated water, the toilet tank (not the bowl) if the water is clear and has no cleaner in it, and the liquid from canned fruit and vegetables. Never use water from radiators, hot water boilers that heat the house, or waterbeds, which FEMA says may contain fungicides and chemicals from the vinyl.
Ready.gov says a normally active person needs about three quarters of a gallon of fluid a day, and the CDC warns that water contaminated with fuel or toxic chemicals cannot be made safe at all.
- Water you can use, and water you cannot
- First: shut off the main water valve
- How to get water out of your water heater
- How to get water out of the pipes
- Water from outside
- Gear
Water you can use, and water you cannot
| Source | Use it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater tank | Yes | The tap water heater, not the home heating system. |
| Water in the pipes | Yes | See the steps below. |
| Ice cubes | Yes | Only if made with water that was not contaminated. |
| Toilet tank | Yes, with care | Tank only, never the bowl. Only if clear and not treated with toilet cleaner. King County says skip it if it is blue. |
| Liquid in canned fruit and vegetables | Yes | Listed by both the CDC and FEMA. |
| Swimming pool or spa | Washing and cleaning only | Not for drinking. |
| Radiators, heating boilers | No | Part of the heating system, not the drinking water system. |
| Waterbed | No | FEMA says fungicides and chemicals in the vinyl may make it unsafe. |
| Anything smelling of fuel or chemicals | No | The CDC says it cannot be made safe. |
First: shut off the main water valve
If you hear that the water may be contaminated, FEMA says you may need to shut off the main water valve to your home to keep contaminants out of your pipes. Find the valve today so you are not hunting for it in the dark. Be Ready Utah says do not turn it back on until the authorities tell you the water is safe.
Shutting the main valve also traps the clean water already inside your water heater and pipes.
How to get water out of your water heater
- Shut off the main water valve. Be Ready Utah lists this as the first step.
- Turn off the gas or the power to the heater before you open the drain (King County).
- Let it cool. Utah warns the water will most likely be very hot.
- Drain from the spigot at the bottom into a clean container.
- Strain and treat it. The Greensboro Fire Department says to strain water heater water through paper towels or a clean cloth, then treat it by boiling or with bleach (see how to make water safe to drink).
Be Ready Utah says a water heater could hold about 40 gallons. Check the label on your own tank for its size.
How to get water out of the pipes
- Shut off the main water valve.
- Open the highest faucet in the house to let air into the pipes.
- Collect water from the lowest faucet in the house.
Steps from Be Ready Utah and King County. Utah estimates the pipes in a house hold around 20 to 40 gallons.
Water from outside
- The CDC says rainwater, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and natural springs can be made safe, but must be treated first to kill germs.
- The CDC says well water may be contaminated after a flood.
- Be Ready Utah says fountains, golf course water traps, fish ponds and drainage ditches are too contaminated to make safe with ordinary treatments.
- Do not eat snow or ice. Utah says it will quickly lower your body temperature. Melt and treat it first.
- King County warns that boiling does not remove chemicals.
Common mistakes
- Using toilet bowl water. The CDC says the tank only, and only if it is clear and untreated.
- Using water from a radiator or home heating boiler. FEMA says do not.
- Drinking waterbed, pool or spa water. Pools and spas are for washing only, and FEMA says waterbed water may contain fungicides.
- Opening the water heater drain with the gas or power still on. King County says turn them off first.
- Waiting until the water is contaminated to shut the main valve. Find it now.
- Drinking water that smells of fuel or chemicals. The CDC says no treatment makes it safe.
- Drinking rainwater or stream water untreated. The CDC says it must be treated first.
Gear for this
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Garden hose or short drain hose
Fits the drain spigot at the bottom of most water heaters so you can fill a container without spilling.
Food-grade water containers with lids
To hold the water you drain from the heater and pipes.
Water shut-off key
Some main valves sit in a curb box outside and need a long key to turn. Check yours before you buy.
Unscented bleach
For treating water heater water and outside water, using the amounts on our water treatment page (CDC).
Questions people ask
Can you drink water from your water heater in an emergency?
Yes. The CDC lists the tap water heater tank as an emergency water source. Turn off the gas or power first, let it cool, strain it and treat it.
Is toilet tank water safe to drink?
The CDC says toilet tank water (never the bowl) can be used if it is clear and has not been treated with toilet cleaner. If it is blue, do not use it.
Can you drink pool water in an emergency?
No. The CDC says pool and spa water can be used for washing and cleaning, but not for drinking.
Sources
- CDC: How to Find Clean Water in an Emergency
- FEMA: How to Make Your Water Safe to Drink (fact sheet)
- Be Ready Utah: Other Sources of Water
- King County, WA: Hidden Water Supplies
- Greensboro Fire Department: Home Safety, Utilities and Water
- Ready.gov (FEMA): Water
Related entries
- W-01How to make water safe to drink in an emergencyBoil it, bleach it, or filter and treat it. Exact amounts from the CDC.
- W-02How much water to store for an emergency1 gallon per person per day. Work out your household total in 10 seconds.
- G-03Best gravity water filters for emergenciesGravity filters checked against the CDC's pore-size rules and NSF standards. What each one removes, and what it does not.
General safety information only, not medical or professional advice. Rules can change, so check the linked sources and follow your local officials. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.