Imagine this: it’s Saturday morning. You’re making breakfast for the family when suddenly the tap runs dry. Not a single drop. No need to panic — even if you don’t have a full stock of bottled water, there are more drinkable water sources in your home than you might expect. With a few simple steps, you can make the most of what you already have.
Why think about this beforehand?
Government guidelines recommend keeping an emergency supply of water in your home — about 3 liters per person per day, for at least three days. But not everyone wants to dedicate half a closet to bottled water. That’s why it’s smart to know where you can find usable water in your own home when it really matters.
What to Do When Your Water Suddenly Stops
1. Turn off the main water valve immediately
This prevents air or contaminated water from entering your pipes when the pressure returns.
2. Drain the pipes
Start by opening the lowest tap in your home — such as an outdoor tap or one in the basement — and then a higher tap. This allows the water to flow out of your plumbing in a controlled way.
In a typical home, the pipes hold around 9–10 liters of clean water, perfectly usable for drinking or cooking.
3. Check the toilet tank
The toilet cistern usually holds 6–9 liters of clean water (unless you’ve added cleaning products). You can scoop this into bottles or containers for later use.
4. Use the boiler (with care)
A small kitchen boiler holds around 10–15 liters, while a large household boiler can contain 100 liters or more.
Turn off the electricity or gas first, then use the drain valve at the bottom to collect the water.
Be cautious — the water can be very hot. After boiling or filtering, this water can be safe to drink.
Bonus tip: water from a boiling-water tap system is usually safe to drink immediately.
5. Collect rainwater
If rain is on the way, place buckets or a rain barrel outside.
Rainwater isn’t safe to drink right away, but after filtering and boiling it becomes usable.
You can also use it for flushing the toilet or cleaning.
6. Other water sources in the house
Appliances like washing machines or dishwashers contain water, but it’s usually mixed with detergents.
This water is not for drinking — but it’s perfectly fine for flushing the toilet or cleaning in an emergency.
How to Store the Water
Use clean bottles, pots, jugs, or sealable buckets.
If you’re unsure about water quality, boil it or use a reliable water filter to be safe.
Government Advice
Aim to have 3 liters of drinking water per person per day — either through bottled water, purification tablets, or a food-safe jerrycan.
But it’s also good to know that your home often contains 15 to 25 liters of usable water, if you know where to look.
For You and Your Family
These tips aren’t “doomsday prepping” — they’re simply common sense.
Just like owning a fire extinguisher or a smoke detector: you hope you’ll never need it, but it brings peace of mind to be prepared.
Want to get started step by step?
Check out our emergency checklists or explore how the Emergency kit can help you stay ready.