There are plenty of plumbing emergencies that many of us will live through — a clogged drain, an overflowing toilet, even a leaking ice maker in the fridge. But one that most of us hope we never have to deal with is a water shutoff. That’s right — a water shutoff, which is exactly what it sounds like. No running water for an extended period of time.
Unfortunately, water shutoffs are beyond the control of any homeowner or the plumbers they hire (unless, of course, the water shutoff applies only to your property because you forgot to pay your water bill…but that’s a completely separate issue). Instead, a water shutoff could happen because there’s a water main break, a leak, or some other issue like tree roots growing into an underground pipe or infrastructure damage caused by crews digging up the road. In extreme events, an extended power outage (such as one following a hurricane) could mean water treatment facilities are without electricity, thus cutting off supply.
Depending on the cause, a water outage could last for several hours or even several days. If you have forewarning of the outage, this gives you an opportunity to prepare. Unfortunately, in some cases, there is no warning, and you are left to make do with what you already have at home. Because of this, it is always best to be prepared for the worst. FEMA recommends having a two-week supply in your home in case you ever find yourself in an emergency.
Here’s what you should do in the event of a water shutoff:
Stock up on drinking water.
Because your greatest risk during a water outage is dehydration, make sure you have plenty of bottled water on hand for at least three days — you want one gallon per person per day. Your needs might be different if you have seniors or children within your household, or if your water shutoff happens at a time of year when the weather is especially hot.
Store your drinking water in a cool, dark place, as heat and sunlight can be damaging to the water. You also want to keep it stacked on shelves, or at the very least, on top of sheets of cardboard or wooden pallets. This will stop any chemicals on a concrete floor (such as the floor of your basement or garage) from leeching through the plastic container and contaminating your drinking water.
Fill your bathtub with water for other necessities.
If you have a heads-up ahead of time, you can fill your bathtub as high as you can (along with other large containers if you expect you might need more). You can use this water for other tasks around the house, but the primary need will be to flush your toilet — just use a smaller container to empty water from your bathtub into the toilet tank every time you need to flush.
In addition to flushing your toilet, you’ll need to designate specific containers for household activities like doing dishes, brushing your teeth, or washing your hands. Be judicious in the activities you engage in based on how much water you have and how long you think you’ll be without water. This might not be the ideal time to wash laundry in your kitchen sink — let the dirty clothes pile up and wash them when your water access is restored.
Out of an abundance of caution, do not use water stored in your bathtub for drinking, particularly if that water has been sitting uncovered for hours or even days. While you can stock up on tap water ahead of time for any drinking needs, it’s important to store your drinking water in sanitary containers. Do not use emptied milk or juice containers, as trace amounts of proteins or sugars can remain even after rinsing these, ultimately turning your drinking water into a breeding ground for bacteria.
Shut off your water heater.
This is an important precaution to take once your water has been shut off, as an empty hot water tank can overheat and catch fire when the line is dry.
Only in true emergencies should you try to sanitize your own drinking water.
In most situations, stocking up on a few gallons of drinking water and a bathtub full of water for other uses will be able to last you through the duration of an outage. But in the extreme situations where you really do not have access to any water to drink, there are ways you can treat emergency water for consumption. Start by straining the water through paper towels or a coffee filter to remove any heavy particles in the water. Then place in a pot on your stovetop and bring it to a rolling boil. Allow the water to boil for a full minute, then let it cool before drinking. If electricity to boil your water is unavailable, you can sanitize your drinking water via chlorination — use only 1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water. The bleach should be unscented and should have only 5.25 to 6 percent sodium hypochlorite as an active ingredient. Stir the bleach into the water and allow it to stand for three minutes before using.