Water supply in a crisis

Clean drinking water is essential for life. Allow at least three litres per adult per day. If you are unsure of water quality, you must be able to boil the water.
Updated

Ensure a water supply no matter what

  • Allow for at least three to five litres of water per person per day. Remember that pets need water, too.
  • Store extra drinking water in cans or bottles so that you are prepared in the event of a power outage.
  • Freeze water in plastics bottles, then the bottles work both as ice packs and extra drinking water. Do not fill the bottles completely, they may crack when they freeze.
  • Keep a container for water at home, in order to fetch water from a collection point.
  • Boil water if it may be contaminated. The water should boil until it bubbles vigorously with large bubbles.

How long can drinking water be stored?

Water’s shelf-life depends, among other things, on how clean it is. That makes it hard to say exactly how long water may be safely stored. Remember to store water in a dark, cool place, so it will last longer. Never drink water which tastes or smells bad, is cloudy or has a strong colour.

Follow the advice of the Swedish Food Agency and your drinking water will stay fresh for at least a week:

  • Use well-cleaned bottles or cans.
  • Fill containers with good-quality drinking water, such as municipal drinking water.
  • Keep the water in a dark place and as cool as possible.