Best Water Storage Containers for Emergencies

Without adequate hydration, the body quickly succumbs to dehydration, which can impair physical and cognitive functions, leading to fatigue, dizziness, and even more severe health issues like kidney failure and heat exhaustion​. We can only survive about 3 days without water!

So how do you store water at home? For the prepared, water storage is one of the most critical elements of preparedness for almost any scenario, and is often the most overlooked!

To learn more about water storage as a whole, read The Ultimate Guide to Water Storage for Long-Term Survival.

We’ll cover all the important decision points here, such as capacity, durability, cost and ease of storage, and present our top picks. We’ll focus primarily on the <55 gallon storage options since those are the most realistic for most people! There are some great options out there, and we’re here to guide you in the right direction based on our experience.

Table of Contents

Headliners

Overall Winner: Scepter 5 Gal Military Water Can

Easiest to Store: AquaBrick

Best Value: Reliance Rhino Pak Heavy Duty Water Container

Budget Pick: Aqua-Tainer

Best 55 gallon container: WaterPrepared

Best Water Storage Containers

Our Criteria

Choosing a water container boils down to a few factors:

• Capacity
  • Assessing your water needs based on the number of people and duration you are planning for.
• Durability
  • The container should withstand environmental factors and potential rough handling. Also ensure the container is made from food-grade, BPA-free materials to keep the water safe for consumption. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a common and reliable material. Containers that are UV-resistant also help prevent the growth of bacteria and algae, which is crucial for long-term storage.
• Ease of Storage
  • Consider the storage space you have available. Some containers are designed to be stackable, making them ideal for maximizing vertical space.
• Accessibility
  • Look for features that make the container easy to fill and dispense water from, such as large caps, spigots, and hose attachments, as well as overall portability.
• Cost
  • Expensive does not always equal better! Our metric will be gallons per dollar, meaning gallons of storage divided by the current cost of a single container.
• Value
  • Is it worth the price you’ll be paying at all when accounting for these factors!

Our Picks

Scepter 5 Gal Military Water Can

Our Ratings

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.33/5 stars)

The MWC is our “Best in Show” when it comes to water storage. It’s a robust, reliable, and practical choice for anyone needing a durable water storage solution, whether it’s for camping, long term storage, or anything else. It’s certainly expensive, but for the longevity and durability you receive with this, it’s well worth the price of entry in our opinion. The MWC sports a huge 4” opening, a locking ring to prevent accidental loosening, a smaller 1” pour spout with no moving or reversible parts, and stability feet. The cost per gallon, as of writing, is about $9.28/gal, which is more expensive than average, but for the durability and capacity that comes with that price, it’s worth it.

It holds 5 gallons (20 liters) of water, which is ideal for both short-term and extended outdoor activities and is constructed from HDPE, which ensures it can withstand rough handling and harsh conditions. It also passed our drop tests from 5 feet onto pavement without significant damage at all. This is an awesome choice for water storage and is our go-to when it comes to our long term storage, it’s tough to beat this all around great container.

AquaBrick

Our Ratings

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

The AquaLife water storage system by Sagan Life is an excellent choice for emergency water storage. With a capacity of 3 gallons per container, it strikes a solid balance between portability and sufficient water storage, making it manageable and practical for various applications. Made from HDPE, the AquaLife is known for its durability, withstanding rough handling and diverse environmental conditions without leaking. Its interlocking design allows for efficient stacking, making it highly space-efficient and easy to store even in limited spaces, so it’s an excellent choice for those in apartments or smaller living spaces. It is functionally the WaterBrick system, which also features the interlocking design, just with more intelligent accessibility design and superior durability.

The AquaLife also features a spigot cap for easy water access, although some users noted that the caps and spigot require significant tightening to prevent leaks. Despite this minor inconvenience, the containers remain highly accessible and even boast two built-in handles to make portability even better. Despite being priced on the expensive side, it offers excellent value for its durability, ease of storage, and practical design. The cost per gallon, as of writing, is about $11.25/gal, which is certainly on the expensive side, but for the portability, ease of storage and durability that comes with that, it’s worth it.

These are great because you can store them basically anywhere: under a bed, in a garage, on a shelf, and anywhere else you can think of. Others have expressed high satisfaction with the AquaLife’s performance, indicating it is a worthwhile investment for those looking to enhance their emergency preparedness, as it can even double as a food storage container.

Reliance Rhino Pak Heavy Duty Water Container

Our Ratings

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.2/5 stars)

The Reliance Rhino Pak Heavy Duty Water Container, with its 5.5-gallon (23-liter) capacity, strikes a good balance between portability and usefulness, making it suitable for various outdoor activities and other water storage needs. The container is constructed with 33% thicker plastic than standard models, ensuring exceptional durability and puncture resistance, which is essential for rugged outdoor environments and preventing bacteria growth due to light penetration. Its narrow profile and stackable design enhance ease of storage, allowing for efficient space utilization, whether upright or on its side.

Others have noted though, that when they’re completely full, they swell enough to where the stacking isn’t as tight as when they’re empty. Additionally, the premium spigot and vent cap, along with ergonomic handles, facilitate easy pouring, filling, and carrying, although some users suggest that the spigot design could be improved for better flow control.

In terms of cost, the cost per gallon as of writing is about $4/gal, which is tremendous given the durability, ease of storage, and portability that come with that, it’s hands down the best value on our list. This makes it an affordable option considering its robust build and functionality. This pricing offers excellent value for those needing a dependable water storage solution for both outdoor adventures and emergency preparedness. Overall, the Reliance Rhino excels in capacity, durability, storage ease, accessibility, cost, and value, making it a strong choice for anyone looking for a sturdy and efficient water container, and for the money, it’s really hard to beat it.

Aqua-Tainer

Our Ratings

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.8/5 stars)

If you’re on a budget but still want to address your water storage needs, the Aqua-Tainer from Reliance is a great choice. Its 7-gallon capacity strikes an ideal balance between portability and ample water storage, making it suitable for a variety of scenarios, from camping trips to emergency preparedness. The container is constructed from BPA-free plastic, ensuring water quality and safety.

However, some users have noted occasional issues with the spigot leaking, which can slightly impact its long-term durability, and the container is definitely made of thinner plastic, so isn’t a container I would want to throw around all the time like some others on this list. The container’s rectangular shape and space-saving design does allow for easy stacking and storage, though its size and weight when filled may pose handling challenges for some, since 7 gallons is heavy!

Accessibility is enhanced by the reversible hideaway spigot, which simplifies water dispensing, and the ergonomic handle that aids in transport. Despite minor spigot-related drawbacks and some thinner walls, the Aqua-Tainer remains a great cost-effective option. The cost per gallon as of writing is about $2.27/gal, which is incredibly cheap given the durability you get as even with a budget option. Overall, it is a great choice for someone on a budget that still wants a quality water storage container​.

WaterPrepared 55 Gallon Container

Our Ratings

Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.3/5 stars)

How do I choose?

In reality, you should probably mix and match some of these options depending on your intended usage. For example, a budget option Aqua-Tainer is really great if you don’t plan on moving it around that much, but to be able to be more mobile, you’ll want to integrate a more durable option as well. Water is so often overlooked, but it’s critical for short term and long term scenarios.

While we focused here for mostly the more portable side of water storage, if you’re preparing for total self sufficiency or a truly long term situation, you’re likely going to want to opt for a much larger, less mobile option for water storage, or maybe even a cistern. For most people though, this is a great way to prepare yourselves and your loved ones for just about anything.

Stay Informed. Stay Ready.