Gear Review — Water Storage
The right container depends on your space, your household size, and how you plan to store and use the water. Here is what each one does well and where each falls short.
Before you buy
The single most important specification is material. Every container on this page uses food-grade high-density polyethylene — HDPE, recycling symbol #2. HDPE is approved by the FDA for long-term food and water contact, does not leach harmful chemicals under normal storage conditions, and does not impart taste or odor to stored water.
Beyond material, the practical questions are capacity versus portability, how you plan to dispense water, and where you plan to store it. A 55-gallon drum holds more water per dollar than any other option, but it cannot be moved once filled. A 7-gallon jug is one person's two-day supply — manageable to carry, easy to rotate. WaterBricks at 3.5 gallons trade volume for stackability and fit under furniture.
Always use
Food-grade HDPE (#2), purpose-built water containers with airtight lids, filled with treated municipal tap water, stored in cool and dark conditions.
Never use
Milk jugs (biodegradable, retain bacteria), juice or soda bottles (retain flavor, degrade), or any container not rated for food storage.
Planning your supply
FEMA recommends one gallon per person per day as a minimum. In practice, real household needs — cooking, basic hygiene, pets, and medical conditions — push that figure to 1.5 to 2 gallons per person per day. The table below gives container counts for common household sizes at a two-week supply.
| Household | 14-day goal @ 1.5 gal/person/day |
Aqua-Tainer 7-gal | WaterBrick 3.5-gal | Scepter 5-gal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 21 gal | 3 jugs | 6 bricks | 5 cans |
| 2 people | 42 gal | 6 jugs | 12 bricks | 9 cans |
| 4 people | 84 gal | 12 jugs | 24 bricks | 17 cans |
| 6 people | 126 gal | 18 jugs | 36 bricks | 26 cans |
Round up. These are minimums. Add extra for pets, cooking, and hygiene beyond drinking.
Side by side
All containers use food-grade HDPE and are BPA-free. Cost per gallon of storage capacity at typical single-unit pricing.
| Container | Capacity | Filled weight | Stackable? | Price (approx) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliance Aqua-Tainer | 7 gal | ~58 lbs | When empty | ~$15–20 | Best value starting point |
| WaterBrick 3.5-gal | 3.5 gal | ~29 lbs | Yes — 5 high filled | ~$30–40 each | Apartments, under beds, tight spaces |
| Scepter 5-gal Military | 5 gal | ~42 lbs | Side by side | ~$30–50 | Vehicles, rough handling, garage |
| Collapsible containers | 2–5 gal | Varies | When empty | ~$15–30 | Bug-out bags, trunk kits, travel |
The full reviews
~$15–20
per container
The Aqua-Tainer is the starting point for most households building a water supply. At $15 to $20 per container, it delivers more stored gallons per dollar than any other rigid container in this category. The rectangular profile means two or three sit neatly in a closet, a garage corner, or under a utility shelf. The hideaway spout reverses into the cap for storage, reducing the chance of accidental opening or damage.
At seven gallons, a filled Aqua-Tainer weighs roughly 58 pounds. Two adults can carry one without difficulty; one person alone will find it awkward to pour precisely. This is not a container you move around frequently once filled — choose a storage location and leave it. The built-in handle is adequate for short-distance carrying when needed.
Material is food-grade HDPE, BPA-free, LFGB certified and FDA compliant per Reliance's own documentation. Reliance is a Canadian company with decades of outdoor and emergency storage products. The Aqua-Tainer has among the highest review volumes of any dedicated water storage container on the market.
Works well for:
Households building their first supply. Anyone who wants maximum gallons per dollar. Garage, closet, or under-stair storage where appearance is secondary to capacity.
Worth knowing:
Stackable only when empty — stacking filled containers risks cracking. Prolonged direct sunlight degrades the plastic; store in a cool, dark location. The spout works best when the container is elevated slightly for pouring. For a full review of this container see our dedicated Aqua-Tainer review.
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~$30–40
per container
The WaterBrick solves the problem the Aqua-Tainer cannot: space-constrained storage. At 9" × 18" × 6", a filled WaterBrick slides under most bed frames, fits on standard shelves, and stacks five high when filled — cross-stacked two per row up to four feet, the design interlocks rather than simply balancing. Six WaterBricks under a full-size bed hold 21 gallons. That is one person's two-week minimum supply stored in dead space most households are not using.
Manufactured in the US from food-grade HDPE with a BPA-free designation. The wide-mouth lid accepts an adult hand for cleaning and allows the container to double as dry food storage — up to 27 pounds of dry goods when not used for water. The handle is comfortable for one-handed carrying at 29 pounds when filled.
The cost premium over the Aqua-Tainer is real: at $30 to $40 per 3.5-gallon unit, you pay roughly three times as much per gallon of storage. For households that have the floor space for standard jugs, the Aqua-Tainer is the more economical choice. For apartment dwellers, renters without garages, or anyone storing water in living spaces, the WaterBrick's ability to disappear under furniture justifies the premium.
Works well for:
Apartments, condos, and any home where visible storage space is limited. Under-bed, closet shelf, or pantry floor storage. Grab-and-go use — 29 lbs is manageable for one person. Dry food storage when not in use for water.
Worth knowing:
The spigot is sold separately and screws into the lid — budget an extra $10–15 if you want gravity-dispensing rather than pouring. Half-size WaterBricks exist but the standard brick is the better value. Sold individually or in packs; the 10-pack is the best per-unit price.
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~$30–50
per container
The Scepter is built to the MIL-DTL-43613E military specification — the same standard US and NATO forces use for water transport in field conditions. That specification means rugged HDPE walls that withstand drops, compression, and prolonged UV exposure better than household-grade containers. If you are storing water in a truck bed, a garage with temperature swings, or a location subject to rough handling, the Scepter is the appropriate container.
The slim profile — 13.7" × 6.8" × 18.8" — fits in the back of SUVs and pickup beds without rolling. The reversible flexible spout stores inside the container when not in use, protecting it from damage. At five gallons and roughly 42 pounds filled, it is heavier than the WaterBrick but lighter than a full Aqua-Tainer — manageable for one adult to carry with two hands.
The Scepter costs more per gallon of storage than the Aqua-Tainer and is harder to find at local retailers. For a dedicated vehicle emergency kit or garage cache that may see rougher conditions than a closet, the premium is justified. For standard home storage, the Aqua-Tainer is the better value.
Works well for:
Vehicle emergency kits. Garage and outbuilding storage with temperature variation. Anyone who needs a container that can take a fall or rough handling without cracking. Off-grid and overlanding setups.
Worth knowing:
Higher cost per gallon than the Aqua-Tainer. Primarily available online rather than in local stores. The "military" branding varies by model — confirm the specific SKU carries the MIL-DTL-43613E designation before purchasing. Some Scepter models are standard-grade; the true military specification containers cost more.
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~$15–30
per container
Collapsible containers are not a primary storage solution — they are the right answer for specific scenarios: evacuation kits, vehicle emergency bags, and situations where you need water storage capacity that stores flat when empty. A 5-gallon collapsible container that folds to the size of a paperback weighs nothing, costs little, and can be filled from any tap when you need it.
The category includes a range of quality levels. BPA-free food-grade versions from reputable brands hold up to repeated use. The failure mode for collapsibles is seam integrity — cheaper versions delaminate or split at the fold lines after a dozen fill cycles. Look for reinforced seams and a wide-mouth opening for filling and cleaning.
One specific high-value use case: the WaterBOB, a 100-gallon food-grade liner designed to fill a standard bathtub during an emergency. It is not a collapsible container in the traditional sense, but it solves the same problem — emergency storage capacity that stores flat. One WaterBOB ($30–40) filled from a bathtub before a hurricane hits provides a household's two-week minimum supply. See our emergency water storage guide for full WaterBOB details.
Works well for:
Bug-out bags and get-home bags. Vehicle emergency kits where rigid containers are too bulky. Supplemental capacity when you know a disruption is coming (fill before the storm). International travel where water reliability is uncertain.
Worth knowing:
Not suitable as primary home storage — seam durability over years of sitting filled is inferior to rigid HDPE. Inspect seams before purchasing. Replace immediately if you notice any delamination. Not stackable when filled.
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Decision guide
You are starting from zero and want the most water for the least money.
Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon. $15 to $20 per container, 7 gallons each. Buy three and you have 21 gallons — one person's two-week supply — for under $60. Widely available at Walmart, Target, and outdoor retailers.
You are in an apartment or have no dedicated storage space.
WaterBrick 3.5-gallon. Six bricks under a bed hold 21 gallons in space you are already not using. Higher cost per gallon than the Aqua-Tainer, but storage in living space is worth paying for.
You want water in your vehicle or garage that can handle rough conditions.
Scepter 5-gallon military-style. Built to a military specification that standard household containers are not. Handles drops, temperature swings, and rough handling without cracking.
You want emergency capacity that stores flat until you need it.
Collapsible container for a kit, or a WaterBOB for bathtub pre-fill before a hurricane or major storm. Both solve the same problem: maximum capacity, minimal stored footprint.
You want to store more than 50 gallons permanently at home.
A 55-gallon food-grade drum ($50–80) is the most economical large-volume option. You will need a barrel wrench, a siphon pump, and a date label. It cannot be moved once filled — choose the location carefully. See our water storage guide for full drum setup details.
Getting it right
Fill from the tap
Municipal tap water is already treated with chlorine and is safe to store without additional additives. Fill directly from a clean faucet. Do not filter tap water before storing — the chlorine residual protects the stored water.
Store cool and dark
Heat accelerates plastic degradation and microbial growth. Direct sunlight is the enemy of stored water. A closet, interior room, or climate-controlled garage is ideal. Avoid storing adjacent to gasoline, pesticides, or cleaning chemicals.
Rotate every 6–12 months
Tap water in clean HDPE containers stays safe well beyond six months, but taste and quality decline over time. The CDC and FEMA recommend rotating stored water every six to twelve months. Date each container when you fill it. Water Preserver Concentrate extends shelf life to five years.
Inspect before drinking
Before using stored water, check for cloudiness, off-odor, or unusual color. If any of these are present, treat the water before drinking or discard and replace. A properly sealed HDPE container stored correctly should show none of these.
Common questions
The Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon is the best starting point for most households — the lowest cost per gallon of storage, widely available, and food-grade HDPE. For space-constrained living, WaterBricks store more gallons per usable square foot by fitting under furniture. For vehicle and garage use, the Scepter military-style container handles rough conditions better than household jugs.
Municipal tap water stored in clean, food-grade HDPE in a cool, dark location is safe to drink for at least six months and likely longer. The CDC and FEMA recommend rotating every six to twelve months. Adding Water Preserver Concentrate at the time of filling extends the rated shelf life to five years.
Yes. HDPE (recycling symbol #2) is FDA-approved for food and water contact and does not leach harmful chemicals under normal storage conditions. All four containers reviewed here use food-grade HDPE. Do not use PET (recycling symbol #1, used for single-use water bottles) or PVC containers for long-term water storage.
No. Milk jugs are single-use HDPE — biodegradable by design, they develop pinhole leaks within months and retain milk protein that supports bacterial growth. Juice and soda bottles retain flavor compounds and are not rated for repeated use. Use only containers purpose-built for water storage.
FEMA recommends one gallon per person per day as a minimum for drinking and sanitation. Real household needs run 1.5 to 2 gallons per person per day when cooking, hygiene, pets, and medical needs are included. A two-week supply for a family of four at 1.5 gallons per person per day is 84 gallons. Start with two weeks and expand from there.
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