How much water do you need for 72 hours?
Plan at least 2 litres of water per person per day for drinking and cooking – that's 6 litres per person for 72 hours. With basic hygiene, plan around 3 litres a day.
The short answer
Poland's Government Centre for Security (RCB) recommends two litres of water per person per day. For 72 hours that is 6 litres per person – 24 litres for a family of four.
German consumer advice (Verbraucherzentrale) also recommends at least two litres per person per day and suggests keeping a supply for ten days.
If you also want water for basic hygiene, many local guides use about 3 litres per person per day – 9 litres per person for 72 hours.
How to store it
Small bottles (1.5 l) are easier to carry if you have to leave the house; larger canisters work well as a home reserve.
Keep the water in a cool, dark place and check the dates every few months – rotate it into everyday use before it expires.
Remember pets: they need their own water supply.
Don't forget the backup
Water purification tablets or a travel filter are a cheap backup if your supply runs out.
Keep one refillable container per person in case you need to evacuate.
Get your household's full 72-hour plan
Ready72h turns official guidance from Sweden (MSB), Germany (BBK) and Poland (RCB) into a calm, practical plan: a complete 72-hour supply checklist, a family communication plan for when phones go down, and a “15 minutes to leave the house” go-bag list. Apartment and house versions, printable PDF plus an offline app that tracks your progress.
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FAQ
How much water per person for 3 days?
At least 6 litres (2 litres a day, the RCB recommendation). With basic hygiene, plan around 9 litres.
How much water for a family of four for 72 hours?
At least 24 litres for drinking and cooking, or about 36 litres if you include basic hygiene.
Sources
- Bankier.pl – RCB: two litres of water per person per day (2025)
- Verbraucherzentrale Niedersachsen – Trinkwasservorrat
- Wrocław.pl – Dom gotowy na wszystko: jak przetrwać 72 godziny
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