Water is the single most critical resource in any sustained disruption. The average person needs 1 gallon per day minimum for drinking and basic sanitation — more for cooking, hygiene, and any medical needs. Document every source: type, location (bearing and distance from reference, not GPS), flow rate or yield, seasonal reliability, known contamination risks, and treatment requirements. A well with no power for the pump is only useful if you have a hand pump or bucket access.
Rainwater collection is one of the most reliable grid-independent water sources available. Catchment calculation: 1 inch of rain on 1,000 sq ft of roof = approximately 600 gallons of collectible water (accounting for losses). Document your roof area, slope, gutter configuration, first-flush diverter if present, storage tank capacity, and overflow management. Note any legal restrictions on rainwater collection in your state.
Not all water treatment methods work against all contaminants. Biological: boiling (1 min rolling boil, 3 min above 6,500 ft), chlorination, UV treatment, or ceramic filtration. Chemical: activated carbon or reverse osmosis. Sediment: settlement, pre-filtering. Document which treatment you use for each source and why. Document your testing protocol — frequency, what you test for, and acceptable limits. A Sawyer MINI is excellent for biological contamination; it does nothing for heavy metals or chemicals.
Minimum storage target: 2 weeks at 1 gallon per person per day as an absolute floor. One month is better. Document container types (food-grade only), total capacity, storage location, rotation frequency, and how stored water is treated. WaterBOB bladders for bathtubs, 55-gallon food-grade drums, and stackable 5-gallon containers each have different roles. Note your maximum storage capacity given space and structural limits.
Sanitation failure kills more people than the initial disaster in extended grid-down scenarios. Without sewage service, you need a plan from day one. Document your composting toilet setup or latrine plan, greywater disposal method, handwashing station design and soap supply, and garbage management. Plan for the volume your group generates — a group of 8 produces significant waste that must be managed to prevent contamination of your water sources.
All sources with yield, treatment required, and seasonal notes.
Calculated daily requirement by group size and use category.
Quick reference for treating each source — laminate for field use.
Current stored water by container type with rotation schedule.