Is my water safe during a power outage?
If you're on a private well, the pump is off
A well pump runs on electricity — no power means no running water, and once pressure drops, contamination can enter the system. Until power returns and (if advised) the system is disinfected, treat well water as potentially unsafe: use stored or bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth.
Boil-water advisories on city water
Utilities issue a boil-water advisory when an outage or main break may have let contaminants in (loss of pressure is the common trigger). Per the CDC, until the advisory is lifted, use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, ice, brushing teeth, and washing produce. Watch your utility's alerts and local news for the notice and the all-clear.
How to make water safe
Per the CDC: boil clear water at a rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes above 6,500 ft elevation), then let it cool — boiling is the most reliable method. If you can't boil, disinfect clear water with unscented household bleach — about 8 drops (a little less than ⅛ teaspoon) of 5–9% bleach per gallon, stir, and let stand at least 30 minutes; it should have a slight chlorine smell. For cloudy water, filter it through a clean cloth first and double the bleach. Boiling and bleach do not remove chemical contamination — use bottled water if that's the concern.
How much to store
Ready.gov recommends storing at least one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation, with a minimum three-day supply at home (more in hot climates, for children, or for anyone ill). Don't forget pets.
Aquariums, sump pumps, and other water risks
An electric sump pump stops in an outage — know where your water shutoff and any backup pump are before a storm. If your basement floods around electrical outlets or a panel, stay out and call an electrician; never enter standing water that may be energized.
Store water like it matters
Per Ready.gov: use food-grade containers (or commercially bottled water), kept sealed in a cool, dark place, labeled and replaced on a schedule (about every six months for tap-filled containers). Sanitize containers before filling. Don't ration drinking water during the event — drink what your body needs and find more; ration by cutting non-drinking uses instead.
When the pump or the advisory ends
After power returns to a well, or a boil advisory lifts on city water, flush the system: run cold taps for several minutes, dump and remake ice, and replace or flush filters per the manufacturer — ice and filters made during the advisory carry the old water, per CDC guidance. Follow your water utility's specific notice; it overrides generic advice.
The hidden reserve you already own
A standard water-heater tank holds tens of gallons of clean water. In a long event it can cover sanitation and, if your utility hasn't issued an advisory affecting it, backup needs — locate its drain valve now and read your manual's instructions before you ever need to use it. (Turn off power/gas to the heater before draining, and let it cool.)
Sanitation when the taps are dry
Set aside part of stored water for hygiene, not just drinking. Hand sanitizer (60%+ alcohol) covers hands between real washes, per CDC emergency-water guidance; a bucket of non-potable water (pool, rain barrel, the water-heater reserve) can flush a toilet by pouring directly into the bowl. Mark potable vs non-potable containers clearly so nobody drinks the flush bucket.
Watch for the all-clear
Restoration and the lifting of a boil advisory can lag each other. Check your area's status for when power is back, and rely on your water utility's official notice for when the tap is safe again.