How to Store Emergency Water in a Studio Apartment

Storing water is the hardest part of apartment prepping. It’s incredibly heavy (8.3 lbs per gallon), takes up massive volume, and can cause catastrophic damage if it leaks over your downstairs neighbor. Once you have water stored, learn how to purify it without a filter if your supply runs low.

Here are the safest, most space-efficient ways to stash H2O without a garage.

1. The Under-Bed Stash (WaterBricks)

WaterBricks are interlocking, heavy-duty plastic containers that hold 3.5 gallons each. Because they lay flat, you can easily slide 4-6 of them under a standard queen bed. That is 20 gallons of water completely out of sight.

2. The Bathtub Bladder (WaterBOB)

This is the ultimate hack for renters. A WaterBOB is a heavy-duty plastic liner you lay in your bathtub. If a hurricane or winter storm is approaching, you place it in the tub, attach the nozzle to your faucet, and fill it up. It holds up to 100 gallons of clean drinking water that stays fresh inside the sealed bag. Once the emergency is over, you throw it away.

3. Stackable 5-Gallon Jerry Cans for the Closet

If you happen to have a deep closet, traditional tall 5-gallon jerry cans (like Scepter cans) are your best friend. They stand vertically, utilizing vertical closet space instead of floor space.

Pro Tip: Never store water containers directly on concrete floors (if you have an unfinished loft), as chemicals can leech through the plastic. Always place them on a piece of cardboard or wood.