You turn on the faucet—and nothing comes out.

Maybe the water was shut off because of a broken water main. Maybe a power outage has stopped your well pump. Maybe an earthquake or other disaster has damaged the local water system.

Whatever the reason, knowing what to do when the water stops running can prevent a frustrating situation from becoming a serious emergency.

The first thing to remember is simple:

Don't panic, and don't assume the water will be back on in an hour.

Take a few minutes to figure out what happened, protect the water you already have, and start conserving your emergency supply.

First, Figure Out Why the Water Stopped

Before you start hauling out your emergency water storage, determine whether the problem is inside your home or affecting the larger water system.

Check Your Faucets

Turn on several faucets throughout the house.

If none of them work, check with a neighbor. If your neighbors also have no water, you're probably dealing with a community water outage.

If your neighbors have water but you don't, the problem may be specific to your home.

Check for a Water Main or Plumbing Problem

If you suddenly lose water, look for obvious signs of a plumbing problem.

Check:

• Your water shutoff valve
• The area around your water heater
• Basement or crawl-space plumbing
• Outdoor faucets
• Visible pipes
• Areas of standing water

If you discover a broken pipe or significant leak, shut off the home's water supply if you can safely do so and contact a plumber.

If you suspect a problem with the municipal water system, contact your water provider or check its outage information.

If You Have a Private Well

A power outage can cause a completely different problem for households with wells.

Your water may still be underground and available, but the electric pump that moves it into your house won't work.

If you have a private well, think of electricity and water as connected systems.

Your preparedness plan should account for both.

If There's a Water Main Break or Emergency, Don't Assume the Water Is Safe

There is an important difference between:

No water coming out of the faucet

and

Water coming out that may not be safe to drink.

A damaged water system can potentially allow contamination into pipes, particularly when pressure is lost or infrastructure has been damaged.

If your local water authority issues a boil-water advisory, do-not-drink advisory, or other water-use warning, follow those instructions.

Don't rely on clear-looking water as proof that it is safe.

Water can contain harmful microorganisms or chemicals without looking, smelling, or tasting unusual.

What to Do Immediately When the Water Stops

Once you've determined that you're dealing with a real water outage, start treating your remaining water as a limited resource.

1. Stop Wasting Water

Don't leave faucets open hoping the water will return.

Avoid unnecessary water use, including:

• Long showers
• Bathing
• Washing cars
• Watering lawns
• Running unnecessary loads of laundry
• Washing dishes under running water
• Flushing toilets unnecessarily

You don't know how long the outage will last.

2. Fill Containers If Water Is Still Available

If the water is still running intermittently or you receive notice that the system will be shut down, fill clean containers while you can.

Prioritize drinking water first.

Then consider water needed for:

• Cooking
• Brushing teeth
• Medication
• Basic hygiene
• Toilet flushing, if appropriate
• Pets

Don't wait until the water has completely stopped to start thinking about storage.

3. Gather the Water You Already Have

Look around your home.

You may have more usable water than you realize.

Potential sources include:

• Stored emergency water
• Bottled water
• Water coolers
• Filled water containers
• Water stored in a refrigerator dispenser
• Water stored in a freezer
• Water in emergency water pouches
• Water in camping containers

Don't assume every source is safe to drink, however.

Water from places such as decorative ponds, swimming pools, hot tubs, or untreated outdoor sources should not automatically be considered drinking water.

How Much Water Does Your Family Need?

A common emergency-preparedness guideline is to store at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

That's a starting point—not necessarily everything your family would need to live normally.

A family with young children, someone who is pregnant, people who are sick, pets, or hot weather conditions may require additional water.

Think about how much water your household would actually use.

For example, a family of four using the one-gallon-per-person-per-day guideline would need:

4 gallons per day

For three days:

12 gallons

For two weeks:

56 gallons

And that's a preparedness baseline, not a promise that 1 gallon per person will cover every need.

The easiest way to make a water outage manageable is to store water before you need it.

What Water Should You Use for Drinking?

When the water is unavailable, use your safest known drinking-water sources first.

A reasonable priority is:

1. Commercially bottled water
2. Properly stored emergency water
3. Water from clean containers that you filled before the outage
4. Water from other sources that can be safely treated according to the type of contamination involved

Water treatment isn't one-size-fits-all.

Boiling can kill many disease-causing microorganisms, but it does not remove many chemicals, heavy metals, or other contaminants.

If you suspect chemical contamination, don't assume boiling will make the water safe.

Follow local public-health instructions whenever they are available.

Don't Forget the Water in Your Water Heater

Your water heater can contain a substantial amount of water.

However, don't automatically drink water from your water heater simply because your regular water supply has stopped.

Whether it is appropriate depends on what caused the outage and the condition of your plumbing and water heater.

If your water supply has been contaminated, water in your water heater may also be affected.

If you are instructed that the water supply is contaminated, follow your local health department's guidance about alternative water sources.

What About the Water in Your Toilet Tank?

This is another source people sometimes mention during emergencies.

But toilet water isn't a good primary emergency-water strategy.

If the tank is clean and hasn't been treated with chemical cleaners, the water may be physically separate from the bowl water. However, you should not rely on toilet-tank water when you can store safe drinking water ahead of time.

Preparedness is much easier than trying to reclaim questionable water during a crisis.

How to Manage Your Toilet When the Water Is Off

One of the first problems you'll encounter when your water stops running is surprisingly simple:

How are you going to flush the toilet?

If your plumbing and sewer system are functioning normally, you may be able to flush a toilet by manually adding water to the bowl or tank.

But don't automatically start flushing with your drinking water.

If the outage is expected to last, or if the sewer system has also been damaged, you'll need another sanitation plan.

When Should You Stop Flushing?

Stop flushing if:

• You're running out of water
• Your local authorities tell you not to flush
• Sewage is backing up
• The sewer system may be damaged
• You're dealing with an earthquake or other major infrastructure failure

A toilet that doesn't flush is inconvenient.

A sewage backup can become a serious sanitation problem.

For a longer outage, having an emergency toilet setup is a much better solution than trying to maintain normal toilet use indefinitely.

Check out this article for more information Emergency Toilet and Sanitation: What to Do When You Can't Flush

Handwashing Becomes a Priority

When running water disappears, hygiene becomes more difficult—but more important.

Handwashing is especially important:

• After using the toilet
• Before preparing food
• Before eating
• After caring for someone who is sick
• After handling garbage
• After handling animals

Keep these supplies together:

• Hand sanitizer
• Soap
• Disposable towels
• Wet wipes
• Paper towels
• Disposable gloves

Hand sanitizer is useful when soap and water aren't available, but it doesn't replace handwashing for every situation.

If your hands are visibly dirty or greasy, soap and water are generally preferable when available.

How to Bathe Without Running Water

You don't need to take a normal shower to stay reasonably clean.

During a water outage, focus on the areas that matter most.

A simple cleanup can use:

• A washcloth
• A small basin
• A limited amount of water
• Soap
• Wet wipes

Prioritize your hands, face, underarms, and other areas where sweat and bacteria accumulate.

You can save a surprising amount of water by switching temporarily from "normal household water use" to intentional water use.

Cooking Without Running Water

A water outage can affect food preparation just as much as drinking.

Consider meals that require little or no water.

Examples include:

• Canned foods
• Ready-to-eat meals
• Peanut butter
• Crackers
• Shelf-stable meats
• Fruit
• Applesauce
• Granola bars
• Dry foods that don't require cooking
• Previously prepared foods

If you normally rely on dry beans, rice, pasta, or other foods that require significant water, make sure you have enough stored water to prepare them.

This is one reason emergency food planning and water planning should be done together.

A 20-pound bag of rice isn't much of an emergency food supply if you don't have the water or fuel necessary to cook it.

What About Dishes?

Avoid using large amounts of water to wash dishes during an outage.

One simple strategy is to use disposable plates and utensils temporarily.

If you prefer reusable dishes, use a limited amount of water and wipe dishes clean before washing them.

You can also designate one cup and one set of utensils per person and wash them only when necessary.

The goal isn't to maintain your normal household routine.

The goal is to use your limited resources wisely.

Don't Forget Your Pets

Your pets need water, too.

Make sure your emergency water calculations include:

• Dogs
• Cats
• Birds
• Small animals
• Chickens
• Other livestock

Don't assume that pets can simply drink from outdoor sources.

During an emergency, puddles, irrigation ditches, ponds, and other outdoor water sources may contain contaminants, parasites, chemicals, or other hazards.

Keep a separate emergency water supply for animals whenever practical.

What About Your Yard and Garden?

If your water outage lasts several days, you may need to make choices about outdoor water use.

Your lawn can wait.

Your garden may not be able to.

If you are growing food, prioritize the plants that are most valuable and most vulnerable to drying out.

Drip irrigation and mulch can reduce water loss during normal conditions and become especially useful during water shortages.

But during a serious emergency, drinking water and basic sanitation come before keeping the lawn green.

What to Do If the Water Outage Lasts for Several Days

If you reach the second or third day without water, stop thinking of it as a temporary inconvenience.

Start managing your household as though the outage could continue.

Create a daily water plan.

For example:

Morning

• Drink water
• Give pets water
• Prepare food
• Set aside the day's sanitation water

During the day

• Track how much water you're using
• Avoid unnecessary consumption
• Monitor official updates

Evening

• Check remaining water
• Prepare the next day's supplies
• Reassess whether your family needs to relocate or obtain additional water

This simple habit prevents the common problem of discovering that you've used most of your water without realizing it.

How to Get More Water During a Water Outage

If your stored supply isn't enough, look for safe, authorized sources rather than improvising.

Depending on the situation, local authorities may establish:

• Water distribution points
• Emergency drinking-water stations
• Bottled-water distribution
• Community shelters
• Other emergency water resources

Follow instructions from your local water provider, public health department, or emergency management agency.

If you're told that tap water is contaminated, don't collect more tap water simply because it is still coming out of the faucet.

What If You Have No Water and No Way to Get More?

At this point, the problem has moved beyond ordinary household preparedness.

If you are running out of safe drinking water, prioritize obtaining safe water rather than trying to stretch an inadequate supply indefinitely.

Depending on the emergency, that could mean:

• Going to an official water distribution site
• Contacting local emergency services or emergency management
• Relocating temporarily
• Asking trusted family or neighbors for assistance
• Obtaining commercially bottled water

If someone becomes seriously ill from dehydration, seek medical assistance.

A Simple Water Outage Kit

You don't need a huge collection of specialized equipment.

Start with:

Water

• Stored drinking water
• Portable water containers
• Bottled water
• Water-treatment supplies appropriate for your situation

Hygiene

• Hand sanitizer
• Soap
• Wet wipes
• Washcloths
• Paper towels

Sanitation

• Toilet paper
• Heavy-duty trash bags
• Emergency toilet supplies
• Disposable gloves

Food

• Ready-to-eat food
• Manual can opener
• Foods that require little water

Information

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• Written emergency contacts
• Local utility contact information

For Pets

• Stored pet drinking water
• Pet food
• Bowls
• Basic sanitation supplies

Keep these items together so you aren't searching for them after the water has already stopped.

Prepare for a Water Outage Before It Happens

The easiest time to prepare for a water outage is when your faucets are working normally.

You don't have to buy everything at once.

Start with the basics.

This week:

• Store several gallons of drinking water.
• Buy a few inexpensive water containers.
• Add bottled water to your grocery routine.
• Put hand sanitizer and wipes with your emergency supplies.
• Get a manual can opener.
• Make sure you have toilet and sanitation supplies.
• Find your home's main water shutoff valve.
• Find your local water provider's emergency information page.

Then build from there:

• Increase your emergency water storage.
• Learn how to properly treat questionable water.
• Store water for pets.
• Add ready-to-eat foods.
• Create an emergency toilet kit.
• Consider how your household would manage a week without running water.
• If you have a well, develop a plan for losing electricity to the pump.

Try a 24-Hour No-Water Challenge

One of the best ways to discover how dependent your household is on running water is to simulate an outage.

You don't need to actually shut off your home's water supply if doing so could damage your plumbing or appliances.

Instead, pretend that the faucets have stopped working.

For 24 hours, use only the water you've intentionally set aside.

Think about:

• How much do you drink?
• How much do you need for cooking?
• How much do you need for pets?
• How much does toilet use require?
• How much water does hygiene take?
• How much do you need for washing dishes?
• What did you run out of first?

You may discover that your family's water needs are very different from what you expected.

That's valuable information.

You can adjust your emergency water storage before the real emergency happens.

Don't Wait Until the Faucet Is Dry

Most of us don't think about how much our lives depend on running water.

We drink it.

We cook with it.

We wash our hands with it.

We flush our toilets with it.

We bathe in it.

We give it to our pets.

We use it to clean our homes.

When the water stops running, all of those ordinary routines suddenly require a plan.

You don't need to become an expert in water treatment or store a year's worth of water in your basement.

Start with enough safe water to get your family through the first few days. Then build from there.

Store water. Know how to conserve it. Have a sanitation plan. Know where to get reliable information. And understand how your home's water system works.

The goal isn't to live without running water.

It's to be prepared when running water isn't available.

Water Outage Preparedness Checklist

Before an outage:

• Store emergency drinking water
• Store water for pets
• Have portable water containers
• Have water-treatment supplies
• Know where your home's water shutoff valve is
• Know your water provider
• Store hand sanitizer and wipes
• Have an emergency toilet plan
• Store ready-to-eat food
• Keep a manual can opener
• Have an emergency radio
• If you have a well, plan for a power outage

When the water stops:

• Determine whether the outage affects only your home
• Check for plumbing leaks or a closed shutoff valve
• Check official utility information
• Follow any boil-water or do-not-drink advisory
• Stop unnecessary water use
• Protect your drinking-water supply
• Plan water use for each day
• Conserve water for drinking and essential needs
• Make a sanitation plan
• Provide water for pets
• Monitor official updates
• Obtain additional safe water if your supply is running low

A water outage doesn't have to become a crisis for your family.

A little water stored today can buy you time, options, and peace of mind when the faucet stops working tomorrow.

 

Other Articles of Interest

Water Storage Containers: The Best Options for Every Budget and Space

How to Purify Water at Home (5 Simple Methods That Work)

How to Filter and Sanitize Water in an Emergency

How to Store Water in Small Spaces: Creative Solutions for Apartments and Tiny Homes