The WaterBrick: One of the Most Useful, Versatile Survival Tools, Probably Ever

Never has emergency water storage been so important to me as when Hurricane Harvey left my town flooded with 8 feet of dirty river water. In the hours and days that followed, families were scrambling for drinking water of any kind.

Thankfully, our home had been spared, so we spent the following days delivering cases of water to families busily mucking out their homes.

The water was gratefully received.

Back at my house, we had several cases of stored water set aside and a few 55-gallon drums filled with extra water, just in case. Although we had never anticipated a record-setting flood like Harvey, we knew that clean drinking water is foundational to survival and that having sources of emergency drinking water is life-saving.

The Problem with 55-gallon drums for water storage

I have long recommended those barrels as a quick solution to massive water storage, but they aren’t practical for many people. Why?

• Filled, just one weighs almost 450 pounds, too heavy to store in some structures.
• They’re impossible to move, and for singles and senior citizens, they may not be a desirable solution anyway.
• Due to space constraints, those huge barrels are impractical for many people, even if you can find low-cost barrels.

Add to that, most bottles used for bottled water aren’t meant to last long term.

So, what is a practical solution when you want to store a good amount of water but lack the space?

The WaterBrick fills the bill perfectly.

WaterBrick review

The WaterBrick is a cleverly designed storage container made of nearly indestructible, BPA-free, food-safe plastic. Each WaterBrick holds 3.5 gallons of water, which equals about 27 pounds of carrying weight. I’m not particularly strong, but I can pretty easily carry one of these, unlike a filled 55-gallon barrel!

Because WaterBricks are much smaller than 55-gallon drums, they can safely be stored anywhere. So if you’re concerned about the weight of the water, just distribute the weight of the WaterBricks by stashing them in multiple locations.

These handy rectangular containers can be stacked, laid flat, and can even be lined up to create a barrier. In addition, the design allows the containers to be interlocked, which is a nice feature. They’re a great option rainwater collected in urban and suburban areas.

Beyond emergency water storage

I’ve found the WaterBrick to be highly versatile, with uses far beyond just storing water. Here are just a few.

• Fill with salt, sand, or cat litter and keep them in the trunk of your car when it’s snowing in case extra traction is needed.
• Useful as an ammo can.
• Fill with any beverage for outdoor tailgating events. The WaterBrick spigot from Survival Frog makes a handy self-serve dispenser.
• Store emergency cash.
• Use to stack and build life-size forts that can change just as quickly as your child’s imagination!
• WaterBricks can be stacked for big kids, too! They make walls for paintball fields.
• Organize and store small children’s toys, such as Legos.
• Stack two “walls” and add a piece of plywood on top for a custom-sized desk.
• Hang one from a tree when camping and use it as a shower.
• Keep a filled WaterBrick in the back of your car for any emergency that may arise for washing hands, water for the car, washing windshield, emergency water for a 72-hour car kit, staying cool on a hot day, etc.
• Store one under every sink in your home so you’ll have a ready emergency water supply right where it’s needed most.
• Store dry foods such as rice, wheat, cornmeal, and oats. The airtight, waterproof container keeps them safe from humidity. Add 750 cc oxygen absorbers to keep the food fresh for long-term storage.
• Important Documents – keeps papers dry during floods or storms.
• Great for taking water on camping trips where there isn’t drinking water available.
• Use to Weigh Down Car/Truck – Just add water, sand, or salt and use to weigh down the back of a rear-wheel car or truck.
• Keep food cool longer during a blackout by keeping a frozen brick in the freezer. Then drink the water once it’s thawed out.
• Make a time capsule with the WaterBrick.
• Store valuables in the WaterBrick. An intruder will never think of looking in there.
• WaterBricks are so versatile; they are a good item for a recent graduate to take to college for emergency water storage.
• Place a frozen WaterBrick in your ice chest. It won’t soak your food as ice does, and you will have cold water available when it thaws.
• The WaterBricks make a perfect gift for a housewarming, wedding, birthday, Christmas, etc. It can be a gift on its own or can be used as a “gift bag” for small emergency supplies, such as flashlights, paracord, multitool, etc.
• The WaterBricks can be used for picnics, parties, or to bring to work sites.
• Store first aid items in WaterBricks. Label the outside.
• Use WaterBricks to make emergency kits for work, school, and home.

Your water storage goal should be at least 1 gallon per person daily. That’s the bare minimum recommended by official sites.

Example: A family of 4 will need to store 4 gallons of water per day multiplied by at least seven days. That will give you a one-week emergency water supply, and you’ll need 8 WaterBricks for that amount.

However, it’s genuinely inadequate. I recommend at least two gallons per person per day.

How are you doing with emergency water storage?