Skip to main content
SelfSufficientNowUpdated April 2026

Water

Water Security at Home

Water is the most time-critical gap. You can manage three weeks without food. You get three days without water. Kate started here, and most people should too.

What's your water priority?

3 questions. Kate will point you to the right solution.

Question 1 of 3

What's your main water concern?

“I bought my gravity filter after a two-day burst pipe left us relying on bottled water. It cost me £189. That's the most useful £189 I've spent on this house.”

— Kate, SelfSufficientNow

Water Guides

Guide

Best Gravity Water Filter 2026: Berkey Alternatives, British Berkefeld, and Sawyer

Berkey went bankrupt in 2023. Kate's review of the best gravity water filters to replace it — British Berkefeld, Alexapure Pro, ProOne, and Sawyer compared.

Read guide →

Guide

Best Gravity Water Filter USA 2026: Alexapure Pro, ProOne, and Berkey Alternatives

Berkey's US bankruptcy left a gap. Kate's review of the best gravity filters for American families — Alexapure Pro, ProOne Big+, and durable alternatives.

Read guide →

Guide

How Much Water Should Your Family Store? The Real Calculation

Kate's no-nonsense calculation for family water storage. The 1 litre/day official guidance is dangerously low for emergencies. Here's what you actually need.

Read guide →

Guide

How to Store Drinking Water Long-Term: Containers, Rotation, and What Kate Learned

How to store drinking water long-term at home — the right containers, rotation schedule, and mistakes Kate made in year one. For UK and US households.

Read guide →

Guide

How to Store Drinking Water Long-Term: US Containers, Rotation, and What Kate Learned

How to store drinking water long-term in the USA — the right containers, rotation schedule, and mistakes to avoid. Adapted for American families and climates.

Read guide →

Guide

Water Purification Methods Compared: Filters, Tablets, Boiling, and UV

Kate compares water purification methods for home emergencies — gravity filters, boiling, tablets, UV pens, and chemical treatment. What actually works.

Read guide →

Guide

Rainwater Harvesting: What's Legal, What Works, and Is It Worth It?

Kate's guide to rainwater harvesting — what's legal in the UK and US, what equipment you actually need, and whether it's worth it for a suburban garden.

Read guide →

Guide

Best Water Storage Containers: Barrels, Tanks, and Stackable Jugs Compared

Kate compares water storage containers — from 5-litre bottles to 250-litre tanks. What she uses and what she'd recommend for different household setups.

Read guide →

Not sure which gap to close first?

The full quiz covers all five pillars — water, power, food, emergency planning, and warmth.

Take the Full Quiz