Why do you need to store water?

Following a disaster, such as an earthquake or wildfire, your utility may be unable to deliver water through your tap. Alternatively, tap water may be contaminated. It could take a week to restore systems to normal, which means you should keep a back-up supply of water at home.


Likelihood of a Water Outage

How close to a fault do you live?

The Hayward fault line, shown in the image to the left, extends from San Jose about 74 miles northward along the base of the East Bay Hills to San Pablo Bay. Communities on or near the fault include San Jose, Oakland, Fremont, Richmond, Berkeley, Hayward, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Kensington and Milpitas. Given that the last major earthquake was more than 150 years ago in 1868, scientists are convinced that the Hayward Fault has reached the point where a powerful, damaging earthquake can be expected at any time. USGS earthquake science tells us that it’s now urgent to prepare for the next magnitude 7 quake on the Hayward Fault.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Multiple fault lines run through EBMUD's service areas; to find out how close you live to a fault line, visit the link below.

Learn more


How likely will an earthquake of 6.7 or higher magnitude occur on the Hayward Fault while you are in the Bay Area?

How long do you plan to live in the Bay Area? Round up to the nearest answer.

Source: Percentages calculated based on the Haywired Report


Why does an earthquake impact water supply?

The East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) provides high-quality drinking water for 1.4 million customers in the Alameda and Contra Costa counties. EBMUD has 4,100 miles of pipeline and 5 treatment plants. Although EBMUD completed an extensive Seismic Improvement program (SIP), there are still many vulnerabilities to earthquakes in the system. They have predicted almost 4,000 pipe breaks in the event of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake.

EBMUD’s system is particularly vulnerable (compared to other Bay Area water utilities) because:


A Day with Water

We engage in several activities each day that need water, from bathing to cooking. In the event of an emergency, businesses and schools may be closed, requiring you to stay at home. The map below walks through a typical day with water for one person to show how many common activities require water.

Day With Water map

Water Usage Breakdown

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the average person uses 80 gallons or more of water per day for indoor activities such as cooking, flushing the toilet, taking a shower or bath, washing hands, etc.

This estimate varies based on number of people in household, type of faucets and plumbing systems, and other factors.
Please note that the water usage breakdown shown below is missing some common activities such as cleaning, laundry, watering plants, etc.

Diagram that shows breakdown of water usage

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)


A Day without Water

How much water would you save in the event of an emergency to support your everyday activities?
This calculator shows the hard choices that have to be made when living on emergency water.

Start by selecting the total number of gallons per day you would save, either for yourself or
 for your household.


Next, tally your daily water usage by entering what you think is the least you need for each activity.


You may find that even your rock-bottom needs aren’t met and that you have to store more water,
 cut down your water needs, or do without.


Available water

Each cup represents one 8-oz glass of water. Each gallon is represented 16 cups, or 2 rows of cups.

Food

How many meals do you/your household have in a day? Each meal typically requires 2 cups of water.


Drinking Water

How many 8-oz glasses of water do you/your household drink
ing per day?


Showering

How many full body rinses do you/your household have in a day? Each rinse typically requires 6 cups of water.


Toilet

How many toilet flushes do you/your household have in a day? Each flush typically requires 32 cups of water.


Hygiene

How many times do you/your household brush teeth, wash hands, and rinse face in a day? Each activity typically requires 3 cups of water.