Article: Many people need even more than the average of one-half gallon, per day. The individual amount needed depends on age, physical activity, physical condition, and time of year. Never ration water unless ordered to do so by authorities. Drink the amount you need today and try to find more for tomorrow. Under no circumstances should a person drink less than one quart (four cups) of water each day. You can minimize the amount of water your body needs by reducing activity and staying cool. Safe: melted ice cubes; water drained from the water heater (if the water heater has not been damaged); liquids from canned goods such as fruit or vegetable juices; water drained from pipes. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet1.jpg\/v4-459px-Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c5\/Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet1.jpg\/aid355580-v4-728px-Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>
<\/p><\/div>"} Unsafe: radiators; hot water boilers (home heating system); water beds (fungicides added to the water or chemicals in the vinyl may make water unsafe to use); water from the toilet bowl or flush tank; swimming pools and spas (chemicals used to kill germs are too concentrated for safe drinking but can be used for personal hygiene, cleaning, and related uses). {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet2.jpg\/v4-459px-Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/55\/Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet2.jpg\/aid355580-v4-728px-Manage-Food-and-Water-While-Taking-Shelter-in-Emergencies-Step-3Bullet2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"485","licensing":"<div class="mw-parser-output"><p>License: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>
<\/p><\/div>"} before using it for drinking, food washing or preparation, washing dishes, brushing teeth, or making ice. In addition to having a bad odor and taste, contaminated water can contain microorganisms (germs) that cause diseases such as dysentery, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis. If water treatment is not possible, put off drinking suspicious water as long as possible, but do not become dehydrated.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Allow people to drink according to their needs. Know which water sources are safe and which are not. Treat all water of uncertain quality