4 Signs Your Tap Could Go Dry
When the power goes out, the water can go with it. Here’s the 2-ounce backup that fits in a kitchen drawer.
Updated November 2026
Murky yard water in a bottle, from a real test of the straw.
- Removes 99.99% of bacteria & parasites*
- Up to 1,800 gallons per straw*
- About 2 oz, no batteries
Sign #1: A Whole City Already Lost Its Tap Water for Weeks
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina.
In Asheville, the storm wrecked the city’s water system.
Families waited about seven weeks before the boil-water notice was fully lifted.
Seven weeks of hauling jugs, lining up for bottles and flushing toilets with buckets.
Sign #2: One Flood Can Knock Out a Whole Treatment Plant
In August 2022, flooding hit the main water plant in Jackson, Mississippi.
About 150,000 people lost safe, reliable running water.
It wasn’t a war. It wasn’t an attack. It was rain and old pipes.
Sign #3: When the Power Fails, the Water Often Follows
Water needs electricity. Treatment plants and pumps run on it. So do the pumps in private wells.
During the Texas winter storm of February 2021, power failed across the state.
Millions of Texans ended up under boil-water notices.
And here’s the catch: a boil-water notice in a blackout is hard to follow. An electric stove doesn’t boil anything with no power.
Sign #4: Every Official Checklist Starts With Water
Ready.gov, the federal emergency site, puts water first on its kit list:
“one gallon of water per person per day for several days.”
For a family of 4, that’s 12 gallons for just three days. About 100 pounds of water.
A case of 24 small bottles is only about 3 gallons. Less than one day for a family of 4.
The Thing Nobody Thinks About: The Tap Can Stop Too
Here is how it really goes.
The storm knocks the power out. You find the flashlight. The faucet still runs.
A text from the city: “Boil water before drinking.” Your stove is electric.
You drive to the store. The water aisle is empty.
The last case of bottles is gone. The kids are thirsty. The tap is still “do not drink.”
You planned for the dark. Most people do.
Very few plan for the water.
That’s the real problem in a long outage: not the dark. Running out of water you trust.
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Which Is Why We Picked the Lingo Emergency Water Filter Straw
It’s a personal water filter you drink through. About 8 inches long. About 2 ounces.
Inside is a hollow fiber membrane that filters down to 0.1 micron.
The maker’s figures: it removes over 99.99% of waterborne bacteria (like E. coli) and over 99.99% of waterborne parasites (like Giardia and Cryptosporidium).
Each straw is rated for up to 1,800 gallons, less with muddy water.
Drink straight through it, or screw it onto a standard water or soda bottle.
No batteries. No pump. No waiting.
“Excellent product to have on hand in case of emergency. Hurricane Helene took out the power and water over a wide area. Having this tool allowed folks to still have drinkable water when city water stopped flowing.”
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The Math Every Family Gets Wrong
Ready.gov says one gallon per person per day.
A gallon weighs about 8.3 pounds. For a family of 4, that’s over 33 pounds of water every day.
You can’t store weeks of that. You can store a few straws.
- 2 strawsyou and your partner, or one for the house and one for the car
- 4 strawsone per person for a family of 4: nobody shares, nobody waits
- 6 strawsthe house, both cars and the go-bags
Keep bottled water too. The straws are the backup for when it runs out.
That’s why most families pick the 4-pack. It’s not about a deal. It’s one straw for every person in the house.
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Why Most Water Plans Fail
Especially when you need them most…
Bottled water only: it’s heavy, it runs out, and the shelves empty fast.
Boiling: it needs heat. An electric stove is dead in a blackout.
“We’ll figure it out”: that’s the plan most families have. Until the city sends the text.
“This is a must in every household and emergency bin…I have mine in my storm shelter since I live in Tornado Alley”
LOLA“I keep one in my truck and several other places. Filters out the bacteria and junk in your water. Great to have just in case.”
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How It Works (Even in the Dark)
- Keep it sealed in a drawer. Each straw comes in its own sealed pouch. The maker gives it no expiration date.
- Fill a bottle. Use the clearest water you can find. Let muddy water settle first.
- Screw on the straw. It fits most water and soda bottles. Or drink straight through it.
- Sip. Water goes through the filter on its way up.
- Flush it after. Push clean water back through with the syringe that comes with it. Let it dry.
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Water Filter Straw vs. Bottled Water Only
| Water Filter Straw | Bottled water only | |
|---|---|---|
| Weighs about 2 oz | ✓ | 8.3 lb per gallon |
| Fits in a kitchen drawer or glovebox | ✓ | ✗ |
| Up to 1,800 gallons per straw* | ✓ | 1 gallon per jug |
| Still works when the store shelves are empty | ✓ | ✗ |
| No power needed | ✓ | ✓ |
| No expiration date (maker) | ✓ | Best-by date |
* Maker’s figures.
Real People, Real Emergencies
Verified-purchase reviews, word for word
“Just knowing I have these water straws in my possession eases my mind!!!!! IF something was to happen with our water supply, 💧 I will be able to supply fresh clean water for my family and they don't expire!! You will have peace of mind knowing you would be able to survive a water contaminated issue or supply issue at that !! 😉”
Verified buyer“These straws work excellent and are a reassuring item to always keep on hand. Water is so crucial to survival. I bought several to hand out to unprepared family and friends. I like that they are individually shrink wrapped making them easy to store and transport. I always keep one in not only my prep stuff but glovebox, brief case, suitcase etc. Great company too.”
Verified buyer“This is the best straw because it has a thread on the top where you can screw it on a standard bottle - saves on spillage - so efficient. I have bought some for my sister, my son and his family as well as ourselves!”
Verified buyer“Having access to clean drinking water would be a critical priority in case of an emergency, especially if it requires you to evacuate your home. These emergency water straw filters are fantastic. They are portable, easy to use, and they work!”
Rod Faulkner“Was excited to get these in. Have had to use them in the past during emergency situations and they work great.”
Retired VetMom“These are perfect for everyday carry. I keep one in my purse, bag, and vehicle. A must have as a survival or emergency when you have to drink unclean water.”
Verified buyer
Questions People Ask
Why not just store bottled water?
Do it! Bottled water is the easiest first choice. But a gallon weighs 8.3 pounds, and a family of 4 needs about 4 gallons a day. The straws are the backup for when the bottles run out.
Why not just boil the water?
If you can, boiling works well. The problem is a blackout: no power, no electric stove. The straw needs no heat and no power.
Does it remove viruses or chemicals?
No, and we’d rather tell you now. By the maker’s figures it removes over 99.99% of waterborne bacteria and parasites, plus grit and microplastics down to 0.1 micron. It is not made for viruses, chemicals or salt water. Always follow your local water authority.
How long does one straw last?
Up to 1,800 gallons per straw (maker’s figure). Muddy water wears it out faster. When water stops flowing even after flushing, replace it.
Does it expire?
The maker gives it no expiration date. Keep it sealed until you need it.
Will it fit my bottles?
It screws onto the standard 28mm thread of most water and soda bottles. You can also drink straight through it.
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The Only Problem…
Every time a hurricane or a big freeze hits the news, people rush to buy water.
And most wait until the day the city sends the text.
Right now, you can still get the Lingo Emergency Water Filter Straw with free shipping to the US and Canada.
If you never need it, it rides in your hiking pack and your glovebox.
If you do need it, it’s the thing that keeps your family drinking.
- Removes 99.99% of bacteria & parasites*
- Up to 1,800 gallons per straw*
- About 2 oz, no batteries
- ✓ Free shipping US & Canada
- ✓ Secure checkout
- Ready.gov, “Build a Kit”: water, one gallon per person per day for several days. ready.gov/kit
- Hurricane Helene, September 2024: Asheville, North Carolina water system damaged; the city’s boil-water notice was lifted in mid-November 2024 (city of Asheville and news reports).
- Jackson, Mississippi water crisis, August–September 2022: flooding at the main treatment plant left about 150,000 people without reliable safe water (news reports).
- Texas winter storm, February 2021: widespread power failures and boil-water notices for millions of residents (news reports).
- Straw specs: maker’s listing and box (hollow fiber, 0.1 micron; over 99.99% of waterborne bacteria and parasites; up to 1,800 gallons per straw; about 2 oz). Not made for viruses, chemicals or salt water.