waterBOB Bathtub Emergency Water Storage Bladder
Best for: Best emergency water storage — 100 gallons in your bathtub, food-grade sealed bladder, clean 16 weeks, siphon pump. U.S. patented. 4.7★ / 81% five-star. Genuinely life-saving.
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Our review
The waterBOB turns your bathtub into 100 gallons of safe, clean drinking water storage in 20 minutes. Lay the food-grade bladder in your tub, attach the fill sock to the faucet, turn the water on, and walk away. Unlike filling a bathtub with open water (which collects dust, soap film, and debris within hours), the sealed bladder keeps water clean and drinkable for up to 16 weeks.
Trusted by 500,000+ families and featured on CNN, Fox News, and Bob Vila. U.S. patented. The included siphon hand pump dispenses water without contamination. At ~$0.35 per gallon stored, it is dramatically cheaper than bottled water and takes up zero storage space when not in use — it folds smaller than a shoebox.
The reviews are genuinely moving. One reviewer during Hurricane Milton says it 'saved my life and the life of my dogs' when they were trapped by flooding for two weeks with no water supply. Another used theirs during the Texas Freeze. Multiple reviewers report keeping one stored for years before needing it — and it worked perfectly.
The downsides: it is a single-use item — very difficult to dry out for reuse. The fill tube must be held or taped to the faucet during filling. The bladder material can puncture if dragged over rough surfaces. And it is only useful if you have advance warning before the water supply cuts. But at $35 for peace of mind during hurricane season, power outages, and natural disasters, this is the most important product on our entire list.
👍 Pros
- 100 gallons of clean drinking water in 20 minutes
- Food-grade BPA-free sealed bladder — water stays clean 16 weeks
- Trusted by 500,000+ families — featured CNN, Fox, Bob Vila
- U.S. patented design — the original bathtub water storage
- Included siphon pump — dispense without contamination
- Stores smaller than a shoebox when not in use
- ~$0.35/gallon — fraction of bottled water cost
- 81% five-star, 1% one-star — nearly universally loved
- Genuinely life-saving reviews from hurricane/disaster survivors
👎 Cons
- Single-use — very difficult to dry and reuse
- Fill tube must be held/taped to faucet during filling
- Bladder material can puncture on rough surfaces
- Only useful with advance warning before water cutoff
- Siphon becomes difficult when water level gets low
Specifications
| Type | Bathtub emergency water storage bladder |
|---|---|
| Capacity | Up to 100 gallons |
| Material | Food-grade LLDPE, BPA-free |
| Freshness | Keeps water clean up to 16 weeks |
| Fill time | ~20 minutes |
| Includes | Bladder + fill sock + siphon hand pump |
| Storage size | Smaller than a shoebox |
| Weight | 1.3 lbs |
| Patent | U.S. Patent No. 8,627,980 & 10,293,982 |
| Brand | waterBOB |
FAQ
How long does the stored water stay fresh?
Up to 16 weeks in the sealed food-grade bladder. The sealed design protects from dust, soap film, and debris that would contaminate open bathtub water.
Can I reuse it?
It is designed as single-use. The bladder is very difficult to dry out completely, and residual moisture can grow mould. Buy a fresh one for each emergency.
Does it fit any bathtub?
It fits standard bathtubs. Garden tubs (rounded) work but may cause the fill tube to bend. Standard rectangular tubs work best.
What if I don't have advance warning?
You need water pressure to fill it, so it must be set up before the water supply is cut. Keep one stored at home during hurricane season so you can fill it as soon as a storm is forecast.
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