If for some reason the water stopped working tomorrow and you didn't have much on hand, what would you actually do?

We can go a few weeks without food, but about 3 days without water and that's it. It's one of the most important resources to know how to find in a pinch.

Here's where I'd look if I ever needed water in an emergency:

Hot water heater Most tanks hold 30 to 80 gallons of clean water. If you know how to drain it, this is your biggest backup source.

Your home's pipes If water service shuts off, there is still water sitting in your plumbing. You can usually get it by opening a faucet at the highest point and collecting from the lowest.

Toilet tank (not the bowl) As long as there are no cleaning tablets or chemicals in the tank, that water is generally safe to use.

Ice and frozen items Ice trays, bags of ice, and even frozen food can be melted down for usable water.

Refrigerator dispenser If your fridge has a water line, there is usually some stored, filtered water in the system.

One thing that is not a good idea is pulling water from local ponds or streams unless you have a proper way to filter and treat it. That is how you create a bigger problem.

Realistically, you will probably never need this. But spending five minutes thinking it through now is a lot better than figuring it out under pressure later.

Same idea as knowing where your electrical panel is or how to shut off your water main.

Not something you use every day, but good to know when you need it.