"Goedjn" wrote in message

What are the options available for single family homes to provide "off
the
grid" water for a few days at least for a family of 3 or 4?

The best option I know of is to hook up a bladderless 50-gallon
pressure tank like the ones they use for well-systems, with a
check-valve on the city-side of it so it can't drain backwards,
and *NOT* pressurise the system. Set it up on a pedestal
at least 18" high.

When the water shuts off, you open a faucet upstairs,
then go down into the basement with a bucket, and collect
the water you need from the sill-cock on the pressure tank.

I was hoping for a solution that could be automated the way a transfer
switch and generator work for the electrical supply.

This assumes that your hot water heater is off when
the power's out, too. If it's not, you have to
make sure that you don't somehow drain that, else
loud noises may result.

It's a gas-fired water heater, I believe.

If you expect to need more water than that,
consider sinking a well, and stocking up
on chlorine and iodine.

That might be a better idea. Hmmm . . .

--
Bobby G.