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Blue plastic barrels for water storage in the house?
3/4/2012 10:41:30 AM
Could I fill them now add the appropriate bleach and seal them up for the dark room?
3/4/2012 11:54:12 AM
Have you thought about how you are going to deal with getting water out of them, moving them if you have to, things as such. Otherwise I don't see anything wrong with it. 55 gals. of water is heavy, so I would try to think about the least amount of trouble in getting to it, and how I would have to move it if necessary. Carry on.
3/4/2012 1:03:00 PM
I guess it could work OK. I would take into consideration the amount of weight,if placing them on a floor. Basement level would be the best.
3/4/2012 1:08:27 PM
tagged for more info on this. How much bleach?
3/4/2012 4:15:46 PM
What size barrels?
3/4/2012 7:29:49 PM
I use 50-55 gallon white barrels (had Pepsi conc. in them)
Kept in basement, few more in barn during all but coldest few months.
Have a couple cheap, siphon pumps (Grainger, $10 or so)
Don't bother w/ bleach, just change water every spring and fall when clocks change (GREAT time to do such things, plus smoke and CO detector batts,etc)
Kept in basement, few more in barn during all but coldest few months.
Have a couple cheap, siphon pumps (Grainger, $10 or so)
Don't bother w/ bleach, just change water every spring and fall when clocks change (GREAT time to do such things, plus smoke and CO detector batts,etc)
3/5/2012 1:05:37 PM
LOTS of people use those plastic barrels for home water storage. I have some in my garage. While I've never seen one leak, be sure you place them where the least damage would be done if one did leak. Placing them on some plywood or otherwise getting them off of the cement might be prudent to give them a little insulation from extreme cold.
3/5/2012 1:42:40 PM
Originally Posted By Centuryhouse:
LOTS of people use those plastic barrels for home water storage. I have some in my garage. While I've never seen one leak, be sure you place them where the least damage would be done if one did leak.
LOTS of people use those plastic barrels for home water storage. I have some in my garage. While I've never seen one leak, be sure you place them where the least damage would be done if one did leak.
They also have those flood pans for washing machines if you have to place your water inside the house or in an apt. They won't hold a catastrophic failure, but can buy you some time if there is a small leak.
3/5/2012 2:17:33 PM
I like the 15-gal closed top Drums myself:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_18/627218_HDPE_Blue_Water_Drums___15__30__or_55_galon___Open_or_Closed_top___liners___spigot_DISCOUNT_CODE_P2.html&light=water
These weigh about 135 or so pounds full so I can carry these up stairs, load into the truck or trailer if either I needed to bug out with water OR get more water. Plus they are a nice width to add boards accross the top to make a shelf and put other preps on top of them. The link above shows the ones I bought and I think I have eight of these in my preps. That is 240-gal of water that is really easy to move compared to four 55-gal drums and if I get unlucky and one would go bad I have seven more in reserve.
http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_10_18/627218_HDPE_Blue_Water_Drums___15__30__or_55_galon___Open_or_Closed_top___liners___spigot_DISCOUNT_CODE_P2.html&light=water
These weigh about 135 or so pounds full so I can carry these up stairs, load into the truck or trailer if either I needed to bug out with water OR get more water. Plus they are a nice width to add boards accross the top to make a shelf and put other preps on top of them. The link above shows the ones I bought and I think I have eight of these in my preps. That is 240-gal of water that is really easy to move compared to four 55-gal drums and if I get unlucky and one would go bad I have seven more in reserve.
3/5/2012 2:32:48 PM
You have to keep them off the concrete. Something about the lye leaching through the plastic. Also don't use bleach you use pool shock, FEMA recommends it (lasts much longer). Just google FEMA pool shock you should find the concentration. When you are ready to drink you agitate the water and leave them opened and the shock will evaporate and be replaced with oxygen so it's about the same as the tap water (after a few days).
3/5/2012 7:51:14 PM
These barrels would be white and 55 gal capacity. We purchased 10 of them for $100 cash. The did have drink syrup in them. More than likely they are going into an empty barn stall and filled there. They are relatively cleaned out and have good lids. The guy has about 200 more for sale. They are not going into the house as we are going to add another big pressure tank to the water system. I am thinking we can fit 20 barrels in the stall (room for walking) for 1100 gallons ready to go. If we have to move some around we will have room. If I filled all the stalls that would mean the horses cant come in wouldn't it? (evil smile)
Too much water could be a spoilage issue after a certain while right?
Too much water could be a spoilage issue after a certain while right?
3/6/2012 8:05:33 AM
Originally Posted By WarHound55:
These barrels would be white and 55 gal capacity. We purchased 10 of them for $100 cash. The did have drink syrup in them. More than likely they are going into an empty barn stall and filled there. They are relatively cleaned out and have good lids. The guy has about 200 more for sale. They are not going into the house as we are going to add another big pressure tank to the water system. I am thinking we can fit 20 barrels in the stall (room for walking) for 1100 gallons ready to go. If we have to move some around we will have room. If I filled all the stalls that would mean the horses cant come in wouldn't it? (evil smile)
Too much water could be a spoilage issue after a certain while right?
These barrels would be white and 55 gal capacity. We purchased 10 of them for $100 cash. The did have drink syrup in them. More than likely they are going into an empty barn stall and filled there. They are relatively cleaned out and have good lids. The guy has about 200 more for sale. They are not going into the house as we are going to add another big pressure tank to the water system. I am thinking we can fit 20 barrels in the stall (room for walking) for 1100 gallons ready to go. If we have to move some around we will have room. If I filled all the stalls that would mean the horses cant come in wouldn't it? (evil smile)
Too much water could be a spoilage issue after a certain while right?
We've had the same barrels with water in them for the past five years in a basement. I empty them every other year or so and add bleach. No leaks, or anything growing in them. I suspect if you keep them covered with dark plastic or drop cloth, you'll be fine in the barn.
3/6/2012 8:21:27 AM
Originally Posted By WarHound55:
These barrels would be white and 55 gal capacity. We purchased 10 of them for $100 cash. The did have drink syrup in them. More than likely they are going into an empty barn stall and filled there. They are relatively cleaned out and have good lids. The guy has about 200 more for sale. They are not going into the house as we are going to add another big pressure tank to the water system. I am thinking we can fit 20 barrels in the stall (room for walking) for 1100 gallons ready to go. If we have to move some around we will have room. If I filled all the stalls that would mean the horses cant come in wouldn't it? (evil smile)
Too much water could be a spoilage issue after a certain while right?
These barrels would be white and 55 gal capacity. We purchased 10 of them for $100 cash. The did have drink syrup in them. More than likely they are going into an empty barn stall and filled there. They are relatively cleaned out and have good lids. The guy has about 200 more for sale. They are not going into the house as we are going to add another big pressure tank to the water system. I am thinking we can fit 20 barrels in the stall (room for walking) for 1100 gallons ready to go. If we have to move some around we will have room. If I filled all the stalls that would mean the horses cant come in wouldn't it? (evil smile)
Too much water could be a spoilage issue after a certain while right?
I've had potable water stored since at least 2004 in various containers including but not limited to: MWCs, Aquatainers, 15 & 30 gallon new and former soda barrels, one gallon juice containers, 2 & 3 liter soda bottles, 5 gallon car boys, German water cans etc. Except for a couple of the MWCs I use for camping, I've never rotated any of the water. It's all still good.
Store clean water in clean containers in a cool dark place - it will last a long time with no degradation except for perhaps a flat taste, easily fixed.
Good luck.
3/6/2012 4:33:59 PM
whats with the bleach?
3/6/2012 8:21:43 PM
10-4 and thanks for the help.
