Posted: 7/7/2012 9:37:30 AM EDT
| Hey guys, I want to start putting away water in larger quantities now. I have a sufficient supply in the basement for a short term need but I'd like to store more. I've begun looking for 55 gallon drums to store potable water in. Does anyone have any sources for these either new or used? I'd prefer used due to the cost savings but don't want any that were used for chemical storage. I've read that you can get drums from bottling plants. Does anyone know of a place to get these? I am in Madison but wouldn't mind some traveling to acquire good barrels. Thanks in advance! |
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Just replied to your IM and recommended that you use 275 gal. IBC totes. This is really the way to go and used ones are cheap. Can I get that into my basement??? What are the dimensions? Probably not. The dimensions are 48"L x 40"W x 46"H. They weigh somewhere in the neighborhood of 125 lb. empty. They can be $1K new, but we get once used (like new) ones for $50 from a place in Dousman. They contained propylene glycol, a food safe chemical (also used for freeze proofing RV drinking water systems). All that has to be done is to rinse them out. If you look on Craigslist, you can find them in quite a few places for sale, usually for less than $200. I can get the # of the place in Dousman if you can't find it on Craigslist. If you have access to a van or pickup, this is the way to go. What's kind of ironic is that the chemicals we do get in 55 gal. plastic drums have a $20 or $30 deposit on them, even more. If it's possible, an IBC tote is really what you want. 
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Just curious... why do you want to store that much water? Are you on a city water supply source, and worry about it somehow getting shut off in a Zombie Apocolypse or something?
Maybe because I live in the country, and have my own drilled well (& a generator to run the pump, if I lose power), I don't worry about a water source. I'm only 200 yds from a chain of 28 lakes, too. Billions of gallons, only 600' away. 
I'm going to investigate if it's possible to convert my current generator to run on propane, rather than gasoline. Propane is safer & easier to store (especially long-term) than gasoline, and I've already got a couple of (full) hundred-lb propane tanks to start with. Currently, my 5Kw generator runs about 1 hr on a gallon of gas. In that hour, my well can pump at least 500 gallons of water. .. and with so much water so close, I don't worry about the water table my well is in going dry anytime soon. |
| I live in Madison. The water here is garbage unless treated by the city. I'm a bit of a pepper and would like a lot of water on hand just in case something ever happens. I have the room, I can do it cheap, so why not? With two young kids, water will be a big deal for our young family. I would also like another drum to keep in the shed for purposes other than drinking. The above type might work well for that. |
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Ive bought 55 gal white poly drums from the Pepsi canning plant in Jefferson for $5 each. Maybe they dont sell them anymore. I dont know. Maybe they just cost a little more now though. The name of the plant isnt Pepsi. Its a different name but everybody there knows it. Call them before you go out there and they will have the correct number waiting for you at the loading dock. Cant beat $5. |
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Quoted: Ive bought 55 gal white poly drums from the Pepsi canning plant in Jefferson for $5 each. Maybe they dont sell them anymore. I dont know. Maybe they just cost a little more now though. The name of the plant isnt Pepsi. Its a different name but everybody there knows it. Call them before you go out there and they will have the correct number waiting for you at the loading dock. Cant beat $5. Wonder if the plant in Watertown would do the same? |
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Ive bought 55 gal white poly drums from the Pepsi canning plant in Jefferson for $5 each. Maybe they dont sell them anymore. I dont know. Maybe they just cost a little more now though. The name of the plant isnt Pepsi. Its a different name but everybody there knows it. Call them before you go out there and they will have the correct number waiting for you at the loading dock. Cant beat $5. How do I find this plant? Is there a number you have which I can call? |
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Thanks John, I'm looking for 55 gal drums so I can fit them into my basement. I have a large shed but it gets very warm in the summer. If kept inside I can make sure it's never hot and will never freeze. I keep some of my drums in the basement on these, it makes life easier. I got mine free from a factory that was being shut down (my 'entitlement' from TARP), but even at full price they are worth it. Just watch auctions for closing factories/businesses or look on Craigslist for used ones. Or at least get a dolly that can move them when needed. If you rack up more in the garage, you can use barrels or the cubes and put them on used warehouse racks and just use gravity to let the water flow out when needed. Drum dolly The 14 gallon barrels used for soda concentrate are great for carrying smaller amounts upstairs but the best are the 5 gallon mil spec type containers from Scepter or LCI. |
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Update for everyone.
I contacted Wis-Pak in Watertown. I talked with a woman named Jill. She was awesome and very helpful. She informed me they do sell their barrels for $9 ea. I have set up to pick up two of them next week. For your conveinience...Did I even spell that right???? |
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You must be right about it being Watertown. I just remembered Jefferson. Yes, thats it. Wis Pac. Hope you all get tons of these barrels. I still have 20 of them. $9.00 is still a deal as the price on 55 gal food grade barrels was $80.00 each when I bought mine. |