Container: 55 gallon "blue" food grade plastic drum
Contents: Potable water
Preservative: Oxy-Safe Water Stabilizer bought from Major Surplus and Survival
Storage location: In shaded area covered by a tarp
Date of storage: DEC 1999

Notes: Although the stabilized water is rated safe for 5 years, I wanted to conduct a test at the 3 year mark. Water was clear and no cloudiness or other contaminants were present. It did have a very strong plastic taste, which most likely could have been covered up by adding a drink mix. It is my hope that whatever caused the objectional taste has completely leeched out of the container material and the next batch will be more palatible.

I never stop laughing so long I as I read one of your post a day.

What's funny about long term water storage?

Nothing, it's in the presentation.

The drums are made of HDPE. While the next batch may be better as far as the taste, I think that your storage area may be less than desireable.
The plastic taste is from the outgassing of chemicals used to create polyethylene. This process is excellerated the hotter the container is kept. If you have the barrel in direct sunlight, that is the worst.
A cool dry basement is most ideal, if you dont have a basement, try burying it alothough that may be impractical.

you could add these as a barrel liner:

[b]http://www.cleanfilm.com/products/ulo_poly_bags.shtml[/b]

[url=www.cleanfilm.com/products/ulo_poly_bags.shtml]www.cleanfilm.com/products/ulo_poly_bags.shtml[/url] [;)]