Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Water Storage

OK, so let's talk water containers. There are many to choose from and we cannot possibly discuss each one, but there are a few general things you will want to look for and consider.


  • One great way to store water is in empty soda pop or juice containers. The plastic is thick enough to store water for a good long time. My mom currently has water stored in these types of containers and has had them for a least ten years. And the best part...they didn't cost you any extra money!




  • Make sure the containers you are using have the PETE logo on the bottom. That way you will know they are safe to use for the relatively long term.



  • 55 gallon water barrels. If you don't already have one of these, you have probably heard of them. They are a fantastic way to store water if you have the space. I have a couple of these and when we were moving a couple of years ago we had to empty one out in order to get it up the stairs. We decided to give it a little taste test...and low and behold, it was quite tasty. Three years in a big, blue container and VERY drinkable. One reason for this is the blue color of the container keeps the light out (which is an enemy to water storage).




  • Another thing I use...5 gallon water jugs. These things are great because they keep the light out like the 55 gallon barrels but they are very portable. The ones I store have a handy little handle (as you can see in the picture) and a special spigot I purchased which makes accessing water very simple. They are also nice if you are needing to grab water and go...in case of an emergency. They are really easy to store upstairs in a closet or anywhere else you might store 72 hour kits.







      So, where might you get something like this? Macey's recently had the 55 gallon water barrel on sale for $39. That price is phenomenal! I have purchased my water storage containers at Industrial Container and Supply. They have consistently had the best prices and have a large selection. They are located in Utah but their website says they ship all over (you will need to check if they mail to personal residences). Their site does not list prices, so call for more information. Click HERE to get to their website. As a side note...they also have great prices on 4, 5 and 6 gallon storage buckets and lids. But we will talk more about that in a later post.


      Next...we will finish discussing water storage and what you will want to know before you store.

    4 comments:

    superhey said...

    The food industries use the 55 gallon drum to transport a variety of food items. They are usually used once, and then sold as used barrels. A quick search on the internet and you can find these barrels for around $25. Note***make sure to ask what was in the containers (vinegar or distilled water for example) and if the were cleaned (steam cleaned is the best).

    Marianne said...

    Is Industrial Container the only place to get the 5 gallon containers? Here I thought I was good on water storage, but I'd really like some of those!

    Jac said...

    Thanks Joey on the tip on the water barrels! $25 can't be beat! And Marianne, I am sure other places sell small water containers, I have just found Industrial Container to be the best quality for the best price. Hope that is helpful.

    Suzanne said...

    I heard that you can use your old laundry detergent containers to store water that can be used for washing (since it will be soapy). I thought it was a good idea. I am going to check out the used containers...that sounds like something I can afford!