Guys, looking for advice on storing water at home. I have some 5 gallon containers with lids from my keepering days and am thinking that i should fill these and store them in the cupboard under the stairs. Am i nuts? I look at the news and am becoming worried that the mains water might be turned off periodically.
Storing Water?
- Thread starter Gamekeeper1
- Start date
Hi GK
This isn't really a prepping forum, there are other forums that might be able to answer your question in a different way.
In terms of 5 gallon containers. If they are food/ water containers fit for human consumption grade plastic then i would think they will be fine. Rotate the water through them regularly of course.
This isn't really a prepping forum, there are other forums that might be able to answer your question in a different way.
In terms of 5 gallon containers. If they are food/ water containers fit for human consumption grade plastic then i would think they will be fine. Rotate the water through them regularly of course.
You might like to get some chlorine dioxide drops (I have used Aquamira, but they are hard to get in the UK, we have other brands here). It is meant to keep water bacteria free for years.
I would be more worried about what those 5 gallon containers were made of and what they held when you were a keeper. Will they leach chemicals if you leave water in for a long time?
A while back there was a big water mains leak in Bedfordshire and water was cut off for days, no warning. They were giving away bottled water in town, it was a bit of an emergency. Living alone I did pretty well with a bunch of 2litre cola bottles I have with water in, and getting top ups at work where there was water. Used rain water butt water for toilet flushing and washing up. Rather harder to do if it was a drought and definitely hard on the families next door. So I don't think its nuts to want to have some water on hand.
ATB
Chris
I would be more worried about what those 5 gallon containers were made of and what they held when you were a keeper. Will they leach chemicals if you leave water in for a long time?
A while back there was a big water mains leak in Bedfordshire and water was cut off for days, no warning. They were giving away bottled water in town, it was a bit of an emergency. Living alone I did pretty well with a bunch of 2litre cola bottles I have with water in, and getting top ups at work where there was water. Used rain water butt water for toilet flushing and washing up. Rather harder to do if it was a drought and definitely hard on the families next door. So I don't think its nuts to want to have some water on hand.
ATB
Chris
I have to make sure I have 40ltrs stored away in winter, I often have frozen pipes.
If you can get the black water jerries
If you can get the black water jerries
These?
20 Litre NATO Water Container – Black – Wavian Quality Fuel Cans & Accessories
www.jerrycans.co.uk
There's been some discussion on the subject here that may have some ideas of interest but mainly talking about larger quantities than I think you're thinking of:
Water storage
Like many other people I'm looking at increasing our water storage. As we have an always on pump for our water supply we have a 1000+ litres concrete over flow tank and we have 5 water butts, so another 1000 litres. However, it times of drought like this it does seem to go far so I'll add to...
bushcraftuk.com
You'd have to define 'clean' first. Most potable water contains some bacteria but in such small quantities that it passes the required levels. Kept in less than ideal conditions they can multiply very quickly even without light in some cases. Water rotation is the way to go depending on what you are using it for.
Over here, clean is what comes out of the tap. If stored clean i would rotate it every six months.
Water storage, is always subjective. Ask your local water company.
Ground water from chalk, is normally chlorine treatment and nothing else
Ground water from green sands, is filtered for particals and chlorine
Surface can be anything
Now the main issue is nitrates, in all water everywhere, this is the food for bacterial growth. Cycling water stored is wise, but I would do it no longer than 3 months, and as everyone has said, it has to be a suitable water container
Bottled water lasts longer
Ground water from chalk, is normally chlorine treatment and nothing else
Ground water from green sands, is filtered for particals and chlorine
Surface can be anything
Now the main issue is nitrates, in all water everywhere, this is the food for bacterial growth. Cycling water stored is wise, but I would do it no longer than 3 months, and as everyone has said, it has to be a suitable water container
Bottled water lasts longer
Yup there the onesThese?
20 Litre NATO Water Container – Black – Wavian Quality Fuel Cans & Accessories
I buy cheap bottled water,a couple of packs at a time,store them in the garage,good shelf life on them,and you're mostly guaranteed to be squit free,which is always a bonus.
Some interesting up-to-date articles and references on water purification here:
www.springernature.com
Water Purification | For Researchers | Springer Nature
www.springernature.com
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