Tip tip from a 35+year Army medic. When using either bleach or calcium hypochlorite crystals don't just add direct crystals or full concentrate bleach to your barrel. Dissolve the required amount of crystals or bleach in what the Army feild hygiene manual calls a "super solution" and add that instead of strait crystals. We were always told a canteen (quart) of this solution at the dosage rate you recommend per 50 gallon lister bag (these are not used any longer) and mixing in a 5 gallon water jug to sanitize a 400 gallon water buffalo trailer. This makes sure the crystals dissolve fully and maximizes contact area for best sanitizing action. Agitate your barrel once you add the crystals to ensure even distribution so a clean stirring rod or even your barrel pump could be used to stir this solution arround. Don't forget to flush your pump with chlorinated water before using it to draw drinking water. Temperature also matters, colder water takes longer to treat as the chemical reactions that kill the organisms take longer at cold temperatures. My $.02
Yep - I have 2 barrels - each 4 feet across and 12 feet high and hold 750 gallons. Bought new specifically to hold water. Each is surrounded by a plywood surround and top to protect from sun and weather. Should be about a years supply for our needs. Filled with tap water and will filter before using.
I bought a 1500 gallon cistern and hooked it up to my water main. All the water that flows through my house goes through the cistern first. So its always being cycled. If the water ever stops, i shut of the main and use the water through a manual valve. I also have hand pumps to pump water up to overhead shower containers i made from home depot buckets.
You should probably look into a filtration system before it goes into your tank pros and cons on many things. Reverse osmosis, illuminates all the trace minerals and what not that you need so gives your dead water. Charcoal filters will filter out radioactive gas. You should do your own research though look into it Congdon water filters could be used post perhaps not sure of. The effectiveness on radioactive Particles
I considered doing that but decided on a slightly different approach. Rather than ONE large cistern, I decided that TWO smaller ones would be better. I can switch between the two monthly, quarterly, etc. to keep the water fresh, but it also gives me a little insurance in case the city announces that the water is contaminated and to stop using it. By the time I receive the notice, ALL of my water would already be contaminated. With a split system, at least I have a large supply of water from a time when, hopefully, it wasn't also contaminated.
Great Video clip! Forgive me for chiming in, I would love your thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Proutklarton Surviving Technics Plan (google it)? It is a good one off guide for learning how to survive any crisis minus the headache. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my work colleague got excellent results with it.
Appreciate Video! Excuse me for butting in, I would love your opinion. Have you heard about - Proutklarton Surviving Technics Plan (search on google)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to survive any crisis without the hard work. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my cousin after a lifetime of fighting got astronomical success with it
Cheers for the video content! Sorry for butting in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard the talk about - Proutklarton Protecting Aqua Plan (just google it)? It is a great one off guide for getting prepared for a mega drought minus the hard work. Ive heard some super things about it and my m8 finally got cool results with it.
I have watched so many videos about water storage. This channel posts the most comprehensive ones on RUclips. Thank you for helping so many, in so many ways ❤️
There is a artesian well that has provided hundreds and hundreds of families around here with water for a lot of years. I will be filling up my barrels there. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for the video! I just sanitized 5 used food grade translucent barrels and am prepping the space to set them in. We will cover them with 6 mil black trash bags in a shed. Yours is one of the few videos showing use of anything other than blue or black barrels. 😎 Have had these for over 2 years, and it feels good to get it done.
You guys are the best and very accurate !! Iv'e watched dozens of your video's and amazed with your knowledge!! What really blows my mind is... To look at you both you would never know you were hard core preppers. Wish we were neighbors! I on other hand look the part Jaded Vietnam Combat Vet dealt a bad hand and hunkered down!! MUCH LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!
Well done and good information. Another tip, from the book All My Secrets of Organic and Container Gardening So Far which has photos, is that you can build a cheap homemade solar oven from recycled materials that will pasteurize small amounts of water -- such as a gallon at a time -- in emergency conditions. I have tried it and it does work. This would be good even for rainwater.
This is my thing to do next month we moved back to the homestead slowly getting things done but with cancer have to go slow at it,,, I want to get two solar panels for the well and least four 44-gallon water barrels
As far as using metal v. plastic for storage, there are several things to consider. First, either one must be food grade, which generally is easier to find in HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Also, either one must be clean. New is better, but also more expensive, sometimes substantially more, especially if you can get them free or close to that. If they are used, make sure they have contained consumable liquid or food, and must not have been allowed to become contaminated. Then make sure they are cleaned well and sanitized with a chlorine or other suitable disinfectant. The chlorine in many water systems, or if chlorine is used for disinfection purposes, tends to corrode metal unless there is a suitable coating or liner to prevent that. In general, my preference is plastic, but if you can find the right metal barrel, it can work also.
Not knowing the type of metal nor if there is a specific coating on the metal..... WOULD there be a use for a metal drum (in your opinion of course) for storing water or food? Perhaps there is another way of sanitizing that will not cause the metal to becone corrosive?
Please keep in mind cal hypo needs to be stored very carefully. It will react abruptly (fire & explosion ) when coming in contact with many products. It has been the cause of more fires at home improvement stores, pool stores and manufacturing plants than any other product.
That's why I did not buy any! I just rinse & fill empty jars with RO filtered water. The drums sound good because they hold a large amount, but I don't want a bunch of 'cal hypo' sitting in my garage!
If you have a water treatment plant anywhere near you they will have free barrels both white and blue. Ask what they contained, usually a polymer, cl2, or orthopolyphosphate, all are injected in the treatment process and can be cleaned out of the barrel with plain water filled three times. The screw caps can be opened with a pair of pliers or channel locks if you don’t have the special wrench. A normal 3/4” or 1/2” male spiket can thread into one of the caps. Look at them and you’ll see the threads for it. Just drill a 1/2” hole and screw in the spicket. Tip the barrel on its side for gravity flow. For treatment don’t forget about iodine too. Good luck
Is calcium hypochlorite the same thing as pool shock? Where can I buy it? This was a great video!!! I love that you guys did the math on the stock solution bleach jug. Thank you so much!
Safe drinkable water is the most critical item that everyone needs a minimum of 1 gallon a day per person for rehydration of food, the body and hygiene. I discovered a USA company DryElement that sells probably the best gravity fed water filtration system in the world and its under $200.00. Their products are made in America and the Green Nano Gravity Filter is amazing. Also, they sell a long term water treatment solution based on the mineral properties of copper and silver that allows you to store fresh water for years.
Another option for temporary water storage is the WaterBOB. It's essentially an enclosed plastic liner that fits into a bath and holds upto 100 gallons.
Remember,,, 1 gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. So,,, 100 gallons weighs 800 pounds. That's a lot of weight. Be sure your house foundation can handle the weight.
How about let's talk about how ALL public water is contaminated with sodium fluoride (a neurotoxin that is the main ingredient in rat poison) that's why everyone's hormones are screwed up,and mental illness is common now. Try and talk a circle around that fact.
@@jeremybliss3598 filter your water to start. get something that says it filters fluoride, not all do.avoid consuming aluminum, i.e cooking in aluminum foil. flouridw makes aluminum bond to the pineal gland and the brain, a possible cause for Alzheimer's as well.
I'm considering using smaller 30 gallon drums to help reduce the weight. At around 8 pounds per gallon, that would be around 240 pounds. A weight I could put inside of a closet inside my house. The 55 gallon drum would be about 440 pounds and may be too much weight on my floor. Other than paying more per gallon, it there any disadvantage to using smaller drums?
I will bookmark those online resources just in case emergency arises. Thanks, I will take your advice, but I think I will just buy two, sealed, 5-gallon jugs on hand in my small apartment for 1 person.
I had thoughþ about getting a distillation for water. When I check on a distillation thing , i realized I can make my own. I knew distillation is the steam from boiling water. I have a 6 quart pressure cooker, all I need is to capture the steam from the cooker, a tube to fit over the stem where the pressure weight sets and a container for the water/steam to drip into, not a ideal or quick method but workable.
Thank you for making this wonderfully informative video. Should I use my RO filtered well water to fill the 55 gallon barrel and also use 1/8 tsp of calcium hypochlorite? We purchased the Culligan Reverse Osmosis system (just for our kitchen water) in order to filter out nitrates, bacteria and viruses from our well water. Or, if I use our outside spigot water directly from the well, it will be unfiltered. So, would that be better to fill the barrel with and then use the 1/8 tsp of calcium hypochlorite in that water? Also, where do you get that handy wheeled bottom you have on the barrel? Thank you!
Hey Sunshine Always (I love it)...I would definitely use the RO water so that it is clean and drinkable at any time. The chlorine will take care of the bacteria and viruses, but it won't fix the nitrates. Normally, if people have chlorinated municipal water, I recommend not treating the water on the front end..you generally have at least 0.5 parts per million (ppm) of residual chlorine to provide some continued treatment. With your water not having any residual, I would add the calcium hypochlorite to the barrel. I find it easier to make the calcium hypochlorite stock solution, then add 2 Tablespoons to the barrel instead of the 1/8 tsp dry powder...just a personal preference. I'm guessing it will be a bit more difficult to fill it from the sink, but you should be able to find a connector at a hardware store to allow you to connect with your clean hose and fill the barrel. I do think it is best to use a good filter/purifier to run the water through when using it for drinking. This will help ensure that the water is safe, and will improve any taste or odor issues. As for the wheeled cart, they are available on Amazon, U-Line, and various other places. Search for "55 gallon drum cart"...they run about $40 and up. I hope this has helped. If you have other questions, connect back with us. Thanks for being part of the solution!!
I have both 55 gl. full of water straight from the hose and carefully filtered with Zero Water ( yes, that took a few weeks ). I have had them unsealed for around twelve years. My question is should I leave them alone or open each one and refill?
Hello, I will be using tap water for my 55 gallon water drums for storage. Should I run the tap thru my Alexapure filters first, then add bleach for long term shortage? Or fill up the barrels, add bleach and then run the water thru the Alexapure when ready to drink? Thank you so much
🌷 Thank you… :-) I was just about to buy two 55 gall barrels, I don’t know where to hide them on my property because I live in a dicey neighborhood and I live alone and I’m old 😳 But… I’ll get it figured out lol. I thumbed 👍 & subbed. My best to you and yours :-)
Hi there. I have 10 30-gallon water barrels that have been sitting for several years with the bung caps degraded or missing. The bottom of the barrels are slimy and have yard and tree debris in them as well. I've begun washing them out, but can't get the slime off the bottom (or the top of the inside of the barrels for that matter). Any tips on how to clean out the slime? I'm going to borrow a pressure washer from a friend and I'm hoping that helps. I heard somewhere else to put about 6 ounces of bleach in them and let them sit overnight. I also ordered new bung caps on Amazon. I don't know where to get a bottle brush big enough to clean them. Will the calcium hypochlorite clean them and if so how should I do it to get them safe to use again? Thanks!!! P.S. Your most recent replies to other people's questions are not visible, so I'm hoping if you reply I will be able to see your reply. Thanks tons!
Thanks for the info. You have a great way of explaining thing. I do have a question. I filled my barrel with ny water which is clean, as far as I know. Should I put in the powder in at the the beginning of storage or only when I will use it if needed. Thanks in advance.
A thing that really needs to be said here is the importance of location. Don't let the sun beat on your water, because UVB light will degrade your treatment and encourage algae to grow. But the biggest thing is access. A full 55-gallon drum weighs just shy of 500lbs and don't offer much for great handholds. They are a serious pain in the ass to move. So before you fill it, put it somewhere and live around it for a few weeks while it's empty. Make sure you aren't having to push it aside for more frequently-accessed items. Make sure you turn it so the bung and vent are both accessible. Don't fill it until you're sure you don't want to move it anywhere.
@@coralineattano9267 Basic rule of the Internet: don't open links on product pages where the seller doesn't say anything about their product except how great it is. If it looks like a scam and smells like a scam, it's probably a scam and will put some shit software onto your computer to boot. The fact that your comment is almost exactly copy/pasted from the site suggests that you're involved in the scam as well.
@@firearmsstudent That's an excellent idea until you encounter a staircase. I personally have opted for a higher number of smaller containers. In addition to being easier to move, now I don't lose as much of my supply in the event that a container becomes contaminated.
@@bradsimpson8724 Use the largest containers that you can effectively store. Use smaller containers to both store and lug around. I have two 55 gallon barrels in my garage and about 10 four gallon luggable jugs, as well as 10 water bricks. Store as much water in as many different places as you can. Remember, water = LIFE! Also remember that water is HEAVY!
HDPE is non hygroscopic, which means it does not absorb moisture. Blue #2 barrels used for food products can be cleaned to the point that there is no detectable smell or taste of the product stored previously.
Hi, I have a 55 gallon water barrel filed with water do I put the 1/8 teaspoon of Calcium Hypochlorite to the water, I m going to store away? And How many years does the water stored last?
I used chlorine dioxide treatment on my 55 gal drums 3 yrs ago. Do I need to change out the water? They were placed on a dirt floor in a shed which gets hot in the summer. Thanks!
I used chlorine dioxide to preserve my water. The instructions said that the water would stay fresh for four years if the temperature was generally kept below 75 degrees. I would thus question whether your water is still fresh.
I'm planning on purchasing a 60 gal. Bladder to fill up in my basement shower for an emergency water supply. It says it's for water storage for human consumption. Do you think the barrel is a better idea? I'd really like your opinion.
Hello, thanks for the detailed video. New prepper here and hence apologies in advance for the dumb question. We recently bought 12 - 3.5 gallons water bricks. So the process to store water would be, clean them, fill them with a food grade hose and use the Calcium hypochlorite stock solution to disinfect them and store? Is that it? Can we drink that water in case of emergencies? Thanks in advance.
I find particles are getting in(blue 55 gal) around my bung cap and I can see fine particles in my water. I filter my water, but should I start over and clean etc. Or keep storing, treat with bleach and filter it ?
The best long term water storage solution is very large food grade underground water storage containers you put these container underground where it's cool and dark and it helps to prevent Algae and bacteria growth
@@TheProvidentPrepper A natural way of cleaning the water would be very useful. Just in case something happens to the water supply or chemicals we save by to clean it! 👍 thanks for your INVALUABLE information! 👀👍👍👍
Great everything i need to know to treat water, but what about for preserving water for years is there a treatment or a chemical to store water for up to 5 or 7 years?
Are there any dangers in storing water for long periods in "plastic" barrels? Chemical leaching? Are there recommended barrels and maybe types to avoid?
Question- I have used barrel filled, cleaned correctly, water treated correctly and stored correctly. Do you recommend any rotation at all, say after 3-5 years or test every 12 months? I have made my own 2*25l water filter systems. God bless.
Technically, it's good forever as long as it doesn't get contaminated(sunlight creating algae growth is typically the worst offender). However, you'll note a distinct "stale" taste when drinking it because the oxygen content has disappeared. I'd encourage you to dump a barrel and refill it every year.
Where would I get plastic jars made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Ryton, or PVDF as stated in your blog? I recently picked up this chemical and would like to store it safely? You stated it is somewhat reactive to glass but you use glass. I was thinking about using a canning jar with a plastic lid. Thanks!
@@TheProvidentPrepper Thanks. I'll do the same then. I recently picked up 3 45 gallon pickle barrels for water storage. I've sanitized them and ready to fill with water for storage.
The Bible says if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. We're living in the end times. Jesus will be rapturing his church before the 7 years of Tribulation begins. He will come back after the 7 years. If you miss the rapture don't take the mark of the beast, you can't go to heaven if you do. It will be on your right hand or your head. God bless you
You need a video on WHERE to find 55 gallon barrels and what's a fair price, including shipping, for one or more of the critters!! Details, details, details. Ax
We've acquired 55 gal barrels that contained cooking oil. They don't have a twist off lid, just two holes where a pump was used. I'm thinking of cleaning them out by filling them with water & bleach for a few hours.... tossing and filling with clean water. Is this a good idea? Or do you have another recommendation?
Why depend on chemicals? I store water in plastic or metal containers, and I also add some pure sheet copper into the water, I can also use silver, but that is expensive. a water pitcher, I strip shiny copper wires (solid house hold 14,12,10 gauge wires) and into the pitcher and let it sit overnight , The ancients use copper vase to store water, but they are hard to find and expensive. The key word with copper in water, enough surface area with water and time. You can buy pitcher size water container from Amazon, they are made in India.
We moved into our new home a year ago and found 2 55gallon blue barrels that still look brand new I want to keep them but I don’t know if the water in there is still good what should I do?
The best way to purify water is with alcohol, because it's easy to remove later and gives you a bonus product that you can sell or use for any number of applications.
I bought Clorox Disinfecting Bleach that has the following active ingredients- Sodium Hypochlorite.......7.5% OTHER INGREDIENTS....92.5% (Yields 7.1% available chlorine) My question is, is this fine bleach to add to my water supply? I put about 1/4 tablespoon in a 15-gallon barrel, but I'm worried it's the wrong bleach or something. Thank you in advance!
@@TheProvidentPrepper That's a great question, I'm actually not sure what the "other ingredients" are, it doesn't say anywhere on the bottle. It doesn't advertise any scents or thickeners though. And on Walmart's website for it under the ingredients section it just says "CONTAINS NO PHOSPHORUS". I'll probably just leave it as is for now and just dump in later and refill it with untreated water. I originally thought putting bleach in the water would extend its shelf life, but after more research it seems that's not the case. Thank for you the response, and for the video!
My barrel is full but I don’t remember where I got the water from. I don’t remember if I filled it from the garden hose, or, maybe used rain water from the downspout. It would be nice to know. The water doesn’t smell. I need to pump some out and look at it. I’m not sure I will be able to tell anything.
Tap water (OR) rain-water/well-water with un-glazed flower pot ceramic filter >to> 'clean' food grade barrel with calcium hypochlorite (mixed kinda strong) >to> Berkey >to> mouth. Just buy new drums. But shop around, walmart has a 10,000% mark-up to scalp unaware buyers.
If you live in a location with freezing temperatures in the winter, I’m guessing you cannot store these water barrels outside, is that correct? Do you have to winterize them to prevent cracking or are they strong enough to withstand winter temperature?
Best explanation I have heard of Clorox. Therefore, I just put the food grade well cleaner 'Well Safe Well Sanitizer Kit' in my buy list, keeping in mind that it doesn't take much. However, my first task is to get rid of the darn sugary butter goop that came in the blue barrels to begin with. (Barrels are straight from the cornflake factory.) Aside from a pressure washer I'd surely love to hear a good suggestion from you, Provident Prepper or any of your viewers who successfully got rid of whatever was in their barrels. Obviously, I have an oily mess on my hands. Soap or no soap? Jeez. Stuff like that. Let me know how you solved your problem please...and THANK YOU for the great video!
I ran into the same problem with my four 330 gallon idc totes that contained food grade castor oil. For each tote I used one large bottle of dawn dish soap let sit for about a week, then drained to the point I could tip it over and used a scrub brush on a pole to scrub what I could get. rinsed and repeated the process, then I used one gallon of bleach for each tote and let it sit for about a week. after almost a month of pressure washing, scrubbing they finally smell and feel new to the touch. Since your drum has a smaller hole I would try dumping a bottle of dawn dish soap in each barrel and let soak. Lowes and home depot sell a pressure washer attachment that rotates 90 degrees, I would get that and pressure wash what it can reach in the inside. then maybe add bleach and roll it round and let it sit for a day or two. This may or may not work, but it worked for my castol oil nightmare. Good luck.
@@litahnishawhan4633 Howdies lS... I did a foreshortened version. I filled my two a quarter full and then played roll around the yard for a day. I was a little concerned with adding soap into the flavor mix. I had intended to let them sit full of clear water for a week but then the pressure washer rolled up in my son's truck the next day so I spent a happy hour or so doing that. We tried the rotating thingy but went back to the standard because it had more pressure. The only thing not got was the top, I guess. Yes, I got most of it but the inside still felt greasy to the touch. As you found it's just going to take multiple applications. I'm in no hurry as the barrels are sort of a backup. The coming months will dictate when I get back at 'em. Hope I don't have to use them....but I fear I might. The boy I got them from was also selling the totes, unused at under $100 a pop. I was kinda surprised at the price...but I opted for the cheaper $15 barrels. Might rue that day. Oh well. GREAT hearing from you and glad you got your problem solved and gave me a preview of my own. Ya done good! Thanks 50 times!
@@ashleymarie7452 Thank you AM. Since my note above I considered that. Just no way around cutting the tops off my stashed barrels to water safe them. My super good water supply is only a couple of blocks away, flat walking. Therefore I pretty much determined, just as you say, flush water. Super thanks for the reply!
There could be dangerous information in this video. The water should still be filtered and boiled before drinking if storing long term. Cant drink it as it would come out of your faucet if using 1 year later or something. Max on any stored water is 2 yrs. Max on stored water that wasn't properly bottled with quality control is a few weeks to a few months. Treatments could prolong to 3 months or 6 months max.
I just bought 4 blue barrels that were formerly used for storing alcohol. Got them cheap, but that alcohol smell is strong. If I clean it out, will it be safe to use ?
The Provident Prepper it was from a drinking alcohol company. I’ve cleaned them with bleach and filled them up multiple times with water. Now they just smell a bit like bleach.
If it wasn’t for human consumption would running it though a water filter before I drank it make it ok? I know it’s from a liquor company in St Louise, but that’s all I know.
I have an excuse (raising hand). I have no place indoors to store a barrel. No heated garage or anything. I bought some barrels years ago in hopes of storing water but I just can't figure out a way to do it. If you saw our house you would agree. It's two bedrooms, one bathroom, for seven adults.
@@TheProvidentPrepper Yes, we could put them outside and even outside in an unheated shed but we live in Montana and I can't imagine it not freezing solid in our prolonged below zero winter temps. There are three other seasons when it would be fine but I am most concerned about winter because our power is most likely to go out in winter. When we don't have power, we don't have water. Ideally we would have other ways to get water but so far we don't. This has concerned me for years so I won't stop trying to figure it out.
Actually no....you can use clear bottles in direct sunlight to sanitize water if you don't have bleach, see Cody Lundin's book "When all hell breaks loose" for more on this technique. For long term storage yes, mostly because UV degrades the plastic and can give off byproducts into the water. If you are concerned about alge growth, initial treatment should kill off any viable algal spores.
Know what was stored in it. I prefer FOOD GRADE BUCKETS AND BARRELS. Then you can depend on BOILING IT Then let it cool down, and FILTER IT Then its safe to drink
I just bought some blue barrels used. They have a small amount of blue liquid in them. It does not seem to smell bad. On the bottom of the barrel it has a 2 in a triangle, PE-HD and S70 and has a tight head on the top. How can I tell what this liquid is and if barrel will be safe if I clean them (I got 7 of them). I want make rain barrels for my garden and water for livestock.
I found on the side of one of the barrels a label that says it is wind shield wiper solution. I looked this and found conflicting opinions on whether it safe to clean and use to not using any used barrel. I still don't know what to do. What do you think?
@@cherylellison8455 Hey Cheryl...windshield washer fluid is typically about 30% to 50% methanol, with the remainder being water in most cases. If there is any way to check further, I would do so...make sure you know what you are dealing with. In some cases, they do add other ingredients. And, did all the barrels have the same thing in them? Methanol is toxic, and does things like cause blindness. If this were my situation, I would first see if the barrels could be returned for a refund. If not, I would clean them very well. This would include filling them with about 5 gallons of water and a 2 cups of bleach. Then put the caps on and roll it around (including standing the barrel on its top) to disinfect all surfaces. After letting them sit for a while, I would then do the same thing using a couple of cups of baking soda instead of the bleach. I would then thoroughly rinse the barrels 3 or 4 times using 5 or 10 gallons of water each time, again contacting all surfaces. Then I would leave them in the sun for a few days with caps off to allow any methanol that has permeated the plastic to volatilize out. I would then be comfortable using it for garden (and probably animal) uses. At this point, the amount of methanol would be pretty minute or maybe nonexistent. This may be a bit of overkill, but I prefer to err on the side of safety. Thanks for being part of the solution!
Thanks for replys, I have it in the basement but I wondered if the furnace went off if it would freeze and burst, I guess if it stays that cold in the house we will have a bigger problem than frozen water.
Tip tip from a 35+year Army medic. When using either bleach or calcium hypochlorite crystals don't just add direct crystals or full concentrate bleach to your barrel. Dissolve the required amount of crystals or bleach in what the Army feild hygiene manual calls a "super solution" and add that instead of strait crystals. We were always told a canteen (quart) of this solution at the dosage rate you recommend per 50 gallon lister bag (these are not used any longer) and mixing in a 5 gallon water jug to sanitize a 400 gallon water buffalo trailer. This makes sure the crystals dissolve fully and maximizes contact area for best sanitizing action. Agitate your barrel once you add the crystals to ensure even distribution so a clean stirring rod or even your barrel pump could be used to stir this solution arround. Don't forget to flush your pump with chlorinated water before using it to draw drinking water. Temperature also matters, colder water takes longer to treat as the chemical reactions that kill the organisms take longer at cold temperatures.
My $.02
Thank you very much
Great tips, thank you
Great info…thanks !!!
Thank you for your $.02!! Thank you for serving our country!!!
What about Aerobic oxygen?
Yep - I have 2 barrels - each 4 feet across and 12 feet high and hold 750 gallons. Bought new specifically to hold water. Each is surrounded by a plywood surround and top to protect from sun and weather. Should be about a years supply for our needs. Filled with tap water and will filter before using.
I bought a 1500 gallon cistern and hooked it up to my water main. All the water that flows through my house goes through the cistern first. So its always being cycled. If the water ever stops, i shut of the main and use the water through a manual valve. I also have hand pumps to pump water up to overhead shower containers i made from home depot buckets.
You should probably look into a filtration system before it goes into your tank pros and cons on many things. Reverse osmosis, illuminates all the trace minerals and what not that you need so gives your dead water. Charcoal filters will filter out radioactive gas. You should do your own research though look into it Congdon water filters could be used post perhaps not sure of. The effectiveness on radioactive Particles
I considered doing that but decided on a slightly different approach. Rather than ONE large cistern, I decided that TWO smaller ones would be better. I can switch between the two monthly, quarterly, etc. to keep the water fresh, but it also gives me a little insurance in case the city announces that the water is contaminated and to stop using it. By the time I receive the notice, ALL of my water would already be contaminated. With a split system, at least I have a large supply of water from a time when, hopefully, it wasn't also contaminated.
that is what I going to do, just use my own well water to fill the barrels up
Yup- 2 50 gal empty barrels in my back yard for 3 years. Going to clean and fill them this weekend thanks for the video and encouragement
Great Video clip! Forgive me for chiming in, I would love your thoughts. Have you heard the talk about - Proutklarton Surviving Technics Plan (google it)? It is a good one off guide for learning how to survive any crisis minus the headache. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my work colleague got excellent results with it.
Appreciate Video! Excuse me for butting in, I would love your opinion. Have you heard about - Proutklarton Surviving Technics Plan (search on google)? It is an awesome one of a kind guide for learning how to survive any crisis without the hard work. Ive heard some amazing things about it and my cousin after a lifetime of fighting got astronomical success with it
Cheers for the video content! Sorry for butting in, I would appreciate your opinion. Have you heard the talk about - Proutklarton Protecting Aqua Plan (just google it)? It is a great one off guide for getting prepared for a mega drought minus the hard work. Ive heard some super things about it and my m8 finally got cool results with it.
City water Is NOT clean!
Where do you get 55 gallon barrels from?
I have watched so many videos about water storage. This channel posts the most comprehensive ones on RUclips. Thank you for helping so many, in so many ways ❤️
There is a artesian well that has provided hundreds and hundreds of families around here with water for a lot of years. I will be filling up my barrels there. Thanks for the video.
I LOVE HER STYLE, TONE AND VOICE! So calm and well informed. He sounds like a DJ.
Thank you for the video! I just sanitized 5 used food grade translucent barrels and am prepping the space to set them in. We will cover them with 6 mil black trash bags in a shed. Yours is one of the few videos showing use of anything other than blue or black barrels. 😎 Have had these for over 2 years, and it feels good to get it done.
A lot of people in this comment section bought barrels and didn’t fill them for years. Get on it buddy!!
Where exactly are u making room for these?
You guys are the best and very accurate !! Iv'e watched dozens of your video's and amazed with your knowledge!! What really blows my mind is... To look at you both you would never know you were hard core preppers. Wish we were neighbors! I on other hand look the part Jaded Vietnam Combat Vet dealt a bad hand and hunkered down!! MUCH LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!
Well done and good information. Another tip, from the book All My Secrets of Organic and Container Gardening So Far which has photos, is that you can build a cheap homemade solar oven from recycled materials that will pasteurize small amounts of water -- such as a gallon at a time -- in emergency conditions. I have tried it and it does work. This would be good even for rainwater.
So true, LOL. I'm finally setting up the barrels I bought 3 years ago with my down time from the virus.
This is my thing to do next month we moved back to the homestead slowly getting things done but with cancer have to go slow at it,,, I want to get two solar panels for the well and least four 44-gallon water barrels
As far as using metal v. plastic for storage, there are several things to consider. First, either one must be food grade, which generally is easier to find in HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Also, either one must be clean. New is better, but also more expensive, sometimes substantially more, especially if you can get them free or close to that. If they are used, make sure they have contained consumable liquid or food, and must not have been allowed to become contaminated. Then make sure they are cleaned well and sanitized with a chlorine or other suitable disinfectant. The chlorine in many water systems, or if chlorine is used for disinfection purposes, tends to corrode metal unless there is a suitable coating or liner to prevent that. In general, my preference is plastic, but if you can find the right metal barrel, it can work also.
Not knowing the type of metal nor if there is a specific coating on the metal..... WOULD there be a use for a metal drum (in your opinion of course) for storing water or food? Perhaps there is another way of sanitizing that will not cause the metal to becone corrosive?
Please keep in mind cal hypo needs to be stored very carefully. It will react abruptly (fire & explosion ) when coming in contact with many products. It has been the cause of more fires at home improvement stores, pool stores and manufacturing plants than any other product.
I was unaware. Thanks
Is it safe to store indoors with no chemicals around ? In closet
That's why I did not buy any! I just rinse & fill empty jars with RO filtered water. The drums sound good because they hold a large amount, but I don't want a bunch of 'cal hypo' sitting in my garage!
Great video. Thanks for the measurements. Easy to understand. Take care and God bless.
If you have a water treatment plant anywhere near you they will have free barrels both white and blue. Ask what they contained, usually a polymer, cl2, or orthopolyphosphate, all are injected in the treatment process and can be cleaned out of the barrel with plain water filled three times.
The screw caps can be opened with a pair of pliers or channel locks if you don’t have the special wrench.
A normal 3/4” or 1/2” male spiket can thread into one of the caps. Look at them and you’ll see the threads for it. Just drill a 1/2” hole and screw in the spicket. Tip the barrel on its side for gravity flow.
For treatment don’t forget about iodine too. Good luck
Water Preserver is way over priced. Just use household bleach. Great video! Thanks for sharing. Super information!
How often would water in 55 gallon containers need to be re-treated with calcium hypochlorite? @@TheProvidentPrepper
I have done well with mason jar storage. I dont know how to aquire 55 gallon drums. Thank you for your informative measures of purification.
I have purchased from Craigslist and local Ace Harware store selling used pickle barrels. They are black with removable lid. Hope this helps
Is calcium hypochlorite the same thing as pool shock? Where can I buy it? This was a great video!!! I love that you guys did the math on the stock solution bleach jug. Thank you so much!
Safe drinkable water is the most critical item that everyone needs a minimum of 1 gallon a day per person for rehydration of food, the body and hygiene. I discovered a USA company DryElement that sells probably the best gravity fed water filtration system in the world and its under $200.00. Their products are made in America and the Green Nano Gravity Filter is amazing. Also, they sell a long term water treatment solution based on the mineral properties of copper and silver that allows you to store fresh water for years.
Another option for temporary water storage is the WaterBOB. It's essentially an enclosed plastic liner that fits into a bath and holds upto 100 gallons.
Yep use them whenever a hurricane is about to hit -- works great.
Remember,,, 1 gallon of water weighs 8 pounds. So,,, 100 gallons weighs 800 pounds. That's a lot of weight. Be sure your house foundation can handle the weight.
How about let's talk about how ALL public water is contaminated with sodium fluoride (a neurotoxin that is the main ingredient in rat poison) that's why everyone's hormones are screwed up,and mental illness is common now. Try and talk a circle around that fact.
What about the rain?
What's a solution to the fluoride?
@@jeremybliss3598 filter your water to start. get something that says it filters fluoride, not all do.avoid consuming aluminum, i.e cooking in aluminum foil. flouridw makes aluminum bond to the pineal gland and the brain, a possible cause for Alzheimer's as well.
I'm considering using smaller 30 gallon drums to help reduce the weight. At around 8 pounds per gallon, that would be around 240 pounds. A weight I could put inside of a closet inside my house. The 55 gallon drum would be about 440 pounds and may be too much weight on my floor. Other than paying more per gallon, it there any disadvantage to using smaller drums?
Thank you for making this video. It was very helpful and I will be using several of the tips you all provided.
I will bookmark those online resources just in case emergency arises.
Thanks, I will take your advice, but I think I will just buy two, sealed, 5-gallon jugs on hand in my small apartment for 1 person.
Very important video, thank you Jonathan and Kylene. I sure appreciate the content of your channel. Happy trails!
Sodium hypochlorite can be purchased in dry form as well. It is the kind of pool shock with only one ingredient which is the sodium hypochlorite.
I had thoughþ about getting a distillation for water. When I check on a distillation thing , i realized I can make my own. I knew distillation is the steam from boiling water. I have a 6 quart pressure cooker, all I need is to capture the steam from the cooker, a tube to fit over the stem where the pressure weight sets and a container for the water/steam to drip into, not a ideal or quick method but workable.
I like stainless steel soda syrup cans. 5 gallons each, for real drinking water. It's not prepping in the desert. It's everyday use.
Great video! Lots of good information oh, thank you.
Thank you for making this wonderfully informative video. Should I use my RO filtered well water to fill the 55 gallon barrel and also use 1/8 tsp of calcium hypochlorite? We purchased the Culligan Reverse Osmosis system (just for our kitchen water) in order to filter out nitrates, bacteria and viruses from our well water. Or, if I use our outside spigot water directly from the well, it will be unfiltered. So, would that be better to fill the barrel with and then use the 1/8 tsp of calcium hypochlorite in that water? Also, where do you get that handy wheeled bottom you have on the barrel? Thank you!
@@TheProvidentPrepper Thank you! I am new to water preservation.
Hey Sunshine Always (I love it)...I would definitely use the RO water so that it is clean and drinkable at any time. The chlorine will take care of the bacteria and viruses, but it won't fix the nitrates. Normally, if people have chlorinated municipal water, I recommend not treating the water on the front end..you generally have at least 0.5 parts per million (ppm) of residual chlorine to provide some continued treatment. With your water not having any residual, I would add the calcium hypochlorite to the barrel. I find it easier to make the calcium hypochlorite stock solution, then add 2 Tablespoons to the barrel instead of the 1/8 tsp dry powder...just a personal preference. I'm guessing it will be a bit more difficult to fill it from the sink, but you should be able to find a connector at a hardware store to allow you to connect with your clean hose and fill the barrel. I do think it is best to use a good filter/purifier to run the water through when using it for drinking. This will help ensure that the water is safe, and will improve any taste or odor issues. As for the wheeled cart, they are available on Amazon, U-Line, and various other places. Search for "55 gallon drum cart"...they run about $40 and up. I hope this has helped. If you have other questions, connect back with us. Thanks for being part of the solution!!
I have both 55 gl. full of water straight from the hose and carefully filtered with Zero Water ( yes, that took a few weeks ). I have had them unsealed for around twelve years. My question is should I leave them alone or open each one and refill?
After 10 years or more anything I should Do, add to, to continue using?
Hello, I will be using tap water for my 55 gallon water drums for storage. Should I run the tap thru my Alexapure filters first, then add bleach for long term shortage? Or fill up the barrels, add bleach and then run the water thru the Alexapure when ready to drink? Thank you so much
I believe he said bleach in the barrel first, then filter as you use it.
🌷 Thank you… :-) I was just about to buy two 55 gall barrels, I don’t know where to hide them on my property because I live in a dicey neighborhood and I live alone and I’m old 😳 But… I’ll get it figured out lol. I thumbed 👍 & subbed. My best to you and yours :-)
Welcome! You got this!
Thank you for this video. We live off grid and have an artesian well. I wonder if you think storage is still needed?
Hi there. I have 10 30-gallon water barrels that have been sitting for several years with the bung caps degraded or missing. The bottom of the barrels are slimy and have yard and tree debris in them as well. I've begun washing them out, but can't get the slime off the bottom (or the top of the inside of the barrels for that matter). Any tips on how to clean out the slime? I'm going to borrow a pressure washer from a friend and I'm hoping that helps. I heard somewhere else to put about 6 ounces of bleach in them and let them sit overnight. I also ordered new bung caps on Amazon. I don't know where to get a bottle brush big enough to clean them. Will the calcium hypochlorite clean them and if so how should I do it to get them safe to use again? Thanks!!! P.S. Your most recent replies to other people's questions are not visible, so I'm hoping if you reply I will be able to see your reply. Thanks tons!
Thank you both!
Thanks for the info. You have a great way of explaining thing. I do have a question. I filled my barrel with ny water which is clean, as far as I know. Should I put in the powder in at the the beginning of storage or only when I will use it if needed. Thanks in advance.
@@TheProvidentPrepper thanks 😊
A thing that really needs to be said here is the importance of location. Don't let the sun beat on your water, because UVB light will degrade your treatment and encourage algae to grow. But the biggest thing is access. A full 55-gallon drum weighs just shy of 500lbs and don't offer much for great handholds. They are a serious pain in the ass to move. So before you fill it, put it somewhere and live around it for a few weeks while it's empty. Make sure you aren't having to push it aside for more frequently-accessed items. Make sure you turn it so the bung and vent are both accessible. Don't fill it until you're sure you don't want to move it anywhere.
@@coralineattano9267 Basic rule of the Internet: don't open links on product pages where the seller doesn't say anything about their product except how great it is. If it looks like a scam and smells like a scam, it's probably a scam and will put some shit software onto your computer to boot. The fact that your comment is almost exactly copy/pasted from the site suggests that you're involved in the scam as well.
I put mine on casters.
@@firearmsstudent That's an excellent idea until you encounter a staircase. I personally have opted for a higher number of smaller containers. In addition to being easier to move, now I don't lose as much of my supply in the event that a container becomes contaminated.
@@bradsimpson8724 Use the largest containers that you can effectively store. Use smaller containers to both store and lug around. I have two 55 gallon barrels in my garage and about 10 four gallon luggable jugs, as well as 10 water bricks. Store as much water in as many different places as you can. Remember, water = LIFE! Also remember that water is HEAVY!
We moved from Alabama to Mexico any insight on winter for Mexico this year? Blessings
Interesting move. How is life
HDPE is non hygroscopic, which means it does not absorb moisture. Blue #2 barrels used for food products can be cleaned to the point that there is no detectable smell or taste of the product stored previously.
Hi, I have a 55 gallon water barrel filed with water do I put the 1/8 teaspoon of Calcium Hypochlorite to the water, I m going to store away? And How many years does the water stored last?
I used chlorine dioxide treatment on my 55 gal drums 3 yrs ago. Do I need to change out the water? They were placed on a dirt floor in a shed which gets hot in the summer. Thanks!
I used chlorine dioxide to preserve my water. The instructions said that the water would stay fresh for four years if the temperature was generally kept below 75 degrees. I would thus question whether your water is still fresh.
I'm planning on purchasing a 60 gal. Bladder to fill up in my basement shower for an emergency water supply. It says it's for water storage for human consumption. Do you think the barrel is a better idea? I'd really like your opinion.
Hello, thanks for the detailed video. New prepper here and hence apologies in advance for the dumb question. We recently bought 12 - 3.5 gallons water bricks. So the process to store water would be, clean them, fill them with a food grade hose and use the Calcium hypochlorite stock solution to disinfect them and store? Is that it? Can we drink that water in case of emergencies? Thanks in advance.
I find particles are getting in(blue 55 gal) around my bung cap and I can see fine particles in my water. I filter my water, but should I start over and clean etc. Or keep storing, treat with bleach and filter it ?
The best long term water storage solution is very large food grade underground water storage containers you put these container underground where it's cool and dark and it helps to prevent Algae and bacteria growth
Thanks for putting this up!
I absolutely Love your videos. Very concise and accurate information in a friendly and understandable form. Please keep it up!!
@@TheProvidentPrepper A natural way of cleaning the water would be very useful. Just in case something happens to the water supply or chemicals we save by to clean it! 👍 thanks for your INVALUABLE information! 👀👍👍👍
To sanitize water for consuming use SODIUM CHLORITE, not sodium chloride (table salt)
Great everything i need to know to treat water, but what about for preserving water for years is there a treatment or a chemical to store water for up to 5 or 7 years?
how long is # 2,4 and 5 Good for inside the water that you just put in the barrels?
Are there any dangers in storing water for long periods in "plastic" barrels? Chemical leaching? Are there recommended barrels and maybe types to avoid?
Thanks, Great Info.
Thank you so much
THANX . WATER IS GREAT
Add limestone pebbles to each barrell to keep water fresh
Interesting. Have you tested water after adding limestones? And how many for a 55 gal drum?
Question- I have used barrel filled, cleaned correctly, water treated correctly and stored correctly. Do you recommend any rotation at all, say after 3-5 years or test every 12 months?
I have made my own 2*25l water filter systems.
God bless.
Technically, it's good forever as long as it doesn't get contaminated(sunlight creating algae growth is typically the worst offender). However, you'll note a distinct "stale" taste when drinking it because the oxygen content has disappeared. I'd encourage you to dump a barrel and refill it every year.
That is me. I've got 5 but havent done anything about them yet. The reason is that I am just renting and hope to move soon.
Great video! Thanks!
Where would I get plastic jars made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Ryton, or PVDF as stated in your blog? I recently picked up this chemical and would like to store it safely? You stated it is somewhat reactive to glass but you use glass. I was thinking about using a canning jar with a plastic lid. Thanks!
@@TheProvidentPrepper Thanks. I'll do the same then. I recently picked up 3 45 gallon pickle barrels for water storage. I've sanitized them and ready to fill with water for storage.
@@TheProvidentPrepper yes, storage. I should have been more clear. :)
The Bible says if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. We're living in the end times. Jesus will be rapturing his church before the 7 years of Tribulation begins. He will come back after the 7 years. If you miss the rapture don't take the mark of the beast, you can't go to heaven if you do. It will be on your right hand or your head. God bless you
My elementary school teachers told me not to put all my eggs in 1 basket
@@WhatWhy42 Cute
@@mikemcfadden3601 😉
Odd you'd think anyone would be interested in your stone age believes
Doctrine of demons. You better do your own studying and not believe someone else.
May God open the eyes of your understanding.
You need a video on WHERE to find 55 gallon barrels and what's a fair price, including shipping, for one or more of the critters!! Details, details, details. Ax
Look/start on your local Craig's list and feed stores. You will need to be quick before the capitalists' find them!!!
You filter on the backend what kind of filter?
No mention of P&G Water Purifier Packets? They can turn lake water into potable water in a matter of hours.
Great video guys. Thank you.
I live in the south. Can the water barrels be put in the garage which can get pretty hot in the summer?
We've acquired 55 gal barrels that contained cooking oil. They don't have a twist off lid, just two holes where a pump was used.
I'm thinking of cleaning them out by filling them with water & bleach for a few hours.... tossing and filling with clean water.
Is this a good idea?
Or do you have another recommendation?
@@TheProvidentPrepper
Will do
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. It is very important to me.
What kind of companies did you get the Free barrels from?
You just earned another subscriber! 👍 Thankyou!
Thanks for the info. Key Largo, Florida.......
Why depend on chemicals? I store water in plastic or metal containers, and I also add some pure sheet copper into the water, I can also use silver, but that is expensive. a water pitcher, I strip shiny copper wires (solid house hold 14,12,10 gauge wires) and into the pitcher and let it sit overnight , The ancients use copper vase to store water, but they are hard to find and expensive. The key word with copper in water, enough surface area with water and time. You can buy pitcher size water container from Amazon, they are made in India.
Can you drink that stored water? How would you filter it before drinking?
We moved into our new home a year ago and found 2 55gallon blue barrels that still look brand new I want to keep them but I don’t know if the water in there is still good what should I do?
Can you use pool water that is cleaned and filtered?
My water barrel leakage from under how can I stop the leakage water pls tell me
The best way to purify water is with alcohol, because it's easy to remove later and gives you a bonus product that you can sell or use for any number of applications.
Filled 55 gallon barrels are heavy! A great way to store/move them is on furniture dollies from Harbor Freight!
I noticed in the video his drums were on wheels.
I bought Clorox Disinfecting Bleach that has the following active ingredients-
Sodium Hypochlorite.......7.5%
OTHER INGREDIENTS....92.5%
(Yields 7.1% available chlorine)
My question is, is this fine bleach to add to my water supply? I put about 1/4 tablespoon in a 15-gallon barrel, but I'm worried it's the wrong bleach or something. Thank you in advance!
@@TheProvidentPrepper That's a great question, I'm actually not sure what the "other ingredients" are, it doesn't say anywhere on the bottle. It doesn't advertise any scents or thickeners though. And on Walmart's website for it under the ingredients section it just says "CONTAINS NO PHOSPHORUS". I'll probably just leave it as is for now and just dump in later and refill it with untreated water. I originally thought putting bleach in the water would extend its shelf life, but after more research it seems that's not the case.
Thank for you the response, and for the video!
My barrel is full but I don’t remember where I got the water from. I don’t remember if I filled it from the garden hose, or, maybe used rain water from the downspout. It would be nice to know. The water doesn’t smell. I need to pump some out and look at it. I’m not sure I will be able to tell anything.
Tap water (OR) rain-water/well-water with un-glazed flower pot ceramic filter >to> 'clean' food grade barrel with calcium hypochlorite (mixed kinda strong) >to> Berkey >to> mouth.
Just buy new drums. But shop around, walmart has a 10,000% mark-up to scalp unaware buyers.
If you live in a location with freezing temperatures in the winter, I’m guessing you cannot store these water barrels outside, is that correct? Do you have to winterize them to prevent cracking or are they strong enough to withstand winter temperature?
Generally with hdpe you shouldn't have issues, but don't fill them beyond 2/3 of their capacity
Best explanation I have heard of Clorox. Therefore, I just put the food grade well cleaner 'Well Safe Well Sanitizer Kit' in my buy list, keeping in mind that it doesn't take much. However, my first task is to get rid of the darn sugary butter goop that came in the blue barrels to begin with. (Barrels are straight from the cornflake factory.) Aside from a pressure washer I'd surely love to hear a good suggestion from you, Provident Prepper or any of your viewers who successfully got rid of whatever was in their barrels. Obviously, I have an oily mess on my hands. Soap or no soap? Jeez. Stuff like that. Let me know how you solved your problem please...and THANK YOU for the great video!
I ran into the same problem with my four 330 gallon idc totes that contained food grade castor oil. For each tote I used one large bottle of dawn dish soap let sit for about a week, then drained to the point I could tip it over and used a scrub brush on a pole to scrub what I could get. rinsed and repeated the process, then I used one gallon of bleach for each tote and let it sit for about a week. after almost a month of pressure washing, scrubbing they finally smell and feel new to the touch. Since your drum has a smaller hole I would try dumping a bottle of dawn dish soap in each barrel and let soak. Lowes and home depot sell a pressure washer attachment that rotates 90 degrees, I would get that and pressure wash what it can reach in the inside. then maybe add bleach and roll it round and let it sit for a day or two. This may or may not work, but it worked for my castol oil nightmare. Good luck.
@@litahnishawhan4633 Howdies lS... I did a foreshortened version. I filled my two a quarter full and then played roll around the yard for a day. I was a little concerned with adding soap into the flavor mix. I had intended to let them sit full of clear water for a week but then the pressure washer rolled up in my son's truck the next day so I spent a happy hour or so doing that. We tried the rotating thingy but went back to the standard because it had more pressure. The only thing not got was the top, I guess. Yes, I got most of it but the inside still felt greasy to the touch. As you found it's just going to take multiple applications. I'm in no hurry as the barrels are sort of a backup. The coming months will dictate when I get back at 'em. Hope I don't have to use them....but I fear I might. The boy I got them from was also selling the totes, unused at under $100 a pop. I was kinda surprised at the price...but I opted for the cheaper $15 barrels. Might rue that day. Oh well. GREAT hearing from you and glad you got your problem solved and gave me a preview of my own. Ya done good! Thanks 50 times!
@@OvGraphics Consider labeling the quality of the water in the barrels. Even funky water can be used to flush a toilet.
@@ashleymarie7452 Thank you AM. Since my note above I considered that. Just no way around cutting the tops off my stashed barrels to water safe them. My super good water supply is only a couple of blocks away, flat walking. Therefore I pretty much determined, just as you say, flush water. Super thanks for the reply!
If we cannot find these water barrels used, do you know where the best purchase source would be? We are on a budget. Thanks so much
There could be dangerous information in this video. The water should still be filtered and boiled before drinking if storing long term. Cant drink it as it would come out of your faucet if using 1 year later or something. Max on any stored water is 2 yrs. Max on stored water that wasn't properly bottled with quality control is a few weeks to a few months. Treatments could prolong to 3 months or 6 months max.
I just bought 4 blue barrels that were formerly used for storing alcohol. Got them cheap, but that alcohol smell is strong. If I clean it out, will it be safe to use ?
The Provident Prepper it was from a drinking alcohol company. I’ve cleaned them with bleach and filled them up multiple times with water. Now they just smell a bit like bleach.
If it wasn’t for human consumption would running it though a water filter before I drank it make it ok? I know it’s from a liquor company in St Louise, but that’s all I know.
The Provident Prepper I got Alexapure. I’m probably going to use some for rainwater collection for the garden. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Freezing would be my biggest concern. It would freeze.
i have a 26,000 gallon swimming pool. how do i use that water? i just use chlorine pellets in filter.
I have an excuse (raising hand). I have no place indoors to store a barrel. No heated garage or anything. I bought some barrels years ago in hopes of storing water but I just can't figure out a way to do it. If you saw our house you would agree. It's two bedrooms, one bathroom, for seven adults.
@@TheProvidentPrepper Yes, we could put them outside and even outside in an unheated shed but we live in Montana and I can't imagine it not freezing solid in our prolonged below zero winter temps. There are three other seasons when it would be fine but I am most concerned about winter because our power is most likely to go out in winter. When we don't have power, we don't have water. Ideally we would have other ways to get water but so far we don't. This has concerned me for years so I won't stop trying to figure it out.
MUST keep the light from the water!
Actually no....you can use clear bottles in direct sunlight to sanitize water if you don't have bleach, see Cody Lundin's book "When all hell breaks loose" for more on this technique. For long term storage yes, mostly because UV degrades the plastic and can give off byproducts into the water. If you are concerned about alge growth, initial treatment should kill off any viable algal spores.
Great tips!
Can you store your water outside in both cold and warm weather?
Know what was stored in it. I prefer FOOD GRADE BUCKETS AND BARRELS. Then you can depend on BOILING IT Then let it cool down, and FILTER IT Then its safe to drink
Why don't you buy the Berkey water system, that takes out anything and everything!
True, but you do need to have the water to be filtered
It costs an arm and a leg.
I did!
I believe Berkey removes paracites, etc but not viruses
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) would be the safest option. Some gardening stores carry 30% concentrate. But bleach is probably just fine.
I just bought some blue barrels used. They have a small amount of blue liquid in them. It does not seem to smell bad.
On the bottom of the barrel it has a 2 in a triangle, PE-HD and S70 and has a tight head on the top.
How can I tell what this liquid is and if barrel will be safe if I clean them (I got 7 of them). I want make rain barrels for my garden and water for livestock.
I found on the side of one of the barrels a label that says it is wind shield wiper solution. I looked this and found conflicting opinions on whether it safe to clean and use to not using any used barrel. I still don't know what to do. What do you think?
@@cherylellison8455 Hey Cheryl...windshield washer fluid is typically about 30% to 50% methanol, with the remainder being water in most cases. If there is any way to check further, I would do so...make sure you know what you are dealing with. In some cases, they do add other ingredients. And, did all the barrels have the same thing in them? Methanol is toxic, and does things like cause blindness. If this were my situation, I would first see if the barrels could be returned for a refund. If not, I would clean them very well. This would include filling them with about 5 gallons of water and a 2 cups of bleach. Then put the caps on and roll it around (including standing the barrel on its top) to disinfect all surfaces. After letting them sit for a while, I would then do the same thing using a couple of cups of baking soda instead of the bleach. I would then thoroughly rinse the barrels 3 or 4 times using 5 or 10 gallons of water each time, again contacting all surfaces. Then I would leave them in the sun for a few days with caps off to allow any methanol that has permeated the plastic to volatilize out. I would then be comfortable using it for garden (and probably animal) uses. At this point, the amount of methanol would be pretty minute or maybe nonexistent. This may be a bit of overkill, but I prefer to err on the side of safety. Thanks for being part of the solution!
What do you put in the barrels to keep them from freezing and causing a leak?
Try insulating the outside of the barrel like a one of those cup coozis things
Thanks for replys, I have it in the basement but I wondered if the furnace went off if it would freeze and burst, I guess if it stays that cold in the house we will have a bigger problem than frozen water.
We just added the hypochlorite solution in our 55 gallon barrels of water. Q: how will we get the chlorine taste out of the water to drink? 🤔
It's safe to drink if you added the correct amount. Also, you can filter it before drinking as he mentions.
i have heard you can use hydrogen peroxide to help preserve your water storage, how much do you need to add to a 55 gallon drum? Thanks
I don't use hydrogen peroxide. Sorry!