How to Store Water

How to Clean, Prepare and Fill a Water Barrel

Now that you have bought your 30-gallon water barrels, do you know how to store water so that it will be clean and safe to drink? Do you just stick the hose into the barrel and fill? No, not a good idea.

Here's a step-by-step method to prepare them that will ensure clean, potable water when and if you need it in an emergency.

Step 1:

Before filling a water barrel make sure you clean it thoroughly before any other steps. You can safely clean a food/government-grade water container with dish soap and water. Make sure all soap residue is out before filling the container with water.

Another way to clean it is by adding 1 tsp of liquid household chlorine bleach to 1 quart of water.

Step 2:

Fill container with regular tap water. Water from a chlorinated water supply doesn’t need further treatment if being stored in clean, food-grade containers. For wells or any non-chlorinated water, the supply should be treated with bleach. Add 8 drops of liquid household chlorine bleach (without thickeners, scents, or additives) for every gallon (4 liters) of water.

Step 3:

Be sure to place the date on the water container so you know when you filled it, and when you’ll need to fill it, again. If you used chlorine treated water, rotate every 6 months. If you used water preserver or tablets rotate as often as the package indicates. (Typically 4-5 years.)

Step 4:

Store in a cool, dark place. It’s ideal to store water in a location where nothing in the home will be damaged if the container leaks. It’s also helpful to remember that you can improve the taste of the water by pouring it back and forth between containers before use.

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