City Prepping I don't know for sure but it seems to me that whole idea of not storing them on the cement seems like an urban myth. What sort of chemicals could possibly Leach from cement? Cement to my knowledge doesn't have any chemicals in it. Unless you mean the sealer that is sometimes put on cement. Also how would chemicals which from the cement through a thick plastic container doesn't seem possible to me. But I'd like to see the science showing that it is.
There are some chemicals in concrete. Not sure how they would leach in to the barrels though. As an arborist I've taken down multiple trees that had died due to a concrete truck emptying and washing out his truck and the runoff reaching the roots of a tree. It will kill a tree in a hurry.
I know this in an old video but instead of using dish soap and being worried you rinsed it well enough you could use a brewery cleaner such as PBW or Easy Clean. You could also use Star San which is another brewery product which is a no rinse sanitizer. Uline also makes drum dollies you can plan under while empty so you can easily move them around when full if needed.
If you are going to store the barrels in a garage or outdoor shelter, take into account room for the water to expand if you are in a freezing/winter area.
@Chris Cynova the barrel I'm using had been used to transport energy drink concentrate. I only use it to store the condensate water from my AC unit for watering the lawn and garden. Not for drinking water. But years later and after several cleanings I still smell it sometimes. It actually smells quite nice. Fruity.
Great video. All I have to say is that you might want to use something other than rope to secure your barrels in the event of an earthquake. I work for FedEx Freight and we move pallets of 4-55 gallon drums every day. Depending on what is in them, the pallet can weight up to +2,500 lbs. We have to secure the barrels to the sides of the trailer using straps so that they do not tip while in transit. If an earthquake were to happen and your barrels tipped, putting strain on the rope, your rope would snap under the stress of all your barrels leaning on it. I suggest using a simple pull strap or a ratchet strap to secure your barrels. I also suggest securing them to your garage wall and not just the shelving unit.
I don't want to sound defeatist or discourage anyone from using any/all of these amazing prepping techniques, but I gotta say that honestly, I am having a very tough time with this. I don't mind spending the time, money, & energy, but I am really starting to feel I could not protect my family where I live even if we prep for bug-in and/or bug out scenarios. I don't remember feeling quite so helpless and exposed as the leader of a household
leyenda61 you aren’t alone in feeling that way. We learned quick in a hurricane/flood that 1) it’s your household vs the world ultimately 2) you’re never quite prepared enough 3) contingencies can mess up long term plans in a minute 4) for all my “stores” our bugout bags were the most valuable ultimately in our situation 5) I can carry 14 gals (4 of the 3.5g) of water at once for 1/8 mile before I need a break...🤣
I am planning on having several water tanks in my basement connected to my house water line and just leaving like that. Water will be constantly changed out when ever we use water in the house and they will always be full and ready. They will be set off the floor so that we can get water if electricity goes out. A simple stand with concrete blocks will do the job. You can sometimes get barrels from places that make food products, like ice-cream.
Thank you for taking the time to show people the proper method for storing water. Here is another video you might want to make so those who watch your channel will be able to set up a shower system that recirculates the water for showering since water will be too precious too waste. 5 gallons is all you need no matter how long a person is in the shower. Cleanliness is vital to one's health if and when the SHTF. You are a godsend and I thank you for all your hard work trying to educate people on preparedness.
I do something similar but on a smaller, more portable scale. Find someone that drinks a lot of soda from 2-liters and collect the empties. Remove labels and the plastic ring (it can harbor bacteria). I wash with soapy water and rinse well. I fill them with well water and add 4 drops of chlorine bleach to make it shelf-stable. Wrap the threads with teflon tape and screw on the sanitized cap. Label and place in dark storage. Local gas stations or carryouts may part with the stackable bottle trays for easy storage. It doesn't take long and you can do a few at a time.
What do you think about storage store bought gallon jugs of water? I've been buying a box of 6 gallons from Costco and BJ's for over a year now. I leave them unopened in the box and have them stored in a closet. Seems like it would be safe, but now I'm reading comments about needed to use water within 6 months. If it's not safe, can I still use the water and just put it through my Berkey?
Perfect timing! Very helpful video. I'm actually picking up 4 of these barrels from Walmart tomorrow. Walmart delivers for free but chose to pick up because don't want my nosy neighbors asking what those huge boxes are in front of my house. #OPSEC
Excellent video, thank you. I envy you the nice under shelf storage. I went through all this in 1999. I didn’t put my five barrels on wood on the concrete, because I had sealed and epoxy painted my garage floor, otherwise agree a barrier is always a good idea. What I also did was build a workbench top that rests on top of four barrels, with a swing down center support. So I can pull the bench out one of four ways to access each barrel, with everything supported by 3.5 barrels and the center 8x8. So unless I’m filling / cleaning them I don’t have to move any of the barrels to access the water with a siphon or barrel pump. The caveat is that the bungs need to be on the corners or sides, not run north to south. I don’t have a Berkey, but plan on running the stored water thru a Katadyn pocket filter that’s good for 13,000 gallons, and I have enough charcoal inserts in a backup 13k gallon capacity Katadyn Combo filter to treat about 500 gallons of that for flavor and odor. Two things I learned: the first time I filled them with a garden hose, not knowing any better. But the second time 10 years later I used an RV transfer hose as mentioned here. Second, get two of everything. I have an indestructible metal bung wrench on a carabiner on the wall, and a spare red plastic one as shown in the video hanging off a side of barrel with a command hook. Also two of the siphon hoses as shown for water and two dedicated for fuel; don’t mix them up, put a label or key tag on each of them and store them in clean marked plastic bags. Also, don’t rely exclusively on the slow siphon hoses. They work OK, but you can buy dedicated barrel water pumps that mount in the barrel bungholes and drop a plastic intake down into the barrel. I got one really good one, and one cheaper backup. Test them immediately after you fill the barrels. Way faster method to dispense water. Last thing, where / how are you going to transport the water you pump out? Get 2 or 3 empty Alhambra five gallon jugs that you can fill and transport to your cooking / washing area, then buy a couple of those small Dolphin pumps that fits directly on the Alhambra bottle. Now you can fill canteens easily and dispense water for whatever as you need it. I also scored four of those six gallon dedicated water lugs with integrated handles and pour spouts, so you can have those in different areas of the house, but the Alhambra bottles with hand pumps are the easiest to use. Long sitting water can be aerated by pouring it back and forth between containers and shaking it. My last batch of water has been in storage for 13 years now, and I have no reason to think it needs to be changed, water doesn’t really go bad, but I’ll probably check the drums and refill just to be certain. Finally, on my fifth barrel, five is all I have room for, I put it on one of those wood Harbor Freight moving dollies after first making a center plywood insert for it. It’s good up to 1000 lbs and the barrel weighs about 400. Now I can wheel it around where needed instead of having to fight it the first time. My garage is dry walled and the door is never up, so no sun. Now I see Harbor Freight sells a new style dolly with the center filled out, so they’ve done it for you. With that barrel I bought and finished a wood round from Home Depot to fit on top of it with stops on the underside that fit between the raised bungs, and keep a scroll saw on top of the barrel. No sense wasting the space. Good luck!
Heads-up: the no-splash bleach isn't just dilute sodium hypochlorite. It has thickeners in it which you wouldn't want to ingest. If you disinfect the barrels with no-splash bleach, be sure you rinse them very well afterward
I got 3 barrels like yours which had stored slush and 2 others barrels with big opening like the last one that u had at the end of ur video, which had stored olives. I wash them but left them outside on pavement and grass. I didn't know how to use them correctly until I found ur video. Thanks.
Great video! What I like most about your channel is your no-nonse approach and the fact you actually visibly practice what you preach in front of the camera.
Used to put about 30 silver coins in the water barrels taken on ships of old that were planning on being out to sea for long durations of time. Silver kills all bacteria in the water preventing bacteria growth.
Currently in South Africa in the Western Cape province we are facing a severe drought and we are only allowed to use 87 Liters per person per day. We are expecting to run out of water as a city (Cape Town and its suburbs) in around may 2018. So this caused many to start using rain harvesting,bore hole and water well technology. The prices for these types of barrels are heavily inflated due to many starting to store their own water for the flushing of toilets and gardening and thus demand is higher than supply. We have larger tanks around 750-5000 liters and many homes are equipped with those "JoJo" tanks. Having water on hand to flush your toilet or just rinse your hands comes handy when the taps run dry. They are planning on rationing the water by cutting off each area for a while every day. You really understand the value of water suddenly. I do enjoy your videos as times are unpredictable and planning for encase is best.
Thanks for the information. I've previously purchased two 55 gallon barrels for water storage but wasn't sure about bacterial growth in stored water. Now I know! Thanks again.
First Consider using cheap fabric instead of black plastic as it will cause heating in direct sun light. Second consider plumbing the barrels in to your home water system this will cause the water stored to change out automatically as you use water at home if your house has a pressure regulator keep it set at 40psi. The syphon is a good idea but if you plumb the barrels right you can use a simple hand pump of PVC to draw water from one barrel for use. Or if you want to use the syphon set it up with a ball valve and you can drain the barrels from a single point. I say this because plastic drums are used to store batches of cheap tourists tequila the one with the worm and it has a plastic taste making it undrinkable even as a mixer. So a flow through system is a better idea to me. Water is called the universal solvent!
Great stuff man. It's funny one of these older videos popped up for me. I'm lucky to have a well with a generator and an ozone treatment system, but being able to store it is essential because you won't always have power or fuel to run the generator
I have no idea how many watts a well pump draws but you might consider a solar powered generator for the water pump. You can keep it charged via plugged into a wall outlet but if you ever don't have electricity you can charge it up with the sun. Of course, you need a way to hook your water pump to it which I think is called a transfer switch.
I got hit with the lucky stick. I get these for free from work. They had food grade glycerin in them, so I just have to give them a really good rinse. I like the idea of rinsing with the bleach. I should probably do that. I do need that bung wrench along with the other accessories! Thanks for the link.
I've been telling one of my friends I was going to start storing water and today I bought a 45 gallon heavy garbage can with lid to use. The last few I've been using for prepping so they're full of food 🤣 she and I were discussing sanitizing the water that I preparing to collect (since I live in South Florida plenty of rain) how interesting that your video showed up on my feed talk about good timing
those jingle spihons really work. i have one in each car and 2 in storage. just for all occasions i bought the hand crank siphon and one that attaches to my cordless drill and wow does that one pump water. be sure to mark any sipohns you use for things other than water CLEARLY. no cross contamination
Excellent video! You showed yet another great option that people can 'put into their tool belt' to use if it their circumstances allow it. You made this very simple and straightforward. I like your videos since you actually show step-by-step how something is done instead of just showing the 'finished product' and talking about how you reached that point. :)
This is a great way to store water We getting on more often natural disasters, we have to take care of basic need for us family, we can't depend 100% on government.
I would recommend using a food-grade barrel liner. You might have to cut a small hole in the middle of the top of the barrel, or perhaps you could manage the same thing using one of the existing bung holes. Whatever hole you use, cover the hole with something solid and fasten it in place with something like silicone seal.
I REALLY Like this guy! Common sense and definitely plans for any contingencies. I'm military retired and rarely do I see anyone awwe me... great and very smart, efficient and tactically sound guy!!!!
I went a step further - I have two 750 gallon water tanks. I built a wood surround for them to protect them from sun and prying eyes. I will still pass it through my Alexapure filter before drinking any of it.
I've decided to store emergency water in the aquifer under my property. I'm putting together a hand pump that I can install when needed on my well. I think I'll add a fitting to the well so can install it in a few minutes with a pipe wrench.
I've thought about using my garage for long term storage of a few different items. Living in the northeast makes that difficult unless your garage is well insulated against extreme temperature fluctuations which can destroy any long term storage project.
Wood on concrete or stone in combination with water can attract fungal growth. You can work against that with metal feet that lift the whole thing up 2 to 3 inches.
I did the same thing, but tapped them for NPT at the bottom, connected them all, put an auto fill valve from a toilet inside one of them with a manual shutoff, and made a pickup tube from pic for another, with a 12v shurflo automatic pressure pump, and a valve to connect the system to my house water supply. Also a valve to isolate the house from the city water, located inside the house. I actually can use the system every time the water from the city is interrupted, so don't have to treat the water. It's not drinkable, but we store that separately.
I know this is an older video but I'm still commenting. :) This is a great video for me. I just recently got my water barrels and didn't really know how to clean them to get them ready for water storage. Thank you for the info.
Great video, but I was hoping you would mention how long would you store the water? Should you cycle them out yearly or is it ok to store them indefinitely? Thanks
Thank you for this video, I’m curious what you do after you siphon it and what do you siphon it into? Other smaller jugs? How can we use it to bathe, brush teeth, use the bathroom, etc?
Hey City Prepper your videos are excellent. I've seen several and it's obvious you are well versed on various topics and clearly do you homework. Regarding water storage, I have two questions: 1) I live in a part of the country that can see some of the most extreme weather - 90+ in the summer, sub-zero temps in the winter. Other than taking the expansion of the water/ice in the winter, are there any concerns with the water undergoing such extreme temperature changes over time? 2) I would fill my 55 gallon with treated city water. However, is there any harm in treating the water with Water Preserver to minimize/reduce an potential for bacterial growth? Thanks in advance for your reply!
Grady Barrels are fantastic; all set up with spickets etc., and ready to go. I have three to catch rainwater off my roof. The name of the company is Grady Barrels Rainwater catchment if you google it. Very well made. Just FYI for people who might not be able to prepare such barrels for themselves.
Here was an idea I had - connect the series of barrels to your home water system main line such that you use the two bung holes of each barrel - your water pipe from your house goes into the first and goes to the bottom of the barrel, then you attach a pipe from the high point of that barrel to the next barrel's low point and repeat for each barrel. The last barrel then feeds your house system. Use isolation valves at each end and you can pipe bypass or maintenance valves as desired. In that way, any use of water by your house flows through all the barrels in series keeping all of them full of fresh water. If there is an event - you shut the input valve - and at that moment you have fresh water stored. As long as you have a water supply, you are constantly refreshing your stored water holdings. You also have the ability to send air pressure into the first barrel and push water through your normal plumbing of your house.
Why go through all that? The water is safely stored and ready for use as it was shown in the video. The way you described would be great for someone who just wants to do maintenance on their house's water system all the time.
I went to the city water department where I’ve seen lots of blue barrels. No idea what they’re for. I asked if I could have or buy some. The geek behind the desk asked what I wanted them for. He then proceeded to scold me saying how hard the city works to provide us with clean water all the time. Ok. I’ve never used their water for drinking. How’s he going to pump water into the towers from our wells without power. And I never mentioned any of this, OR the inspector who fell into the tower tank with all his scuba gear on and died. So. I have a truckload of packaged bottled water stored where barrels won’t fit. Thanks for the video. I’ll get some barrels going too. Multiple layers of storage is the plan.
I used hydrogen peroxide to clean / disinfect our blue barrels. Ours are stored outside to collect rain water from our gutters. They are in a location that is mostly in the shade and not as easily observable. Before we drink anything from them we have to sterilize and filter the water (they are labeled as non-potable). Our gutters have fine mesh gutter guard to keep out debris. Just from a few days of rain we got over 100 gallons. Amazing how much water the roof collects. That is only from one downspout too!
I’m watching this video in March 2022 and found it very helpful! We live in Arizona. How do you handle the heat?’ Are your barrels safe enough to withstand high heat in a garage? Hope you see this. Thanks!
finally getting to this step in prepping, my problem that I'm going to face is running out of places to put the barrels, I have a garage, but live in Denver, and we do get freezing Temps here. what can I do, will the barrels burst if left in the garage?
If you are lucky enough to know someone who works in the food industry check with them about getting food grade barrels . I work at an ice cream manufacturing facility and we get food grade barrels as well as 5 gallon containers . Most places will either give them away or charge very little because they have to pay to dispose of them . If you do go this route make sure you ask for food grade because you do not want a chemical barrel .
I filled mine up today using local municipal water. I did not add any additional bleach, etc. How long will it last this way? And should I disinfect before using if it sits for 2 to to 3 or more years?
You mentioned putting in a teaspoon of bleach in the barrel. It looked like a tablespoon being used. I could be wrong, but there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. Thanks for the info!
I have an underground spring in my backyard that flows into the river that is also in my backyard so I think I'm good on the water. I also have a well and there is a over flowing well down the street that the community uses daily.
Is 2 tablespoons of bleach enough for 55 gallons of water. I heard its 1 tsp for 5 gallons. So 3 tsp ( 1 tbsp) for 15 gallons. 2 tbsp for 30 gallons. 3 tbsp for 45 gallons. So nearly 4 tbsp will be needed for 55 gallons
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.
thanks for the advise - getting ready for hurracaine season 2018 in Puerto Rico - hurricane maria hit me hard not this time thanks a lot - getting prep 2018
I bought a 55 gallon rain barrel to use as a stand pipe for my ram pump. I can't hook my ram pump directly to flowing point well or risk damaging the well. It's better than carrying 5 gallon buckets uphill.
Great Information. I have been hesitating in filling my barrels. I'm concerned about storing them. Up north you have to be concerned about freezing but I'm in the south and am wondering if the heat plays a role in storing in plastic barrels? It gets up to 110 in the summer with high humidity. Will the water "stand up " and stay good? Thanks
I think it was an excellent thing to tell folks "I don't want to be that guy known for having water" because people generally like to brag about their preparedness. When you stated that statement I knew exactly what you meant and I understood that all your neighbors would not be privy to your channel or else you would not have taken the time to carefully hide the drums. Again, whats the first rule of fight club?... Great Video!
+Martin L Morales thanks for asking. Fortunately the fires are far away from us in Ventura. I'm in the Inland Empire (way far away from Ventura). We did have a big fire in the mountain next to us recently. Seems like SoCal is just one big tinderbox ready to burn.
Wonderful Job CP, I like your idea on covering the barrels with black lining. I currently have my water barrels covered and protected with U-Haul blankets lol.
+Kristy Castrejon that's a good idea as well. I didn't think of that. Have several of those sitting in around my garage. you had mentioned you store water in your garage once. Do you have a similar setup?
City Prepping yes it a similar set up to yours. I have my drums propped up on wooden pallets that I customize to their size. I don’t anticipate moving my 55 gallon barrels any time soon. However in a event that I need to transport one around. I snapped up a good deal on a drum dolly. Thanks again for your informative video it was filled with great tips and ideas 👍🏼
City Prepping- you are correct about trying to finding a good deal on these dollies. I searched high and low and came up with a warehouse that distributes these drums and was able to strike up a deal and and bought a couple portable dollies.
Thank You; Awesome video. Beginning prepper here. Was wondering how big an issue is it to have BPA free water storage containers? I noticed that there is a big price difference on Amazon.
If you are over 30, you've been drinking out of BPA plastic for many years. If your life depends on the water you store, it shouldn't be a top priority. Having drinkable water will be important. BPA may cause cancer or other problems 10 to 40 years later. That's just my take on it.
Late reply but I would deem it unnecessary. Really, most people are storing, at most, a few weeks of water for emergency use. It's not a large enough volume or a large enough period of use. You could (and should) choose to have a berkey filter, which would take care of most BPA. I actually run my water through a berkey before putting it in my containers and, if the situation allows, will probably filter it on the way out also.
I have six barrels and drain and fill one every 6 mos. with city water. So, Barrel one Jan and Jul, Barrel two Feb and Aug, etc. to keep the Cl conc. up
Thank you for the helpful video! I live in the desert. Is it still safe/feasible to store water in my garage where the temperatures can fluctuate between below freezing to over 100 degrees F?
I'm sure this has been asked before but I'm tired of scrolling through the comments on my phone trying to find the answer. How long can you store the city treated water before you should retreat it or test it before you drink it? Thanks for info!!
I would personally purchase a small Home Water Distiller. Many under $100. City water is full of chlorine, Fluoride, and other junk not good for us. With this craziness coming fast, I too am buying a drum, distiller and implementing this.
Pump the brakes a bit people. Don't get me wrong, it's a good idea to be prepared for disaster/emergency/civil unrest/etc but it's not going to be post apocalyptic. My expectation is the begining of COVID with stores not being completely empty but not having everything you're looking for either. I don't expect martial law (there's not enough military/police for that anyway) or complete lawlessness. The comments about working this into your home plumbing system sounds like the best option. Yeah, there's flouride and stuff in the water but it's kind of a non issue considering how long it's been in there. Have you had any related medical issues? Another consideration is cost. I think he had 7 barrels in this video- that's almost 400 gallons of water. Filling those is going to be a pretty penny; at least for that first month (if integrated), and whenever you use/refill (if not integrated). Not a reason not to do it but something to be aware of.
@@politicallyinsensitive4200 My concern is the Democrats, Military Industrial Complex, and NATO want WW3. It’s very clear what they are planning for. The US is just waiting for their Hypersonic missiles to be available then it will surely start IMO. The biggest threat isn’t Nukes on the civilian population, it is cyber warfare. We the USA, China, and Russia already have back doors into every water plant, power plant, banks, and stock market. It’s literally a keystroke to end billions of lives that way. If you can survive the first 90-120 days, you will most likely be ok because those who are not prepared will die from starvation, lack of water, and violence. It’s that simple.
@@politicallyinsensitive4200 I slightly disagree with your reasoning about how bad the world will become... in some places it might not be post apocalyptic but some places it will become super chaotic because all the national govts are going bye bye and this whole world system will collapse - I am not joking about this. However, this oncoming world collapse can either be a few months long to a few years depending on how fast people want to make changes. And the increase in water monthly cost to store barrel water for SHTF is very minimal in first and second world countries, for example average American uses 80 plus gallons per day so an extra few hundred gallons stored isn't going to break the bank for most Americans... but most importantly that stored water will save your life in SHTF scenario which is way more important than a temporary increase in water bill.
Great video it was just what I was looking for. Did I hear you r right when you said city tap water does not need to be treated? How long will the water last for if its tap water?
The only place I can find barrels in my area (even after looking online for new ones etc) is used food grade barrels that held olives…. Would these be okay???
Great video. I’m going to mine horizontal so that they are gravity fed. Lucky for I have a friend who lives in a farm area. Once a year I can get the barrels for $40 new. The goal is 9 total. I have 3 a third or the way. Lol
Do you have any tips for keeping these safe in cold weather? One might say "it's fine - my garage is heated!" but that wouldn't be true in a grid collapse in the winter. Are these typically strong enough to not expand excessively in the event of freezing, or is it better to leave some room inside the container if cold weather is a concern to provide space for the water/ice to expand? Then of course there's the question of how to thaw frozen containers without leaching chemicals when applying heat to the container.
Complete bolloks, piss off. Unscented bleach is what you want to use. Its safe to use ad long as you know how much to add into your container. But they do make other sanitizer agents if you do t want to use bleach.
+Jacob G yup exactly. just use the correct measurements and you're fine. those of us that use water from our local municipality are drinking chlorinated water...it's just in a safe(ish) amount. I still filter our water anyways with a Berkey.
In Afganistan, some of the water bottle's are stored for 2 years and are considered good for human consumption. Yes, the water is bottled in the U.S. by a national commercial water company in the 16 and 16.5 oz plastic bottles. The leaching of the plastics breaking down is the reason they are not kept longer. Water if purified, and treated, and kept at a stable temperature (40 to 50 degrees F) , and out of the sun, will last about 8 to 10 years. Frozen water is good for ever until it is thawed. I live in the desert Southwest. I keep 3 freezers full in 1 gallon jugs. Plus 30 gallons of thawed water I change out every 6 months. I use the older water for my dogs and chickens. And none have died from contamination of water for the past 10 years. I try to use glass containers to store my thawed water. Wine bottels work will for that purpose. But make sure you clean the cap's of the wine bottels very well first if you use them.
Actually I have heard that bleach is not safe because of the fact that it can do thyroid damage. I don't know if two tablespoons in 55 gallons is enough to be concerned about but I want to do some further research on this.
Keep it up sir. How could I sanitize a 55 gallon DEF tank? The local fire department uses DEF on their firetrucks. I have the ability to acquire empty DEF tanks.
Hello, I know this is an old video. But i think that you are forgetting something. And that is that after a short time the water will not be drinkable anymore. When you throw in a polished silver coin then the water will be preserved almost foreever. Jewelry is also ok. The only problem with this is thait the containers are small. But this can also be an advantage.
I can't afford the space in my garage for the barrels right now. So I want to keep 2 barrels in the yard, and obtain or fabricate covers that will not let any light in, ideally with a reflective or radiant barrier layer. This means that their temperature, or their thermal environment will vary more than it would in the garage. What other issues arise with this plan? On will be in the back yard, and one in the front but neither will be visible from the street or sidewalk.
This is only necessary if you have a municipal water supply. If your water comes from your own well all you need is a generator large enough to run your pump & a sufficient fuel supply. If you're worried about an EMP event, get a Farady blamket.
Pick up your barrels either on Walmart (bit.ly/32QZjnm) or on Amazon (amzn.to/32Ss9Un)
City Prepping look at feed stores for animals. I hit my 55 gallon barrels at my local feed store for 25 bucks a piece.
City Prepping I don't know for sure but it seems to me that whole idea of not storing them on the cement seems like an urban myth. What sort of chemicals could possibly Leach from cement? Cement to my knowledge doesn't have any chemicals in it. Unless you mean the sealer that is sometimes put on cement. Also how would chemicals which from the cement through a thick plastic container doesn't seem possible to me. But I'd like to see the science showing that it is.
great tip...i'll check out mine as well shortly. thanks for sharing!
great question and maybe you're right. guess if it's a myth that's been told long enough, we all buy into it :)
There are some chemicals in concrete. Not sure how they would leach in to the barrels though. As an arborist I've taken down multiple trees that had died due to a concrete truck emptying and washing out his truck and the runoff reaching the roots of a tree. It will kill a tree in a hurry.
I know this in an old video but instead of using dish soap and being worried you rinsed it well enough you could use a brewery cleaner such as PBW or Easy Clean. You could also use Star San which is another brewery product which is a no rinse sanitizer. Uline also makes drum dollies you can plan under while empty so you can easily move them around when full if needed.
Great comment and info! Thanks.
That would save a lot of water
Thanks for the info for real I appreciate it
I know this is an old comment, but cool.
If you are going to store the barrels in a garage or outdoor shelter, take into account room for the water to expand if you are in a freezing/winter area.
+Tim Bucktwo excellent point. i'll move that comment to the description section.
City Prepping I use heated cable to run around my barrels as it gets in the teens or lower during winter!
Can I use an used alcohol barrel to store water
@Chris Cynova the barrel I'm using had been used to transport energy drink concentrate. I only use it to store the condensate water from my AC unit for watering the lawn and garden. Not for drinking water. But years later and after several cleanings I still smell it sometimes. It actually smells quite nice. Fruity.
Yes it gets really cold in the winter where I live definitely have to leave a room or they expand and bust
Great video. All I have to say is that you might want to use something other than rope to secure your barrels in the event of an earthquake. I work for FedEx Freight and we move pallets of 4-55 gallon drums every day. Depending on what is in them, the pallet can weight up to +2,500 lbs. We have to secure the barrels to the sides of the trailer using straps so that they do not tip while in transit. If an earthquake were to happen and your barrels tipped, putting strain on the rope, your rope would snap under the stress of all your barrels leaning on it. I suggest using a simple pull strap or a ratchet strap to secure your barrels. I also suggest securing them to your garage wall and not just the shelving unit.
Yeah I agree, the rope will not secure the barrels in an event of an earthquake.
you better believe it!
I don't want to sound defeatist or discourage anyone from using any/all of these amazing prepping techniques, but I gotta say that honestly, I am having a very tough time with this. I don't mind spending the time, money, & energy, but I am really starting to feel I could not protect my family where I live even if we prep for bug-in and/or bug out scenarios. I don't remember feeling quite so helpless and exposed as the leader of a household
leyenda61 you aren’t alone in feeling that way. We learned quick in a hurricane/flood that 1) it’s your household vs the world ultimately 2) you’re never quite prepared enough 3) contingencies can mess up long term plans in a minute 4) for all my “stores” our bugout bags were the most valuable ultimately in our situation 5) I can carry 14 gals (4 of the 3.5g) of water at once for 1/8 mile before I need a break...🤣
How’s your preparations going bud?
Have you found a solution that works for you and your family, since you posted this 4 years ago?
I am planning on having several water tanks in my basement connected to my house water line and just leaving like that. Water will be constantly changed out when ever we use water in the house and they will always be full and ready. They will be set off the floor so that we can get water if electricity goes out. A simple stand with concrete blocks will do the job. You can sometimes get barrels from places that make food products, like ice-cream.
Thank you for taking the time to show people the proper method for storing water. Here is another video you might want to make so those who watch your channel will be able to set up a shower system that recirculates the water for showering since water will be too precious too waste. 5 gallons is all you need no matter how long a person is in the shower. Cleanliness is vital to one's health if and when the SHTF. You are a godsend and I thank you for all your hard work trying to educate people on preparedness.
I do something similar but on a smaller, more portable scale. Find someone that drinks a lot of soda from 2-liters and collect the empties. Remove labels and the plastic ring (it can harbor bacteria). I wash with soapy water and rinse well. I fill them with well water and add 4 drops of chlorine bleach to make it shelf-stable. Wrap the threads with teflon tape and screw on the sanitized cap. Label and place in dark storage. Local gas stations or carryouts may part with the stackable bottle trays for easy storage. It doesn't take long and you can do a few at a time.
What do you think about storage store bought gallon jugs of water? I've been buying a box of 6 gallons from Costco and BJ's for over a year now. I leave them unopened in the box and have them stored in a closet. Seems like it would be safe, but now I'm reading comments about needed to use water within 6 months. If it's not safe, can I still use the water and just put it through my Berkey?
Perfect timing! Very helpful video. I'm actually picking up 4 of these barrels from Walmart tomorrow. Walmart delivers for free but chose to pick up because don't want my nosy neighbors asking what those huge boxes are in front of my house. #OPSEC
Man! The good ole days!!!!! Still taking care of us!!!
Excellent video, thank you. I envy you the nice under shelf storage. I went through all this in 1999. I didn’t put my five barrels on wood on the concrete, because I had sealed and epoxy painted my garage floor, otherwise agree a barrier is always a good idea. What I also did was build a workbench top that rests on top of four barrels, with a swing down center support. So I can pull the bench out one of four ways to access each barrel, with everything supported by 3.5 barrels and the center 8x8. So unless I’m filling / cleaning them I don’t have to move any of the barrels to access the water with a siphon or barrel pump. The caveat is that the bungs need to be on the corners or sides, not run north to south.
I don’t have a Berkey, but plan on running the stored water thru a Katadyn pocket filter that’s good for 13,000 gallons, and I have enough charcoal inserts in a backup 13k gallon capacity Katadyn Combo filter to treat about 500 gallons of that for flavor and odor. Two things I learned: the first time I filled them with a garden hose, not knowing any better. But the second time 10 years later I used an RV transfer hose as mentioned here.
Second, get two of everything. I have an indestructible metal bung wrench on a carabiner on the wall, and a spare red plastic one as shown in the video hanging off a side of barrel with a command hook. Also two of the siphon hoses as shown for water and two dedicated for fuel; don’t mix them up, put a label or key tag on each of them and store them in clean marked plastic bags.
Also, don’t rely exclusively on the slow siphon hoses. They work OK, but you can buy dedicated barrel water pumps that mount in the barrel bungholes and drop a plastic intake down into the barrel. I got one really good one, and one cheaper backup. Test them immediately after you fill the barrels. Way faster method to dispense water.
Last thing, where / how are you going to transport the water you pump out? Get 2 or 3 empty Alhambra five gallon jugs that you can fill and transport to your cooking / washing area, then buy a couple of those small Dolphin pumps that fits directly on the Alhambra bottle. Now you can fill canteens easily and dispense water for whatever as you need it. I also scored four of those six gallon dedicated water lugs with integrated handles and pour spouts, so you can have those in different areas of the house, but the Alhambra bottles with hand pumps are the easiest to use.
Long sitting water can be aerated by pouring it back and forth between containers and shaking it. My last batch of water has been in storage for 13 years now, and I have no reason to think it needs to be changed, water doesn’t really go bad, but I’ll probably check the drums and refill just to be certain.
Finally, on my fifth barrel, five is all I have room for, I put it on one of those wood Harbor Freight moving dollies after first making a center plywood insert for it. It’s good up to 1000 lbs and the barrel weighs about 400. Now I can wheel it around where needed instead of having to fight it the first time. My garage is dry walled and the door is never up, so no sun. Now I see Harbor Freight sells a new style dolly with the center filled out, so they’ve done it for you.
With that barrel I bought and finished a wood round from Home Depot to fit on top of it with stops on the underside that fit between the raised bungs, and keep a scroll saw on top of the barrel. No sense wasting the space. Good luck!
This is honestly one of the best prepper videos available.
Heads-up: the no-splash bleach isn't just dilute sodium hypochlorite. It has thickeners in it which you wouldn't want to ingest. If you disinfect the barrels with no-splash bleach, be sure you rinse them very well afterward
I got 3 barrels like yours which had stored slush and 2 others barrels with big opening like the last one that u had at the end of ur video, which had stored olives. I wash them but left them outside on pavement and grass. I didn't know how to use them correctly until I found ur video. Thanks.
Great video! What I like most about your channel is your no-nonse approach and the fact you actually visibly practice what you preach in front of the camera.
Used to put about 30 silver coins in the water barrels taken on ships of old that were planning on being out to sea for long durations of time. Silver kills all bacteria in the water preventing bacteria growth.
Currently in South Africa in the Western Cape province we are facing a severe drought and we are only allowed to use 87 Liters per person per day. We are expecting to run out of water as a city (Cape Town and its suburbs) in around may 2018. So this caused many to start using rain harvesting,bore hole and water well technology. The prices for these types of barrels are heavily inflated due to many starting to store their own water for the flushing of toilets and gardening and thus demand is higher than supply. We have larger tanks around 750-5000 liters and many homes are equipped with those "JoJo" tanks. Having water on hand to flush your toilet or just rinse your hands comes handy when the taps run dry. They are planning on rationing the water by cutting off each area for a while every day. You really understand the value of water suddenly. I do enjoy your videos as times are unpredictable and planning for encase is best.
If you can buy a dehumidifier, I've seen these mentioned on several other channels...
Thanks for the information. I've previously purchased two 55 gallon barrels for water storage but wasn't sure about bacterial growth in stored water. Now I know! Thanks again.
First Consider using cheap fabric instead of black plastic as it will cause heating in direct sun light. Second consider plumbing the barrels in to your home water system this will cause the water stored to change out automatically as you use water at home if your house has a pressure regulator keep it set at 40psi. The syphon is a good idea but if you plumb the barrels right you can use a simple hand pump of PVC to draw water from one barrel for use. Or if you want to use the syphon set it up with a ball valve and you can drain the barrels from a single point. I say this because plastic drums are used to store batches of cheap tourists tequila the one with the worm and it has a plastic taste making it undrinkable even as a mixer. So a flow through system is a better idea to me. Water is called the universal solvent!
good tips...thanks for sharing!
Great stuff man. It's funny one of these older videos popped up for me. I'm lucky to have a well with a generator and an ozone treatment system, but being able to store it is essential because you won't always have power or fuel to run the generator
I have no idea how many watts a well pump draws but you might consider a solar powered generator for the water pump. You can keep it charged via plugged into a wall outlet but if you ever don't have electricity you can charge it up with the sun. Of course, you need a way to hook your water pump to it which I think is called a transfer switch.
I got hit with the lucky stick. I get these for free from work. They had food grade glycerin in them, so I just have to give them a really good rinse. I like the idea of rinsing with the bleach. I should probably do that.
I do need that bung wrench along with the other accessories! Thanks for the link.
I found a bunch of drums at a local beer brewing supply store. They had malt in them, so they need extra cleaning, but for $30-40 each it’s worth it.
I've been telling one of my friends I was going to start storing water and today I bought a 45 gallon heavy garbage can with lid to use. The last few I've been using for prepping so they're full of food 🤣 she and I were discussing sanitizing the water that I preparing to collect (since I live in South Florida plenty of rain) how interesting that your video showed up on my feed talk about good timing
very thorough, simple and easy for anyone...like the idea of the black plastic for more than 1 purpose. tk you
those jingle spihons really work. i have one in each car and 2 in storage. just for all occasions i bought the hand crank siphon and one that attaches to my cordless drill and wow does that one pump water. be sure to mark any sipohns you use for things other than water CLEARLY. no cross contamination
Excellent video! You showed yet another great option that people can 'put into their tool belt' to use if it their circumstances allow it. You made this very simple and straightforward. I like your videos since you actually show step-by-step how something is done instead of just showing the 'finished product' and talking about how you reached that point. :)
+Ethical Preparedness thanks man...greatly appreciate the feedback and kind words! I'm gonna focus more over the coming months on these types of tuts.
This is a great way to store water
We getting on more often natural disasters, we have to take care of basic need for us family, we can't depend 100% on government.
I would recommend using a food-grade barrel liner. You might have to cut a small hole in the middle of the top of the barrel, or perhaps you could manage the same thing using one of the existing bung holes. Whatever hole you use, cover the hole with something solid and fasten it in place with something like silicone seal.
Great to see you guys on Texas News Studio live stream on youtube..Alot of good folks in the chat that talk about prepping and shtf .
I REALLY Like this guy! Common sense and definitely plans for any contingencies. I'm military retired and rarely do I see anyone awwe me... great and very smart, efficient and tactically sound guy!!!!
I went a step further - I have two 750 gallon water tanks. I built a wood surround for them to protect them from sun and prying eyes. I will still pass it through my Alexapure filter before drinking any of it.
I've decided to store emergency water in the aquifer under my property. I'm putting together a hand pump that I can install when needed on my well. I think I'll add a fitting to the well so can install it in a few minutes with a pipe wrench.
I've thought about using my garage for long term storage of a few different items. Living in the northeast makes that difficult unless your garage is well insulated against extreme temperature fluctuations which can destroy any long term storage project.
Insulate your garage then
@@LF12468 Easy for the 1% to say. Estimate to insulate my garage=$12000
Thank you for clearing up a few of my water storage questions.
Use painters tape to mark your barrels. Put the tape in, write on it with sharpie. Take tape off and put new tape on to relabel.
Wood on concrete or stone in combination with water can attract fungal growth. You can work against that with metal feet that lift the whole thing up 2 to 3 inches.
I did the same thing, but tapped them for NPT at the bottom, connected them all, put an auto fill valve from a toilet inside one of them with a manual shutoff, and made a pickup tube from pic for another, with a 12v shurflo automatic pressure pump, and a valve to connect the system to my house water supply. Also a valve to isolate the house from the city water, located inside the house. I actually can use the system every time the water from the city is interrupted, so don't have to treat the water. It's not drinkable, but we store that separately.
I know this is an older video but I'm still commenting. :)
This is a great video for me. I just recently got my water barrels and didn't really know how to clean them to get them ready for water storage. Thank you for the info.
Great video, but I was hoping you would mention how long would you store the water? Should you cycle them out yearly or is it ok to store them indefinitely? Thanks
I’ve read that they can sit for years but changing the water once a year seems like a safe bet
@@GhostInPajamas same
3 years with treatment
Calcium Hypochlorite Chlorine Shock Treatment for Swimming Pools HAS A 10 year SHELF LIFE.
I started storing potable water since 2000. I recently cycled my water as of 11/01/2020
Thank you for this video, I’m curious what you do after you siphon it and what do you siphon it into? Other smaller jugs? How can we use it to bathe, brush teeth, use the bathroom, etc?
His videos have really grown over the years!
Take into account the massive WEIGHT of the water also. Over time this could cause foundation shifting and damage your concrete.
Hey City Prepper your videos are excellent. I've seen several and it's obvious you are well versed on various topics and clearly do you homework. Regarding water storage, I have two questions: 1) I live in a part of the country that can see some of the most extreme weather - 90+ in the summer, sub-zero temps in the winter. Other than taking the expansion of the water/ice in the winter, are there any concerns with the water undergoing such extreme temperature changes over time? 2) I would fill my 55 gallon with treated city water. However, is there any harm in treating the water with Water Preserver to minimize/reduce an potential for bacterial growth? Thanks in advance for your reply!
Grady Barrels are fantastic; all set up with spickets etc., and ready to go. I have three to catch rainwater off my roof. The name of the company is Grady Barrels Rainwater catchment if you google it. Very well made. Just FYI for people who might not be able to prepare such barrels for themselves.
Love the video thank you for showing how you did it step by step . I will keep that in mind when I am able to get the barrels
+Lynn Masoner awesome. i had been putting it off for a long time and just forced myself to getting around to it.
Here was an idea I had - connect the series of barrels to your home water system main line such that you use the two bung holes of each barrel - your water pipe from your house goes into the first and goes to the bottom of the barrel, then you attach a pipe from the high point of that barrel to the next barrel's low point and repeat for each barrel. The last barrel then feeds your house system. Use isolation valves at each end and you can pipe bypass or maintenance valves as desired. In that way, any use of water by your house flows through all the barrels in series keeping all of them full of fresh water. If there is an event - you shut the input valve - and at that moment you have fresh water stored. As long as you have a water supply, you are constantly refreshing your stored water holdings. You also have the ability to send air pressure into the first barrel and push water through your normal plumbing of your house.
Why go through all that? The water is safely stored and ready for use as it was shown in the video. The way you described would be great for someone who just wants to do maintenance on their house's water system all the time.
Thanks for sharing such wonderful content with your audience. It is very interesting stuff. I appreciate all the work put into it. Sincere thanks!
I went to the city water department where I’ve seen lots of blue barrels. No idea what they’re for. I asked if I could have or buy some. The geek behind the desk asked what I wanted them for. He then proceeded to scold me saying how hard the city works to provide us with clean water all the time. Ok. I’ve never used their water for drinking. How’s he going to pump water into the towers from our wells without power. And I never mentioned any of this, OR the inspector who fell into the tower tank with all his scuba gear on and died. So. I have a truckload of packaged bottled water stored where barrels won’t fit. Thanks for the video. I’ll get some barrels going too. Multiple layers of storage is the plan.
I used hydrogen peroxide to clean / disinfect our blue barrels. Ours are stored outside to collect rain water from our gutters. They are in a location that is mostly in the shade and not as easily observable. Before we drink anything from them we have to sterilize and filter the water (they are labeled as non-potable). Our gutters have fine mesh gutter guard to keep out debris. Just from a few days of rain we got over 100 gallons. Amazing how much water the roof collects. That is only from one downspout too!
Very wise to store water Indoors. Well thought out.
I’m watching this video in March 2022 and found it very helpful! We live in Arizona. How do you handle the heat?’ Are your barrels safe enough to withstand high heat in a garage? Hope you see this. Thanks!
“I don’t want to be the guy remembered for having all the water”
*releases detailed TH-cam video for the world to see*
finally getting to this step in prepping, my problem that I'm going to face is running out of places to put the barrels, I have a garage, but live in Denver, and we do get freezing Temps here. what can I do, will the barrels burst if left in the garage?
I purchased mine for $12.50 NEW. 60gal water barrels.SW Oregon Jackson County.
If you are lucky enough to know someone who works in the food industry check with them about getting food grade barrels . I work at an ice cream manufacturing facility and we get food grade barrels as well as 5 gallon containers . Most places will either give them away or charge very little because they have to pay to dispose of them . If you do go this route make sure you ask for food grade because you do not want a chemical barrel .
+backlash660 great tip!
What do you do to help prevent freezing? Our location outside can get about as low as 10 below, but generally our winters are 20-30 degrees.
4 years ago barrels were about $60. Just checked and they are now $152!!! Wow, thanks POTATUS.
Thank you so much for this video. A few days ago there was an earthquake and made me want to get prepped up.
Thanks for the video. Luckily I get all the 55g barrels I want from work.
Great video! I have 3 drums and I needed to learn how to clean them and refill. My "hubby do" list today!
We are in a drought in our area. Lots of water needed to just complete one barrel fill
I found 55 gallons plastic barrels that used to transport peppercini from Greece for $10 each.
I filled mine up today using local municipal water. I did not add any additional bleach, etc. How long will it last this way? And should I disinfect before using if it sits for 2 to to 3 or more years?
You mentioned putting in a teaspoon of bleach in the barrel. It looked like a tablespoon being used. I could be wrong, but there are 3 teaspoons in a tablespoon. Thanks for the info!
Thumbs up #101. Another great video in the preparedness community!
+FullSpectrumSurvival thanks man!
+1
Do either of you have rain water catchment system set up on your property?
+sleepygurl85 yes...did a video recently about this setup. I need to expand it though.
City Prepping That's great! I'll look forward to watching when it's up.
Thank you so much for your time and Is knowledge.
Do you know how long the water will stay drinkable in those barrels?
Great video, with good advice and detailed instructioms.
I have an underground spring in my backyard that flows into the river that is also in my backyard so I think I'm good on the water. I also have a well and there is a over flowing well down the street that the community uses daily.
then why are you even watching this?
Is 2 tablespoons of bleach enough for 55 gallons of water. I heard its 1 tsp for 5 gallons. So 3 tsp ( 1 tbsp) for 15 gallons. 2 tbsp for 30 gallons. 3 tbsp for 45 gallons. So nearly 4 tbsp will be needed for 55 gallons
I did the very same I was able to get new Barrels from an Army supply.
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.
thanks for the advise - getting ready for hurracaine season 2018 in Puerto Rico - hurricane maria hit me hard not this time thanks a lot - getting prep 2018
I bought a 55 gallon rain barrel to use as a stand pipe for my ram pump. I can't hook my ram pump directly to flowing point well or risk damaging the well. It's better than carrying 5 gallon buckets uphill.
Great Information. I have been hesitating in filling my barrels. I'm concerned about storing them. Up north you have to be concerned about freezing but I'm in the south and am wondering if the heat plays a role in storing in plastic barrels? It gets up to 110 in the summer with high humidity. Will the water "stand up " and stay good? Thanks
I have the same question
*I don't want to be that guy known for having water*
-posts a video on yt
Anyway, great video!!!
+Mihai Chiriac ha! That's why i don't tell my neighbors about my channel. But i am teaching them how to prep.
I think it was an excellent thing to tell folks "I don't want to be that guy known for having water" because people generally like to brag about their preparedness. When you stated that statement I knew exactly what you meant and I understood that all your neighbors would not be privy to your channel or else you would not have taken the time to carefully hide the drums. Again, whats the first rule of fight club?... Great Video!
In my neighborhood you'd be known as the guy hiding something behind black plastic and it would drive them crazy LOL
@@CityPrepping Yeah, and no one saw you cleaning out the barrels? Great instructional video! Thx.
Very useful video. Thank you!
+JBL Asutavario thanks!
How often do you need to rotate out the water in these? Which solution/method keeps the water potable the longest?
Unrelated to the video but I hope you’re doing well given the recent fires.
+Martin L Morales thanks for asking. Fortunately the fires are far away from us in Ventura. I'm in the Inland Empire (way far away from Ventura). We did have a big fire in the mountain next to us recently. Seems like SoCal is just one big tinderbox ready to burn.
Nice!..but I have an appartment! Can u do a video for apartments....thanks
Wonderful Job CP, I like your idea on covering the barrels with black lining. I currently have my water barrels covered and protected with U-Haul blankets lol.
+Kristy Castrejon that's a good idea as well. I didn't think of that. Have several of those sitting in around my garage. you had mentioned you store water in your garage once. Do you have a similar setup?
City Prepping yes it a similar set up to yours. I have my drums propped up on wooden pallets that I customize to their size. I don’t anticipate moving my 55 gallon barrels any time soon. However in a event that I need to transport one around. I snapped up a good deal on a drum dolly. Thanks again for your informative video it was filled with great tips and ideas 👍🏼
i've looked at the drum dollies but haven't found any good deals. if i do find one, will definitely grab them. sounds like we have a similar setup :)
City Prepping- you are correct about trying to finding a good deal on these dollies. I searched high and low and came up with a warehouse that distributes these drums and was able to strike up a deal and and bought a couple portable dollies.
Another source of barrels are feed & seed stores if you have them in your area.
Thank You; Awesome video. Beginning prepper here. Was wondering how big an issue is it to have BPA free water storage containers? I noticed that there is a big price difference on Amazon.
If you are over 30, you've been drinking out of BPA plastic for many years. If your life depends on the water you store, it shouldn't be a top priority. Having drinkable water will be important. BPA may cause cancer or other problems 10 to 40 years later. That's just my take on it.
Late reply but I would deem it unnecessary. Really, most people are storing, at most, a few weeks of water for emergency use. It's not a large enough volume or a large enough period of use. You could (and should) choose to have a berkey filter, which would take care of most BPA. I actually run my water through a berkey before putting it in my containers and, if the situation allows, will probably filter it on the way out also.
I have six barrels and drain and fill one every 6 mos. with city water. So, Barrel one Jan and Jul, Barrel two Feb and Aug, etc. to keep the Cl conc. up
Thank you for the helpful video! I live in the desert. Is it still safe/feasible to store water in my garage where the temperatures can fluctuate between below freezing to over 100 degrees F?
Great video lesson.
How long can you keep the water stored before it’s unsafe to drink.
5 yrs with an additive you can buy on amazon
Is the process the same for steel drums that were previously used for apple cider vinegar? Great vids👍
Great video. I have a question. If I do everything the way you decried using city water.
How long can that water be stored for?
ThNk you, Joe
I'm sure this has been asked before but I'm tired of scrolling through the comments on my phone trying to find the answer. How long can you store the city treated water before you should retreat it or test it before you drink it? Thanks for info!!
I would personally purchase a small Home Water Distiller. Many under $100. City water is full of chlorine, Fluoride, and other junk not good for us. With this craziness coming fast, I too am buying a drum, distiller and implementing this.
My plan is to store the water, then distill when needed. You could even have two drums, one undistilled, and one distilled good to go.
Pump the brakes a bit people. Don't get me wrong, it's a good idea to be prepared for disaster/emergency/civil unrest/etc but it's not going to be post apocalyptic.
My expectation is the begining of COVID with stores not being completely empty but not having everything you're looking for either.
I don't expect martial law (there's not enough military/police for that anyway) or complete lawlessness. The comments about working this into your home plumbing system sounds like the best option. Yeah, there's flouride and stuff in the water but it's kind of a non issue considering how long it's been in there. Have you had any related medical issues?
Another consideration is cost. I think he had 7 barrels in this video- that's almost 400 gallons of water. Filling those is going to be a pretty penny; at least for that first month (if integrated), and whenever you use/refill (if not integrated). Not a reason not to do it but something to be aware of.
@@politicallyinsensitive4200 My concern is the Democrats, Military Industrial Complex, and NATO want WW3. It’s very clear what they are planning for. The US is just waiting for their Hypersonic missiles to be available then it will surely start IMO. The biggest threat isn’t Nukes on the civilian population, it is cyber warfare. We the USA, China, and Russia already have back doors into every water plant, power plant, banks, and stock market. It’s literally a keystroke to end billions of lives that way. If you can survive the first 90-120 days, you will most likely be ok because those who are not prepared will die from starvation, lack of water, and violence. It’s that simple.
@@politicallyinsensitive4200 I slightly disagree with your reasoning about how bad the world will become... in some places it might not be post apocalyptic but some places it will become super chaotic because all the national govts are going bye bye and this whole world system will collapse - I am not joking about this. However, this oncoming world collapse can either be a few months long to a few years depending on how fast people want to make changes. And the increase in water monthly cost to store barrel water for SHTF is very minimal in first and second world countries, for example average American uses 80 plus gallons per day so an extra few hundred gallons stored isn't going to break the bank for most Americans... but most importantly that stored water will save your life in SHTF scenario which is way more important than a temporary increase in water bill.
Thank you🥰 My barrels are coming tomorrow and this was a big help 😘😘God Bless
Great video it was just what I was looking for. Did I hear you r right when you said city tap water does not need to be treated? How long will the water last for if its tap water?
The only place I can find barrels in my area (even after looking online for new ones etc) is used food grade barrels that held olives…. Would these be okay???
Great video. I’m going to mine horizontal so that they are gravity fed. Lucky for I have a friend who lives in a farm area. Once a year I can get the barrels for $40 new.
The goal is 9 total. I have 3 a third or the way. Lol
Nice video. Thanks for taking the tie to put it together.
Do you have any tips for keeping these safe in cold weather? One might say "it's fine - my garage is heated!" but that wouldn't be true in a grid collapse in the winter.
Are these typically strong enough to not expand excessively in the event of freezing, or is it better to leave some room inside the container if cold weather is a concern to provide space for the water/ice to expand? Then of course there's the question of how to thaw frozen containers without leaching chemicals when applying heat to the container.
How long does non treated water last vs treated water?
Also is the chlorine bleach safe or will I grow a 3rd nipple as a result of drinking it?
Complete bolloks, piss off. Unscented bleach is what you want to use. Its safe to use ad long as you know how much to add into your container. But they do make other sanitizer agents if you do t want to use bleach.
Jacob G thanks, just don't want to end up with my insides blistered and burned lol.
+Jacob G yup exactly. just use the correct measurements and you're fine. those of us that use water from our local municipality are drinking chlorinated water...it's just in a safe(ish) amount. I still filter our water anyways with a Berkey.
In Afganistan, some of the water bottle's are stored for 2 years and are considered good for human consumption. Yes, the water is bottled in the U.S. by a national commercial water company in the 16 and 16.5 oz plastic bottles. The leaching of the plastics breaking down is the reason they are not kept longer. Water if purified, and treated, and kept at a stable temperature (40 to 50 degrees F) , and out of the sun, will last about 8 to 10 years.
Frozen water is good for ever until it is thawed. I live in the desert Southwest. I keep 3 freezers full in 1 gallon jugs. Plus 30 gallons of thawed water I change out every 6 months. I use the older water for my dogs and chickens. And none have died from contamination of water for the past 10 years. I try to use glass containers to store my thawed water. Wine bottels work will for that purpose. But make sure you clean the cap's of the wine bottels very well first if you use them.
Actually I have heard that bleach is not safe because of the fact that it can do thyroid damage. I don't know if two tablespoons in 55 gallons is enough to be concerned about but I want to do some further research on this.
Keep it up sir. How could I sanitize a 55 gallon DEF tank? The local fire department uses DEF on their firetrucks. I have the ability to acquire empty DEF tanks.
Maybe also use a food-grade liner in the barrel?
Hello,
I know this is an old video. But i think that you are forgetting something. And that is that after a short time the water will not be drinkable anymore. When you throw in a polished silver coin then the water will be preserved almost foreever.
Jewelry is also ok. The only problem with this is thait the containers are small. But this can also be an advantage.
I can't afford the space in my garage for the barrels right now. So I want to keep 2 barrels in the yard, and obtain or fabricate covers that will not let any light in, ideally with a reflective or radiant barrier layer. This means that their temperature, or their thermal environment will vary more than it would in the garage. What other issues arise with this plan? On will be in the back yard, and one in the front but neither will be visible from the street or sidewalk.
Perfect timing, was just about to order some barrels.
+C6903 awesome!
This is only necessary if you have a municipal water supply. If your water comes from your own well all you need is a generator large enough to run your pump & a sufficient fuel supply. If you're worried about an EMP event, get a Farady blamket.