This weeks preps check-in

I use both the sealed top and removable top blue 55gal water storage barrels, the ones with the removable lid and clamp ring won't keep water as long as the sealed top with the threaded bungholes the barrels with the removal lids will keep water for 6 months providing the seal is intact, not recommended for the 5yr water preserver that is commonly use in the sealed top containers.

I've been looking for barrel then came across a tote.just picked up a 330 gal tote for water storage. It's food grade and should work out great. I got it off CL for $150.

I'll never use a "used" container for drinking water. Just not worth the unknown risks. I'd even be a bit leery of using used for washing water/garden, etc.

jimLE said:

there's a woman 12 to 18 miles from where i live.she sells the 55 gallon barrels up to the large white containers in the wire cages.in which i plan on getting my barrels from her..seems like to me that she pretty well knows what was and wasnt in them..

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that's what I did here, I gone to anderson dairy and purchased three of their 275gal wire framed water container totes they use for filling up the watering troughs out in the field

Maverick said:

that's what I did here, I gone to anderson dairy and purchased three of their 275gal wire framed water container totes they use for filling up the watering troughs out in the field

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I thought about getting one of those. A neighbor had one for sale in the yard for $100 so I had to ask what had been in it once again poison for the crops so I said nope. I will wait and some day get one of the big white ones from tractor supply. They have some big enough to bury in the ground.

My barrels I will most likely have to dump out before cold weather gets here. We sat up the last one yesterday right where I wanted it, then hubby came home and said if they freeze they will crack so that means draining out the water and storing them under the house until spring. Oh well danged if I do and danged if I don't lately. For now I will fill more soda bottles and put them under the house and gallon juice bottles. Might as well do something with them all. At least if something happened now, I have enough water stored to last us about 6 months under the house and in the barn in small bottles.

Don't I wish. Right now though there is no space in the house for one. Wish hubby would get the back porch closed off then I could put it there, but the back porch is very frigid now in the winter months.

hlrive said:

Don't I wish. Right now though there is no space in the house for one. Wish hubby would get the back porch closed off then I could put it there, but the back porch is very frigid now in the winter months.

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I built a coffee table and two end tables in the living room that are storage chests, and filled them with 2 liter soda bottles of tap water. I also dripped about 4 or 5 drops of bleach in them before storing. I have two creeks, so I'm not as concerned about having water long term, but its nice to have a handy backup for short term issues. I put some in the back of all the cabinets in the house as well, probably 50 or so total. The chest freezer has them lined on the bottom to help keep it cold during power loss too.

hlrive said:

freeze they will crack so that means draining out the water and storing them under the house until spring.

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jimLE said:

is there some way you can keep 1 or 2 in the house,?just in case of a winter freeze..this way yall will have water for what ever..

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Use bales of hay, I use hay to cover my exposed water tanks, I cover with a canvas tarp then cover completely with 3ft thick of hay, we can get very cold here and never had any of our tanks and barrels freeze.

Maverick said:

Use bales of hay, I use hay to cover my exposed water tanks, I cover with a canvas tarp then cover completely with 3ft thick of hay, we can get very cold here and never had any of our tanks and barrels freeze.

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Hell of an idea, I'm going to try that on the 330 gal tote. Storing it my garage helps keep from some elements but it still gets pretty cold.

My 1050gal tank won't ever freeze here in ga. but the spiquet could, so I'll insulate it. I'm greatfull I don't have the weather like the northern part of the country to deal with.

yeah I may try the hay. It's about the easiest thing to get around here. Luckily I have plenty of soda bottles filled, but you never know what will happen so if I need extra water I better have it and be able to access it. I have even gone so far as to laying bottles under the couches in the living room, and under beds. I just hope one never gets a leak.

I have 5 that I bought and then I realized I was better off saving the money and recycling the old soda bottles, and juice jugs. So now about 99.9% of what I have is either in gallon juice jugs, or in 2 liter soda bottles. I still have cases of single bottles of water in case if we have to go some place we can just grab one or two for each of us and go for walks, or if we have to go hunting. I usually keep some in the vehicles but the kids keep drinking them on the way to appointments, or to the store. So now I need to find some place to hide them in the explorer and in my husbands work van.

I bottled wine last weekend, and had to move some water to make room! My iPad is screwing up, I think it's about to give up on life. Oh well, I had a good picture to post, I put 100 bottles of wine in a hutch style cabinet I made, and had to move water out of it to fit it all. Another good reason to finish the shelter soon. Cool, it finally let me post, yeah! My battery is on its last leg, and this thing is squirrley now. I think I've had it for about 4 yrs now, so I guess I got my money's worth. (Especially since I won it in a contest). Anyone recommend a new tablet that's not too expensive, mayby for this Christmas.

I have one like that under my big TV. However it has glass doors so everyone sees what you have in there. I keep it for candles, in case of a power outage.