In times of uncertainty and potential emergencies, it’s natural for individuals and families to consider stockpiling essential supplies, such as food and water.
Among the most common methods of water storage is using blue barrels. These sturdy containers have gained popularity due to their affordability and availability.
However, before you rush to invest in these blue barrels, it’s important to understand the pros and cons and some crucial considerations associated with using blue barrels for water storage.
This article will delve into the topic and provide valuable information to make an informed decision.
The Pros Of Using Blue Barrels For Water Storage
Affordability: One of the primary advantages of using blue barrels is their cost-effectiveness.
Blue barrels are relatively inexpensive and readily available compared to other water storage options, such as specialized water tanks or containers.
They can be purchased from various retailers or sourced second-hand from local suppliers.
Durability: Blue barrels are designed to withstand rough handling and harsh conditions. Made from high-density polyethylene, they resist impacts, corrosion, and ultraviolet radiation.
This durability ensures that your water supply remains safe and uncontaminated for an extended period.
Portability: Blue barrels are relatively easy to transport and move around, making them suitable for individuals or families needing to evacuate during emergencies.
Their manageable size and weight allow easy loading into vehicles.
The Cons And Considerations
Contamination Risk: While blue barrels can effectively store water, it’s essential to understand that they are not initially designed for this purpose. Due to this, if you are sourcing blue barrels second-hand, you must understand the risks.
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These barrels may have been previously used for transporting various substances, such as food or chemicals, which can leave behind residues and potentially contaminate the water.
Proper cleaning and disinfection of the barrels are vital to ensure the safety of the stored water.
Limited Capacity: Blue barrels typically come in standard sizes ranging from 30 to 55 gallons, which may not be sufficient for long-term water storage, especially for larger households.
It’s important to assess your water needs and determine whether additional barrels or alternative storage methods are required to adequately meet them.
Space and Storage: Storing several blue barrels requires significant space. Before stockpiling water in blue barrels, consider whether you can accommodate the barrels.
Selecting an appropriate location, like a cool, dark area away from direct sunlight and contaminants, is crucial.
Rotation and Maintenance: Water stored in blue barrels should be regularly rotated and replenished to ensure freshness and prevent stagnation.
Regular maintenance and inspections are necessary to identify any signs of damage, leakage, or contamination.
Additionally, consider the shelf life of water treatment chemicals used to keep the stored water safe, as they may expire over time.
Regulations and Compliance: Depending on your location, regulations or guidelines regarding water storage and treatment may exist.
It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the local laws and ensure that your water storage methods comply with the necessary standards.
Alternatives And Supplementary Water Storage Methods
While blue barrels can serve as a suitable water storage solution for many situations, it’s worth exploring alternative or supplementary methods to enhance your preparedness:
Water Tanks
If you require more water storage capacity, dedicated water tanks designed for long-term water storage may be more appropriate. These tanks are available in various sizes and can be installed indoors or outdoors.
Water Bottles And Water Pouches
Individual water bottles or water pouches are convenient options for short-term emergencies or situations where portability is crucial.
They are pre-packaged, easy to distribute, and can be stored in smaller spaces.
Water Filtration And Purification
In addition to storing water, investing in water filtration and purification systems can provide an added protection layer and are essential for long-term survival.
These systems can remove contaminants from untreated water sources, such as bacteria, viruses, and chemicals, ensuring a safe and reliable water supply.
Stockpiling water is an essential part of emergency preparedness. While blue barrels offer affordability, durability, and portability, it’s crucial to carefully consider their limitations and associated considerations before running out to find an ample supply.
Assess your water storage needs, explore alternative options, and familiarize yourself with local regulations to ensure reliable and safe water during uncertain times.
No matter how you store it, remember to regularly maintain and rotate your stored water to keep it fresh and safe for consumption. Stay safe.
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most important is
Contaminant levels and durability
shelf life and UV , Heat , Cold Rating of container
Water in Ground has shelf life and unless running over natural filters will become stagnet
not mententioned here is
What happens to water after sitting in pool or storage for longterm storage
purification is key and filtering is second key
God has set in place natural laws and that is what you should follow
look at how pure water is after running thru streams , thru plants , thru root , moss filters with growing enzimes which thrive on cleaning the water as it goes thru it
back to peet moss , high density dirt with agrigate uses as the filter
moss, to sand, to gravel , to output of clean water
Looking at the comments most of us have no real clue about storing and purifying water. Blind leading the blind. The Blue barrels are an opinion of the author of this article. If we have no other means of barrel water storage. We need to clean those barrels properly, the best we can.
Certain things are getting hard to come by in this repressive Biden society.
It is clear the Biden crime family and many other politicians have sold America out. Many of our adversaries have bought out businesses and farmlands. Those have become very wealthy. If we did the same we’d have the IRS on us and probably be put in prison too. It’s a 3-tired legal system.
This can all be straightened out by quit voting for the same old Marxist we have in charge. Cancel the established long term bureaucrat’s causing the trouble, like the union leadership.
We don’t have to live by the rules liberal’s view of controlling us in America.
Time to turn the tables on them.
How about articles reclaiming barrels and purifying water other than commercial water filters. As those may not be available in a long term crisis.
SHTF is an overused term that has lost it’s impact meaning. What other terms can we use. As there are different levels to crisis. SHTF is like all or nothing, part of liberal fear mongering.
God is in charge. Govt is temporary in charge of the physical mess we’re in. They are not the boss of me, you, us as being a bully crushing our American freedoms and spirit of truth.
Lisa, not voting only makes whatever votes those liberal and neocon idiots make look like a clear mandate.
I remember when Rhode Island wouldn’t let “None of the Above” appear on the ballot decades ago. Imagine if 80% of the voters got so fed up and voted as such and the media actually had testicles large enough to announce the results. It would be a whole different world than this cesspool we have today.
Natural laws sounds great on paper. We can clean the water so it looks clean an clear. There might be oderless chemicals still in the water. Boiling will kill some parcites, bugs. Boiling still has chemicals.
So distilling water will help.
It’s not just one process is the one treatment for all occasions. We need to do several steps and it depends on where, what , why, when we use thee methods. Salt water to drinking water is another article.
Most of the water encountered will be commonly found. Rivers, ponds, lakes, even swimming pools and etc.
Debris strainer, basic sand filter, distiller or boil method. Commercial water filter until the filter supply is no longer available. Distiller will take out minerals. you need to add that back in. Boiling is the basic red cross method.
Water purifying is not a simple one two process. The are certain things to do.
This website posts don’t have the space to consider all the variables.
The military has done a decent study to what is the best method for potable water for personnel to drink.
Unless the military TM manuals are restricted to the public, those are a good source of information. Talk to healthcare workers that specialize in that area. There are some civilian organizations that specialize in potable water.
You can do your own research in what is particular to your situation.
There still is factual real world information on the internet until AI takes over.
It would be great if there were an edit button to correct all our spelling and grammar mistakes. Hey why not?
My thinking on this is to have two or three barrels stacked up and connect the top one to my water supply line then the water goes to #2 and then #3 from #3 it ties back into the house supply cold water pipe. This way the water is changed every time you turn on the faucet and is always there. If the town water works can’t produce, you have at least 150 gals. of water, this could also be hooked up to a well with valves to shut off the town water and switch to the well, then you would filter it with appropriate filters.
Drafting water can only be achieved up to 29 feet deep. There is a stainless steel 12 volt pump that can be lowered into your artesian well. Connected to a 12 volt battery that is fed by a minimal solar panel will provide water from your well and will not be a red flag to looters. I saw the pump online for $120.
If you use the blue barrels, make sure that they’re food grade. Happy prepping.
SO, what about the semi-transparent water tanks you showed in this article? What are the pros and cons of those?
Stored Inside?
Stored Outside?
Any protective covers?
Any considerations about purity with these?
They come in food grade too Jesse.
Yes they do,,, The ‘Totes’ generally with Green or Blue handles are used for food grade or safer ingredients like soaps, flavorings etc. The Red handled totes are used for harsher ingredients such as acids, harsh cleaning chemicals etc. I paint the out sides of mine with dark green or other light blocking paint as the UV will harden and crack the plastic tote container after a time outside.
Our driveway (which the main water line from the well to the house runs under) settled and caused the threaded PVC to crack where it was screwed in to the L adapter on the well pipe. It took me a couple days before I could take a day off work to fix it, but the interim time showed me my preps are deficient. We had a couple 2 1/2 gallon water jugs and the little hand pump in the top, but these were barely adequate for the water we needed.
Thank you for the article.
You say yo sanitize & clean the barrels but you don’t say how it with what.
I bought my 30 gallon barrels 2011 from Lexington Containers. Nothing done to them; just filled with tap water.
I used 3 barrels when pipes busted and I had no water for 4 weeks.
Every family needs these for emergencies.
Never emptied/refilled—I have a Berkey for drinking water and it filtered that water for me and boy, was I thankful. The water had been in those barrels for 11 years.
Pretty certain all the cons listed for blue barrel water storage actually apply to ALL water storage containers.
Regardless of the container, always cover the tanks with something opaque.
Otherwise, you can get algae and possibly mold growing in them.
couple of things about “the blue barrels” – they are by NO means portable – you’re barely moving them when full – looking at a poor to bad shape to handle at over 400lbs ….
need to be careful storing barrels on upper floor levels with floor joists – that 400lbs again is a problem – you’re at the max weight limits for the square footage involved …
also barrels should be stored elevated with air circulation – the “well” area under the barrels can be black mold breeding zones – mold loves the dark & moist
lastly – for potable water storage using any container after being confirmed food grade and having been used for transporting food – doesn’t always work well – the poly can become taste tainted by whatever food or ingredient that was in the barrel – IE: you don’t want BBQ sauce or cooking oil tasting water ….
I had just started reading this article when an old memory flashed to the front of my brain. We were going to be hunting for a week or more in a dry camp (10 miles from drinkable water), I volunteered a 30 gal blue barrel to transport water that last 10 miles. It had contained a concentrated raspberry syrup and I only rinsed it out once. Nobody wanted to drink any of it, dish water and washing up was all it got used for. Luckily other people had brought other water we could drink but I will always remember that mistake. At this point in time my storage includes Nalgene, poly, glass, and some special made for water storage Water bricks and any that we drink will go thru the Berkey. Put some thought and real effort into your water storage and purification abilities they are likely going to be more important than your food stash.
I live by a honey farm and use their blue barrels.
Off Topic, sorry: just had to share. Banks are targeting certain people to ban from their banks. It has already begun:
Chase Shuts Down Bank Accounts of Mercola and Key Employees
Thank you Demoncrats, Sheeple and plain greedy bankers an politicians for the mess.
Digital = surveillance, no privacy, we own nothing.
USD paper dollar is better than the digital FED coin being forced on us.
We can thank Nixon and others that took America of the gold standard.
China, Russia and other minions have been buying up gold and sliver for years. While America gives it’s wealth away to foreign countries like south and central American countries. Not to leave out some of our enemies get substitutes too.
Those in charge can shutdown your electric vehicles, like bank accounts too.
Dark future, You Will Own Nothing – books. And Jesses Kelley’s -The Anti-Communist Manifesto book. Take America back, stop the Southern Border Invasion.
The current Washington DC swamp is full of globalist that hate us and all of America. Why do we let them proceed?
Ever see the movie The Net? Or the TV series series Person of Interest?
These showcased what is in store for the Sheeple of America. Unless we get out sh*t together very soon, They are ready to take the 2A from the city people first. By fear mongering of digital erasure.
Check out Old Glory Bank. It was started by John Rich, Larry Elder, and Dr. Ben Carson among others. From their Values statement: “We are the bank that will never cancel you for your law-abiding actions. Never look down on you for believing in the greatness of America. Never disrespect anyone who respects our flag and our Constitution.” They have personal accounts and have just launched their business banking products.
The blue barrels are fine as are the clear totes as long as they were food grade. Want to clean them add a pint of bleach and 2 gallons of water shake or roll , rinse twice and your done ! Just that simple ! The three minute boil rule still applies once you have filtered the water the best you can. This works no matter the source or age !
Are these water containers stored outside or inside? I would have to store mine outside and not sure that would be okay.
Is the Berkey and the Patriot water filter the same thing just with a different name?
No, they are different – Patriot has filters that lasts approximately 300 – 400 gallons – the Berkey filter will last approximately 6,000 gallons; these filters cost more but well worth it.