Water

[KevDen2005]

I need some thoughts here. I figure Jerry will end up providing sound advice, but I like to hear what everyone says.

For water storage I was thinking:

I get the large bottle of simply-orange orange juice from King Soopers. The plastic bottle is a much heavier duty bottle than the milk-gallon bottles. I have the ability to store lots of these rather than large drums.

After I clean these out is it okay to store water in them just putting the cap back on hand tight or do they need to be sealed better in someway?

[BuffCyclist]

I live in the mountains with VERY hard water, I rent so it's illogical to get a reverse osmosis filtration system. I have about 15x 1gal jugs of "Spring Water" from walmart. I did research about storing water in them after I've emptied them. If they have the Recycle symbol on the bottom with a "2" inside, they are good to keep reusing. Everywhere I read online, people use them until they start to smell and then get rid of them.

Instead of buying 1gal jugs of water from walmart at $0.98/gal, I get them refilled at lots of reverse osmosis water filling stations down in town for $0.25.


I need some thoughts here. I figure Jerry will end up providing sound advice, but I like to hear what everyone says.

For water storage I was thinking:

I get the large bottle of simply-orange orange juice from King Soopers. The plastic bottle is a much heavier duty bottle than the milk-gallon bottles. I have the ability to store lots of these rather than large drums.

After I clean these out is it okay to store water in them just putting the cap back on hand tight or do they need to be sealed better in someway?

[2008f450]

There is a thread on this subject you might want to look at. There have been a few ideas thrown around about this subjet. You might want to try the Arizona tea brand of 1 gallon jugs. a member suggested them. They are pretty thick and seem to work well. I have been trying them in both my vehicles the last couple days and they seem to stay somewhat liquid even after the last couple of nights.

[jerrymrc]

Thoughts. Reusing anything that did not have just water do have the chance of leaching into the water you store but being OJ that may not be all that bad. :)

Any tap water put up should be disinfected first so I would revisit this thread. http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30333&highlight=water

Hand tight is fine. If you are going to store it you need to mark it and rotate every 6 months or so. I store some water but not a lot. I keep a few cases of bottled water and rotate them out every summer even though they are good for much longer.

One thing about being prepared here in Colorado is knowing how your water system works and knowing alternate sources of water. I have a very small water company and the water supply is gravity fed.

[gnihcraes]

I suggested those AZ tea jugs, I have several, and they work well. Extremely tough. I've got one sitting outside and its been there for a month or so now, keeps freezing, thawing, freezing. No issues. I'll go taste the water and report back.

EDIT: Checked the AZ Tea Jug, which was about 3/4 full of water to allow for expansion. The last few days of 0 degree have expanded the ice inside near the top, and there is about a 4 inch stretch mark on the jug now. It doesn't appear to have been breached, but close.

I stored water in a 55 gallon plastic barrel, sealed in my basement for 6 months or more without any bad smells or change in taste and this was normal tap water, no added bleach etc.

Currently I use 15 gallon food grade plastic barrels. Purchased from a local guy called Drum Runners, $10 each I think or something like that, but he's shutdown his plastic barrel business. There is another local group selling drums, if I can find it I'll post it up. Craigslist usually has plastic food grade drum sellers.

[Irving]

We've got a bunch of 2 liter bottles that we rinsed out and filled with water. Should we put a drop of bleech in each one before closing them up? Then maybe another drop before drinking them?

[2008f450]

When i was in CA I used to store water in 55 gal plastic barrels. I used a product called stabilized oxygen in the water for long term storage. As an experiment I let one sit for 3 years with out changing the water and it tasted fine when I sampled it.

Now I carry 2 1.5 liter bottles of water in my B.O.B./ hiking pack. I also carry a MIOX water purifying system just incase I have to refill from a source other than a tap. The arizona bottles are working good in my vehicles. Checked them both this morning. Mostly frozen but better than the old arrowhead bottles that would have cracked by now.

[StagLefty]

We've got a bunch of 2 liter bottles that we rinsed out and filled with water. Should we put a drop of bleech in each one before closing them up? Then maybe another drop before drinking them?

Shouldn't have to since your filling the bottles with water that's already been treated-at least that's what I've read before on this subject.

[Asmodiar]

So what's a great water filter/pump you guys would suggest for backpacking/drinking from ponds/lakes/streams... been looking around lately for a couple.

[DeusExMachina]

I've been thinking I should start storing water in my storage room. Probably going to buy bottled water by the case as I like having it in the fridge. I should rotate these every 6 months then?

[StagLefty]

So what's a great water filter/pump you guys would suggest for backpacking/drinking from ponds/lakes/streams... been looking around lately for a couple.

I have a Katadyn Hiker in my gear. I haven't used it a lot but it gets good reviews and is easy to use.Also has a Nalgene bottle adapter. Picked it up at REI on sale. [Beer]

[jerrymrc]

I've been thinking I should start storing water in my storage room. Probably going to buy bottled water by the case as I like having it in the fridge. I should rotate these every 6 months then?

I would not worry about that. Bottled water should be good for at least a couple of years if not longer.

I read somewhere a long time ago that they put the same EXP dates on it as soda just to get you to buy more. I keep a few cases on hand but rotate it out just going to the range/camping. I do not drink it daily as I think it is a waste since it is water and most bottled comes from a tap. ;)

[2008f450]

So what's a great water filter/pump you guys would suggest for backpacking/drinking from ponds/lakes/streams... been looking around lately for a couple.


I have a couple of the Katadin units that work good. There are a few different schools of thought on when and how to use them. I generally look for as clear a water source as I can to use them. There are also tons of suggestion on the web about different pre filters and what not. When i go out for a 2 or 3 day hike by myself I take my MIOX. its small works great and the water comes out just fine.