Water storage project

[Kris369]

Having done a some research the average person at minimum requires 1.2litres of drinking water to survive, adding a little extra for cooking I would like to store 2litres per day, with my personal stock goal of 3 months that's 180litres.

Via alittle workplace recycling I aim to obtain ten 18.5litre drinking fountain refill bottles, which are made for long term safe water storage and are food safe so no worries there, they also come with a resealable value so I won't have to alter them and I can get a tap for about a tenner online.

So to more experienced preppers:
1. What is the safest way to clean the used bottles prior to filling?
2. I'm aiming to keep the water on a 6 month rotation with non scented bleach, rotating one per month once filled, is this a safe time scale? will be stored in a dark stable location.
3. Providing I use the correct bleach concentration any other potential problems with my idea?

Thanks in advance.

[sfcfinchrs]

Hiya,

It is good to store water, yet there is only so much you can store.

What I would suggest is to store 2 - 4 weeks of drinking water.

Then concentrate on having what you need to filter what you need from then on.

You could buy A Berkey system or buy the filters and make one.

[Devonian]

Having done a some research the average person at minimum requires 1.2litres of drinking water to survive, adding a little extra for cooking I would like to store 2litres per day, with my personal stock goal of 3 months that's 180litres.

Via alittle workplace recycling I aim to obtain ten 18.5litre drinking fountain refill bottles, which are made for long term safe water storage and are food safe so no worries there, they also come with a resealable value so I won't have to alter them and I can get a tap for about a tenner online.

So to more experienced preppers:
1. What is the safest way to clean the used bottles prior to filling?
2. I'm aiming to keep the water on a 6 month rotation with non scented bleach, rotating one per month once filled, is this a safe time scale? will be stored in a dark stable location.
3. Providing I use the correct bleach concentration any other potential problems with my idea?

Thanks in advance.

Seems an expensive way of storing water to me.

I was in Lidl at the weekend and they are selling 6 x 2L bottles for £1.50 (£0.25 per bottle if bought singly).

So on that basis 18 Litres of bottled/sterilised water is going to cost you £2.25 and you do not need to worry about washing out and sterilising bottles etc etc....

[Devonian]

Also if your plan is to allow 2 litres per day, then the use of 2 litre bottles will help you to manage/monitor water usage.

Also by only having one bottle open at a time, you other water is protected from contamination.

And if you drop and split a bottle, its only one days worth, rather than 9 days worth.

[Kris369]

Thanks for the advice, with the exception of the tap £10 and some bleach there are no costs, as the 18.5L bottles themselves will be free from work, simply need to bring them home and rack them in the garage.

I know i can buy 180L for £15.30 but was loking at this as more of a project and long term solution rather then constantly buying bottled water every time its sell buy is due. The other advantage is a method of storage in the event supply is turned off, i can purfify rainwater and then store it in any empty bottles for later use.

Think i will try a single bottle as a test peice and let you know how it goes.

[pseudonym]

What is the safest way to clean the used bottles prior to filling?

I'd use Milton on them. 1 tablet does 15 litres IIRC.

Safe enough for babies, good enough for me.

[Hamradioop]

I concur with pseudonym Milton or similar is the way to go. You can also use it a a water treatment.

[Cougar]

Have read and heard elsewhere that you could use 1 drop of plain unscented bleach per 2l bottle. I have not tried this personally as I have gone for sealed bought bottles for short term and large scale water storage with filtration for longer term.

[Devonian]

Have read and heard elsewhere that you could use 1 drop of plain unscented bleach per 2l bottle. I have not tried this personally as I have gone for sealed bought bottles for short term and large scale water storage with filtration for longer term.

Yes that's correct, but it needs to the thin bleach (think Tesco's Value or Sainbury's Basic) not the more widely used thick bleach.

[featherstick]

Bleach degrades over time and loses its "Bleachiness" so you will need to rotate stocks if you want to hold some for future water purification. I have read that swimming pool granules don't degrade and can also be used but I don't know whether this is true or not - can anyone confirm?

If bought bottled water is stored out of the light, I see no need to rotate it.