Filling 25 litre water containers

[Prepmomma]

Hi I’m new to prepping & new to the forum!

This may be a very simplistic question but after searching I couldn’t find the exact information I needed.

I’ve purchased 4 x 25L water containers from Amazon to store water in. I’m just trying to figure out the logistics of cleaning them, filling them, & if I need to pretreat the water etc. A lot of the information I’ve come across is aimed at US preppers & I’m struggling to find UK equivalent.

So:

1) cleaning the new containers- I’m planning to use Milton Fluid to do this. Any tips?

2) filling: I know I need to use some sort of food grade hose but not sure about food safe hose connections. Is it safe to fill from my new brass outside tap or would it be better to fill from the kitchen sink using a hose? Again if so what are the best hose fittings to use for a mixer tap? Any recommendations on hoses, connections etc?

3) water treatment: I’ve read on here that you can treat water with Milton Fluid. I’ve read that many people think it’s unnecessary to pre-treat tap water as it’s already chlorinated but I’m hoping to store it as long term as possible.

4) storage: I’m planning on storing the water in my garage.

5) Filtration: I’ve bought a cheap Mogul water filter body & the Berkey carbon filters so I could filter the water before use.

If any pro-preppers could help me out that would be great!

[pseudonym]

1) cleaning the new containers- I’m planning to use Milton Fluid to do this. Any tips?

Follow directions on back of pack

2) filling: I know I need to use some sort of food grade hose but not sure about food safe hose connections. Is it safe to fill from my new brass outside tap or would it be better to fill from the kitchen sink using a hose? Again if so what are the best hose fittings to use for a mixer tap? Any recommendations on hoses, connections etc?

Outside taps fine, I also use the garden hose.

3) water treatment: I’ve read on here that you can treat water with Milton Fluid. I’ve read that many people think it’s unnecessary to pre-treat tap water as it’s already chlorinated but I’m hoping to store it as long term as possible.

I empty and refill mine every 6 months

4) storage: I’m planning on storing the water in my garage.

Careful of freezing, leave a gap for expansion

5) Filtration: I’ve bought a cheap Mogul water filter body & the Berkey carbon filters so I could filter the water before use.

Overkill, but a good back up if required

[jansman]

Clean the containers out with a little hot water and Milton,swill it round.Fill it from your outside tap.Stick the barrel in a black bin bag to keep the light out and store.Change the water in 6 months.Simple.Its what I do.

[Prepmomma]

Thank you very much both - great advice. I was probably overthinking it but wanted to make sure I didn’t poison myself by getting it wrong!

[Deeps]

As others have said, it doesn't need to be anything too exotic but something else to consider for longer term are something like this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/100-Aquatabs%C ... +20+litres

Plenty of options out there if you want to shop around.

[Prepmomma]

Thank you @deeps!! They look great & are way more concentrated than the ones I found where I’d have had to put in 25 tablets!

Thanks, i’ll check those out for sure.

[Deeps]

Thank you @deeps!! They look great & are way more concentrated than the ones I found where I’d have had to put in 25 tablets!

Thanks, i’ll check those out for sure.

No probs, this is where taking your time comes into things. There are some things that will be 'generic' enough to just crack on with now that you're full of evangelical enthusiasm, water, food that YOU eat and basic meds etc but do your research for YOU, no point going big on solar charging if you don't get much sunlight etc (just an example).

We all prep for different reasons and are in different situations, what works for me might not work for you for a number of reasons, figure out what works for YOU and work towards it.

[Prepmomma]

Thank you @deeps!! They look great & are way more concentrated than the ones I found where I’d have had to put in 25 tablets!

Thanks, i’ll check those out for sure.

No probs, this is where taking your time comes into things. There are some things that will be 'generic' enough to just crack on with now that you're full of evangelical enthusiasm, water, food that YOU eat and basic meds etc but do your research for YOU, no point going big on solar charging if you don't get much sunlight etc (just an example).

We all prep for different reasons and are in different situations, what works for me might not work for you for a number of reasons, figure out what works for YOU and work towards it.

Thank you, that’s really sound advice. I’m just going to store water & some extra food, etc for now & then gradually build up from there! I’ve got to admit I think i’d struggle bugging out & surviving with a little one in a big SHTF scenario, so I’m really planning at the moment for less dramatic events like temporary problems with the water supply etc. This may change as I get more into it!

Thank you for your advice!!

[Deeps]

Thank you, that’s really sound advice. I’m just going to store water & some extra food, etc for now & then gradually build up from there! I’ve got to admit I think i’d struggle bugging out & surviving with a little one in a big SHTF scenario, so I’m really planning at the moment for less dramatic events like temporary problems with the water supply etc. This may change as I get more into it!

Thank you for your advice!!

This is it, figure out what works for you, if you've got a wee one then running off to the hills would very much be a last resort. For me its a last resort even though I love getting away up the hills at the weekend anyway. Big difference between doing it for fun and doing it because you have to. Especially if you have to carry everything you think you'll need.

There's no perfect way to prep, have a million quids worth of stuff in your garage is no good if the house gets burned down, have it stashed around the country is no good if you're stuck in your house because of the zombies/Mad Max gangs/local chavistroracy running amok. You do what you can while hoping you'll not need to rely on it.

[ukpreppergrrl]

For what it's worth here's what I do:

I have a food grade piece of tube that's used in caravans for water piping (eBay) about 3m. A food grade funnel shoved in one end. With the 25L jerry on the floor by the kitchen sink I put the non-funnel end in the mouth of the jerry can and hold the funnel end under the mixer tap. Turn the tap on. Simples! Just be aware that once you switch the tap off there is still another pint or so of water in the tube to go into the jerry! I then put in 1.5 teaspoons of thin bleach - I read that it should smell of chlorine after 30 minutes. Screw the cap on. Lug it round to the shed. Stack it and leave it for a year or sometimes two if I don't get around to changing it.

I clean the jerry before and between refills by putting in a little water and a little thin bleach. Put the cap on. Pick it up and give it a good old shake around. Leave it for about 10 mins. Pour the water out. Put in a little more water. Put the cap on. Pick it up and give it a good old shake around. Pour the water out. Maybe rinse it one more time if I was a little heavy handed with the bleach. Then fill as above.

One year I misread the instructions and put in 3 teaspoons of bleach. The water tasted fine, providing you aired it a little before you drank it.

Tips:
1) Put an old, large towel under the jerry when filling. You WILL spill water!
2) When cleaning, wear clothing you don't mind getting bleach on - some of the solution will splash and whilst it's not strong enough to do any harm you do end up with odd pale patches on clothing...
3) Go to the toilet before you start. All that running water will affect you...