Most of us know the importance of storing water for emergencies. On Pazumpa.com, we offer several videos about water, purifying water, and many aspects of preparing water for emergencies. This video, however, addresses the question of container safety. What plastics are safe. What plastics will keep water from smelling.
In this video, we’re going to discuss water storage containers. This lesson is NOT about pure water; just about what type of containers you can or should use.
I’m going to talk a little about the plastic storage containers which you see around me. Glass is probably the safest material in which to store water, but because they are breakable, they are not the best solution for long term water storage. Plastic water bottles are very convenient for carting water around when we are on the go, as they don’t break if we drop them and they are light weight. However, there is some controversy about whether these plastics are safe to store water, so I’ll spend about a minute explaining the plastic recycling symbols and where the controversy came from. I won’t say I’m a chemist or a toxicologist, but after reading numerous articles from science journals, environmental columnists, business statements, and government publications, I’ll give you my best recommendation and my personal preferences. Of course, you must decide for yourself.
First, let’s get the three easy plastic types out of the way:
I have found no controversy over plastic containers storing food or water with these three symbols. #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene). New and used containers made from these plastics are everywhere. We’ll talk about safety factors in using pre-used containers later in this video.
The first controversial plastic is Polyethylene Terephthalate. You will find bottles with this symbol. (PET) Because it provides an excellent barrier against oxygen and carbon dioxide, PET has become a material of choice for bottling beverages, such as mineral water and carbonated soft drinks. It also is used for microwave food trays and food packaging films. Likewise, PET, has become the plastic packaging of choice for many food products because it can be formed into lightweight, large-capacity and shatter-resistant containers.
You may have received email or some other information that explained that water bottles with PET leaches dioxins in the water. This was apparently started from a conversation between a doctor in Hawaii and a news journalist. Although it has been confirmed that the news release fairly accurately relates the discussion, the hospital quickly stated that it was not their opinion. As the email circulated, other individuals jrom John Hopkins email signatures were attached, which made the claim look all the more official. The report states that freezing or microwaving food in these types of containers will cause the leaching to accelerate.
Both the FDA as well as The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of issues related to nutrition, food safety, toxicology, risk assessment and the environment – has comprehensively reviewed the scientific and technological aspects of PET. They state, “No evidence of toxicity has been detected in feeding studies using animals. Negative results from Ames tests and studies into unscheduled DNA synthesis indicate that PET is not genotoxic. Similar studies conducted with monomers and typical PET intermediates also indicate that these materials are essentially nontoxic and pose no threats to human health. . . “
The second controversial plastic is of bottles made of Lexan. This plastic is commonly used in water bottles, baby bottles, and many food containers. Lexan would fall into a classification “other”. You would see #7 other, which would include many other types of plastic. So, to be sure that your symbol includes PC. It will look like this, #7 Other PC.
Bottles made with Lexan Polycarbonate are suspected of leaching a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from it. BPA has been identified as an endocrine disrupting chemical, or a chemical that easily mimics hormones when absorbed by the human body.
At this point, I want to mention that BPA is undisputably dangerous to us. But the controversy is whether these plastics actually leach the chemical into the food or water.
The original “discovery” came from an accident in a research lab where the bottles from which the mice were drinking were washed with a very harsh chemical. The same experiment was repeated with the same results. However there are two factors that seriously dispute the claim. 1) There is more than one type of polycarbonate, some which are food grade and some which are not. Therefore the original test may not necessarily represent the type of polycarbonate which would normally be used in Lexan. 2nd, A report from the Scientific Committee on Food and Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commision (whew!) indicates extensive testing in real-life situation using common polycarbonate containers, baby bottles, water bottles, etc., detected no detectable migration of chemical into actual foods or beverages. I might note that the European Commission is widely considered to be very conservative and more restrictive than most when it comes to concerns about health and safety, so its findings are often cited as reliable and often considered a gold standard.
This discussion could be much longer than it has already been, but let’s get to the point. Based on the my personal study of the articles, my personal preference is to disregard the concerns of toxicity in plastic water bottles. I consider bottles such as these safe to store water for long term storage. I believe that the more important consideration is storing water “cleanly” so that bacteria will not grow and your water will be safe to drink.
Equipment and ingredients for this lesson:
1 55 gallon water drum
Assorted sizes and types of plastic water containers
Plastic water bottles
Transcript:In this video, we’re going to discuss water storage containers. This lesson is NOT about pure water; just about what type of containers you can or should use.
I’m going to talk a little about the plastic storage containers which you see around me. Glass is probably the safest material in which to store water, but because they are breakable, they are not the best solution for long term water storage. Plastic water bottles are very convenient for carting water around when we are on the go, as they don’t break if we drop them and they are light weight. However, there is some controversy about whether these plastics are safe to store water, so I’ll spend about a minute explaining the plastic recycling symbols and where the controversy came from. I won’t say I’m a chemist or a toxicologist, but after reading numerous articles from science journals, environmental columnists, business statements, and government publications, I’ll give you my best recommendation and my personal preferences. Of course, you must decide for yourself.
First, let’s get the three easy plastic types out of the way:I have found no controversy over plastic containers storing food or water with these three symbols. #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene). New and used containers made from these plastics are everywhere. We’ll talk about safety factors in using pre-used containers later in this video.
The first controversial plastic is Polyethylene Terephthalate. You will find bottles with this symbol. (PET) Because it provides an excellent barrier against oxygen and carbon dioxide, PET has become a material of choice for bottling beverages, such as mineral water and carbonated soft drinks. It also is used for microwave food trays and food packaging films. Likewise, PET, has become the plastic packaging of choice for many food products because it can be formed into lightweight, large-capacity and shatter-resistant containers.
You may have received email or some other information that explained that water bottles with PET leaches dioxins in the water. This was apparently started from a conversation between a doctor in Hawaii and a news journalist. Although it has been confirmed that the news release fairly accurately relates the discussion, the hospital quickly stated that it was not their opinion. As the email circulated, other individuals jrom John Hopkins email signatures were attached, which made the claim look all the more official. The report states that freezing or microwaving food in these types of containers will cause the leaching to accelerate.
Both the FDA as well as The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of issues related to nutrition, food safety, toxicology, risk assessment and the environment – has comprehensively reviewed the scientific and technological aspects of PET. They state, “No evidence of toxicity has been detected in feeding studies using animals. Negative results from Ames tests and studies into unscheduled DNA synthesis indicate that PET is not genotoxic. Similar studies conducted with monomers and typical PET intermediates also indicate that these materials are essentially nontoxic and pose no threats to human health. . . “
The second controversial plastic is of bottles made of Lexan. This plastic is commonly used in water bottles, baby bottles, and many food containers. Lexan would fall into a classification “other”. You would see #7 other, which would include many other types of plastic. So, to be sure that your symbol includes PC. It will look like this, #7 Other PC.
Bottles made with Lexan Polycarbonate are suspected of leaching a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from it. BPA has been identified as an endocrine disrupting chemical, or a chemical that easily mimics hormones when absorbed by the human body.
At this point, I want to mention that BPA is undisputably dangerous to us. But the controversy is whether these plastics actually leach the chemical into the food or water.
The original “discovery” came from an accident in a research lab where the bottles from which the mice were drinking were washed with a very harsh chemical. The same experiment was repeated with the same results. However there are two factors that seriously dispute the claim. 1) There is more than one type of polycarbonate, some which are food grade and some which are not. Therefore the original test may not necessarily represent the type of polycarbonate which would normally be used in Lexan. 2nd, A report from the Scientific Committee on Food and Health and Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commision (whew!) indicates extensive testing in real-life situation using common polycarbonate containers, baby bottles, water bottles, etc., detected no detectable migration of chemical into actual foods or beverages. I might note that the European Commission is widely considered to be very conservative and more restrictive than most when it comes to concerns about health and safety, so its findings are often cited as reliable and often considered a gold standard.
This discussion could be much longer than it has already been, but let’s get to the point. Based on the my personal study of the articles, my personal preference is to disregard the concerns of toxicity in plastic water bottles. I consider bottles such as these safe to store water for long term storage. I believe that the more important consideration is storing water “cleanly” so that bacteria will not grow and your water will be safe to drink.
Equipment and ingredients for this lesson:1 55 gallon water drumAssorted sizes and types of plastic water containersPlastic water bottles
Now that you know a little more about safe plastics for water storage, now lets take a look at some of the better containers for storing water for emergency.
Storing water is heavy. Water weighs 8.34 lbs. per gallon. So a 5 gallon container container will weigh over 40 lbs, plus the container. A 55 gallon barrel like this one will weigh nearly 500 lbs when full. You’re not going to move this around very easily, so be sure that you have a small pump to get the water out.
So let’s start with this 55 gallon drum. Check to see that the drum or barrel that you get is HDPE 2, which is designed to store food products. You can find these in many emergency preparedness stores and industrial supply stores. I have found prices ranging from $19.95 for used, reconditioned barrels used only one time for other food products to an exhorbant $129.00. The going price seems to be around $50.00 right now. Buying multiple barrels with a group can quickly bring your price down to around $30.00. You can also find these in 5, 15, and 30 gallon sizes. I like using these for the bulk of my water supply.
(here’s a bottle that is #2 HDPE which is NOT a good choice. A milk jug is too thin. This bottle was designed to be biodegradeable, so it will break down rapidly. You’ll come back and a large portion of the water will have evaporated or leaked onto the floor. It will also absorb the odors. If you store your water in the basement, it will taste like the basement floor or those potatoes that you stored next to it. No. don’t use these.
A different alternative for small water storage is the 2-liter soda bottle. These are the infamous #1 PETE bottles. I’ve read the literature and am convinced that they are safe to use. several of these can be stored in a small box so that you can carry more or fewer based on your physical ability. They are virtually impervious to oxygen, so if the water is pure when it goes into the container, and if the container is clean, your water should store indefinitely. If you are concerned about the purity of your water, review our lesson on water purification.
The most popular size of container ia about 5 gallons. I have three different containers. I have shown you the 5-gallon HDPE containers. These square ones are designed to be stackable. They come in different shapes, so find ones that work for you.
The second one is a lexan bottle. You see these in water coolers. I have used this type of bottle for several years. They used to be hard to buy unless you ordered from an industrial supply. Now, however, you can get them from many of the big home stores. Two things that I would look for, however, are the screw on top and the handle. The handle makes a big differnece in moving these bottles.
Here’s one more type. Many emergency supply stores carry 6 gallon mylar bags, which fit within a square box. The box is designed with two handles which make it very convenient to carry with two hands. Even a petite woman can generally handle this box without too much difficulty, whereas they may have difficulty with the same weight in a 5 gallon container with only one or zero handles. The top has a valve which can be opened to allow the water to come out very easily. We recently opened this water after 7 years of storage. The water was clear and there was no problem. However, on another occasion, when we rotated the water every six months and I took the cap on and off each time, we sometimes got a little bit of algae growing in the cap until we cleaned it with a light solution of clorox.
Transcript:Storing water is heavy. Water weighs 8.34 lbs. per gallon. So a 5 gallon container container will weigh over 40 lbs, plus the container. A 55 gallon barrel like this one will weigh nearly 500 lbs when full. You’re not going to move this around very easily, so be sure that you have a small pump to get the water out.
So let’s start with this 55 gallon drum. Check to see that the drum or barrel that you get is HDPE 2, which is designed to store food products. You can find these in many emergency preparedness stores and industrial supply stores. I have found prices ranging from $19.95 for used, reconditioned barrels used only one time for other food products to an exhorbant $129.00. The going price seems to be around $50.00 right now. Buying multiple barrels with a group can quickly bring your price down to around $30.00. You can also find these in 5, 15, and 30 gallon sizes. I like using these for the bulk of my water supply.
(here’s a bottle that is #2 HDPE which is NOT a good choice. A milk jug is too thin. This bottle was designed to be biodegradeable, so it will break down rapidly. You’ll come back and a large portion of the water will have evaporated or leaked onto the floor. It will also absorb the odors. If you store your water in the basement, it will taste like the basement floor or those potatoes that you stored next to it. No. don’t use these.
A different alternative for small water storage is the 2-liter soda bottle. These are the infamous #1 PETE bottles. I’ve read the literature and am convinced that they are safe to use. several of these can be stored in a small box so that you can carry more or fewer based on your physical ability. They are virtually impervious to oxygen, so if the water is pure when it goes into the container, and if the container is clean, your water should store indefinitely. If you are concerned about the purity of your water, review our lesson on water purification.
The most popular size of container ia about 5 gallons. I have three different containers. I have shown you the 5-gallon HDPE containers. These square ones are designed to be stackable. They come in different shapes, so find ones that work for you.
The second one is a lexan bottle. You see these in water coolers. I have used this type of bottle for several years. They used to be hard to buy unless you ordered from an industrial supply. Now, however, you can get them from many of the big home stores. Two things that I would look for, however, are the screw on top and the handle. The handle makes a big differnece in moving these bottles.
Here’s one more type. Many emergency supply stores carry 6 gallon mylar bags, which fit within a square box. The box is designed with two handles which make it very convenient to carry with two hands. Even a petite woman can generally handle this box without too much difficulty, whereas they may have difficulty with the same weight in a 5 gallon container with only one or zero handles. The top has a valve which can be opened to allow the water to come out very easily. We recently opened this water after 7 years of storage. The water was clear and there was no problem. However, on another occasion, when we rotated the water every six months and I took the cap on and off each time, we sometimes got a little bit of algae growing in the cap until we cleaned it with a light solution of clorox.
In any emergency, drinking water rapidly becomes the most important element of survival. This Water Purification Kit will deliver thousands of gallons of water–safely, conveniently, and inexpensively.
This water kit has been designed to purify thousands of gallons of water taken from virtually any surface water, such as a lake, river, or stream. It includes a 1 micron industrial filter bag. Be prepared to have adequate water during any major disaster, and take this convenient kit with you wherever you might need to go. Watch the video below to learn how to use this kit.Buy Now.
Transcript:
Have you thought about how much water you need to store? Have you considered how you would acquire more if you ran out? If you have been in or close to any natural disaster and have paid attention to the news, you would probably recognize that the first thing to leave store shelves is water. Water is vital to our survival.
Today I am going to show you how to safely clarify and purify virtually any surface water and prepare thousands of gallons of safe water for drinking. We have created a complete water purification kit for the users of SimplyLivingSmart.com
Inside the kit you will find these items. An instruction sheet,
a 1-micron industiral liquid filter bag.
1 5-gallon bucket with a lid.
1 2-gallon bucket,
a funnel,
1 bottle of Polar Pure iodine crystals.
1 eye dropper.
1 bungie chord with 2 hooks.
The unique item in this kit is the 1 micron industrial water filter bag which only come in boxes of 30 or 100. Since these filters are designed to filter thousands of gallons, there is no need for 30 filters; this is the main reason we have put together this kit for individuals and families.
This purification process actually requires 2 steps: Clarification and then Purification.
Let’s start with clarification. You can see that I actually obtained this water from a local canal. You can use virtually any surface water available. Of course, if the water were severely contaminated by sewage, it would obviously be prudent to find your best source of surface water.
Use the 2 gallon bucket to retrieve the water. Pour the water from the 2-gallon bucket through the 1 micron industrial filter bag. You will probably need someone to hold the bag. Be careful not to spill down the sides. Fill the 5-gallon bucket, and put the lid on to carry the water so that you don’t splash and lose your water. Remember, dirty water goes on the inside; clean water is on the outside.
So, why would we include the option of having 2 filter bags if they can each filter thousands of gallons? DROP Ooops. What if you drop the bag in the water or in the contaminated soil? The second bag is a backup. It is a pretty inexpensive insurance policy, but it is not required when you order your kit.
When you have finished filtering the water, use the 2-hook cord to hang the filter to let it dry. This filter is made from poly propylene mesh so drying in the air is no problem. However, leaving it in direct sunlight will damage the filter over time. Hang it away from direct sunlight and then put it away once it is dried.
Let’s talk for a minute about filtration:
Most of the bacteria and germs will actually be much smaller than 1 micron. However, they will also be attached to particles in the water which are larger than 1 micron. The particles contain microscopic pores in which these “bad guys” hide. As we filter out the particles, we remove nearly all of the bacteria and germs. Any remaining will be left virtually defenseless against the purification chemicals.
Here’s a special note about water filtration. If the surface water has been contaminated by nuclear fallout there is a separate process that is simple but effective. We don’t cover that here, but we do have information on SimplyLivingSmart.com in a web page entitled Water Purification Buckets. If the video is not available on the web page, it will be available soon.
Now that your water has been filtered, you can use one of several methods to purify the water. We will discuss two–others are on the instruction sheet in the kit and on SimplyLivingSmart.com. We include these two methods because they have been proven successful and safe for years.
Use a funnel and a cup to dip the clarified water out of the bucket and pour through the funnel into a container. I use 2-liter soft-drink bottle, but you can use any container which you can accurately measure volume.
We will start with Chlorine. We did not include chlorine in the kit because it is readily available as chlorine bleach such as Clorox or Purex in your supermarket. Chlorine bleach contains between 5.25% and 5.75% hypochlorite solution.
Using chlorine is simple. We use eight drops per GALLON of water. Since I am using a 2-liter bottle, I will put in 4 drops. Put the cap on, swish it around, and then let is stand for about 30 minutes to let the chlorine kill the bad guys. After 30 minutes, the water will be safe to drink.
The second method uses iodine crystals which produce a saturated iodine solution. I use a product by the name of Polar Pure. We have that available in our online shopping cart. To prepare the iodine solution, follow the intructions in the box of Polar Pure.
Now the amount of iodine needed per liter is based on temperature of the iodine. On the side of the bottle, there is a handy little temperature sensitive guage. You will look on the bottle and observe where the green dot is. In this case, my bottle shows that I need two capfuls per liter. So, since I am using a 2-liter bottle of water, I will use 4 capfuls.
Now look at size of this bottle. How many gallons of water do you think you can purify? You might think “that bottle is so small. I’ll run out in only about 2-gallons of water.” Actually, that’s about right. However as soon as you use this solution, you simply pour more water into the Polar Pure bottle. The iodine crystals inside will saturate the new water with iodine. Therefore, you use this same bottle over and over. The only problem is that you can only purify about two gallons of water at a time. Then you need to re-fill and reuse the same iodine crystals many times. According to the manufacturer, this bottle will fully purify around 2000 gallons.
Let me review the advantages and disadvantages of chlorine and iodine. Chlorine bleach is inexpensive. However, it degrades in quality over time. Within 1 year, you will need double the dose of chlorine. Within 2 years you will need to replace the bleach in your kit. Therefore, put a date on your bleach bottle when you include it in your kit. Iodine crystals, on the other hand, will not degrade appreciably over time.
What about the taste? Taste is largely a function of smell, so by blocking the oder, you eliminate much of the taste. Chlorine, once it has been allowed to do its work, can be removed by using a second container and pouring the water back and forth. The Chlorine will evaporate. You cannot do that with iodine, however. The odor will persist. Outdoor users who use this method regularly recommended using ascorbic acid (vitamin C) to block the iodine taste or mix the water with juice.
When you order your Water Purification Kit, the Iodine Crystals are included. You can buy chlorine in a supermarket and add to your kit if you desire. I like to have both options and I use chlorine first when I have a choice, but I know my iodine will always be available because it has a lifetime shelf life.
Others have recommended other purification processes such as colloidal silver, halzone tablets, or grapefruit seed extract or other natural methods. You may certainly use these methods if you prefer, but always use the filter to clarify the water first to remove the microscopic hiding places. I do not provide instructions for these other methods. Also, boiling water for 3-5 minutes will purify water, but boiling requires fuel which may not be available during an emergency.
One final note, the instruction sheet which is included in the kit provides even more detailed information. Remember, this kit can clarify nearly any water, but if you filter very muddy water, it will obviously reduce the life of the bag. Again, this is a reason to order a second bag.
We encourage you not to delay purchasing this kit. This kit is designed to be easily carried or stored, and it is extremely convenient to use. It is one of the most inexpensive forms of emergency insurances you can find. You can find this kit and a growing number of other unique and quality products at our SimplyLivingSmart shopping cart.
In theory, if water is stored in specially designed water containers, it should have an indefinite shelf life. Nonetheless, we recommend replacing the water every six to twelve months.
HOW TO CLEAN WATER STORAGE CONTAINERS
Use hot water and soap and rinse well in hot water.
Soapy residue and soapy taste is eliminated by rinsing the bottle well with hot water.
Once the water storage containers have been thoroughly cleaned, sanitize the containers and lids by rinsing them with a solution of 1 tablespoon chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Leave the containers wet for two minutes, then rinse them again with water. Remember to remove the paper or plastic lid liners before washing the lids.
It is very difficult to effectively remove all residue from many containers, so carefully clean hard-to-reach places like the handles and rinse, rinse, rinse. It is especially important to clean and sanitize the lids. Often these have rubber components that are hard to sanitize. These parts need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized following the directions above. Never use containers that previously held chemicals!
Mildew in the caps
Years ago I was introduced to a water storage container which use mylar bags inside a box. I actually like this type of storage. We knew that we needed to rotate the water every six to twelve months.
So, every six months or so, we would take the cap off the bag, empty the water, and refill it with tap water. Not knowing that I should be re-cleaning the rubber cap, each time we rotated the water, I noticed that the cap was getting rather . . . well mucky.
Eventually, we realized (duh!) that we needed to disinfect the cap each time we rotated the water. That was the only place where the mildew was growing.
In my experience, because the mylar bags are impervious to both light and air. The only place mylar bag water storage containers are susceptable to mold is on the rubber lids.
Learn from my experience and disinfect your lids and your containers.
DISINFECTING YOUR WATER
Virtually all tap water has contaminents. Storing the cleanest water you can is the surest method to keep your water fresh. If you have access to a water filtration unit or a distiller, you should use water from those. I prefer using a distiller.
Use clean water.
Rotate water regularly (once every six to twelve months).
Always disinfect and rinse the caps.
Disinfect and rinse the the entire container every two or three years.
I have found that by using the suggestions above, I have had no problems with our stored water. Incidentally, we rotate our water by using it as well.
The case for disinfectant.
I don’t like using chlorine. I don’t like the taste and I don’t like having the chemical in my water. That’s a personal choice.
I also know that not all water is created equal. And, not everyone will rotate and use their water as frequently as I do. My suggestion is to use and rotate your storage water regularly, clean your water storage containers frequently and not use any chemicals. BUT, if your water is not clean to begin with, then use disinfectant procedure listed below:
Fill the needed number of containers with clean water and, as an additional precaution, add 5-7 drops, about 1/8 teaspoon, of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. This precaution protects you against any lingering organisms in storage containers that may have been inadvertently missed during the cleaning process.
IMPORTANT: Use liquid household bleach that contains 5.25 percent hypochlorite. Do not use bleaches with fresheners or scents as they may not be safe to consume.
Clearly label all water storage containers “drinking water” or “potable water storage” with the current date. Store the water in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources like clothes dryers and chimneys. Do not store it near gasoline, kerosene, pesticides or similar substances.
We often forget how nature purifies. One of the strongest purifier is our own sun. The UV rays, combined with elevated temperatures, are capable of disinfecting water for drinking. SODIS has been well-researched and tested.
Remember all water should be clarified or filtered before purifying. Most of the microorganisms and “bad guys” are attached to the particulate matter. Filtering with a good filter will remove most of the contaminants.
