A good water storage barrel or other water containers are a critical part of your long-term storage needs. Second only to emergency food, water barrel storage provides peace of mind by creating an easy way to store water or collect rainwater. Water storage drums are one of the best and easiest ways you can directly address this issue for the long term.
You probably already have some water storage around the house in the form of a case or two of water bottles. But that's only going to last you for a few days. If you really want to be prepared for anything, you're going to need a decent water storage system, and these large water containers are our favorite. Whether you choose smaller, portable water containers or larger water storage barrels, or both, having a large supply of water on hand is critical when your municipal water or water well suddenly isn't available.
When you're faced with an emergency, you want to know that you have a water supply that you can count on. So you don't want to stick water in any old, used container that may be contaminated from its previous contents. A fresh, quality water storage drum or container will ensure that your stored water is still potable when you need it the most.
Following our survival rule of 3, water may be one of your most important stored resources. If you live near a water source and have a good way of purifying water, you may be able to get by for a short time transporting your own water, but for most people in most situations, having a water barrel storage plan is going to be crucial to survival during an emergency.
As much as we wish it was, water storage isn't as simple as filling up a water storage barrel or container from the hose and walking away, but we're here to help answer your questions!
With decontamination and chemical preservatives, it's possible to keep water in a water storage barrel for 5 years. However, we've seen a lot of success by just refilling the barrels every 6 months, no preservatives needed. Just add water and make a note to replace it in 6 months. This keeps a constant, fresh supply of water ready when you need it.
If you use your water storage drums to collect rainwater, obviously those can be kept outside. However, if you're just going to store water in them, you want to keep your water storage barrels and containers in a cool, dark place with a relatively constant temperature. This will help prevent mold growth and keep your water fresher for longer.
The easiest way to set up a water barrel storage system is to calculate how many gallons of water you'll need. Figure on 1 gallon per person per day, so a 2 week supply for a family of 4 would be 56 gallons, almost perfect for a water storage barrel! Put your water container or containers in a cool, dark place, like a basement or closet, and fill them with water. Then every 6 months replace that water and you'll always be ready for the next disaster.
