In case of an earthquake, hurricane, or any other natural disaster, it’s crucial to have enough drinking water. It’s an essential part of any survival guide. That’s why people around the world, especially in areas prone to extreme weather conditions, use water storage containers.
There are numerous advantages of water containers, but choosing the right unit can sometimes be tricky. In this article, we will size up all the advantages and give you some useful buying tips. For more info about water storage containers, visit this blog.
What to Look for in a Water Storage Container
At first, let’s take a look at some of the most important things that you should consider when buying a water container.
The Most Important: How Much Water do You Need to Store?
An average person consumes around 70 gallons of water per day. Half of that amount is for drinking and the other half is for washing and cooking. However, in the case of emergency, EPA recommends around 1 gallon of water per person. In a two-week period, a person should have at least 14 gallons of water.
Another thing to consider is relocation. For example, an empty 55-gallon barrel weighs around 22 pounds. However, if the barrel is full, it will weight almost 500 pounds, which is, obviously, not very portable.
The Durability of the Container
Depending on the situation, the durability of the container can be crucial. You might need to properly preserve the water in various situations, so this is why you should consider the construction of the container.
Material
The first thing to have in mind is that you should buy a BPA-free container. Besides, most containers nowadays are made from food-grade plastic, which is strong, yet lightweight. This material is also very affordable, which makes it an excellent choice.
It’s also good if the product is UV-resistant, which will keep it in proper condition when exposed to bright sun. One of the best materials, in that case, is the food-grade polyethylene.
It Should be Properly Sealed
If you buy a container that perfectly suits all your needs, but it can’t seal perfectly, you should get a different unit. The fact is, in a few days, the water will surely get contaminated. That’s why you should consider the quality of its closing system.
Stackability is Important
When it comes to storage space, the best way to work around it is to buy stackable containers. That way, instead of occupying the horizontal space, you can stack the storages vertically. However, you don’t want the stack to go too high, since it might fall over and cause other damages. Also, it’s more difficult to reach the water if the stack is too high.
Various Types of Water Storage Containers
As you might have guessed, there are various types of water containers. Each of those has its benefits so that you can choose mainly according to your needs.
Collapsible Water Container with Spigot
This unit is an excellent choice when it comes to easy storage. You can fold it if it’s empty so that it takes very little space. Besides, these units are very durable and can withstand heavy pressure or fall from over 5-foot height.
Collapsible water containers are often made from environmental-friendly materials and contain no BPA or DEHP. If the unit is of high-quality, it will have an excellent, leak-free spigot. Having a spigot also makes it much simpler to use.
Emergency Water Storage Kit
Some of the best water storage kits are made by Augason Farms. They include a 55-gallon barrel, made from food-grade, BPA-free materials, such as polyethylene, and meet EPA guidelines. It allows the treated water to be in good condition for a very long time. Besides, it comes with a 6-foot hose and a barrel opener.
300-gallon Storage Bladder
The best thing about this product is that, if you fold it, it takes almost no space. However, you can fill it with an enormous amount of water. It’s made from a material that is thinner and lighter than rubber bladder, while the outer shell is made from very durable nylon.
The product is very simple to use and comes with two plugs – upper fill and lower drain. It is also tested to endure over a thousand pounds of pressure and is very hard to poke or stretch.
Small Water Pouches
Unlike the previous units, these pouches are excellent for short-term water preservation. They offer a 5-year shelf life and are awesome for three-days kits. Also, if the temperature is not too low, water pouches will prevent the water from freezing.
On the other hand, these pouches are not available in all local stores. In some areas, it might be difficult to find them, and also, they are slightly expensive.
Water Bricks
If you need a stackable solution, water bricks are the best way to go. They offer 3.5 gallons per brick, and are stackable from floor to ceiling – hence the name “bricks”. Besides, water bricks are safe from freezing, so you can keep them outside with no fear.
However, they are also not available in all local stores and might be slightly expensive per gallon. You should get these only if you are looking primarily for stackability.
⅚-Gallon Plastic Jugs
If you are looking for a convenient solution, these jugs will solve the problem. At first, they come at a decent price and are more convenient than large barrels. You can find them easily at any camping section of almost any store.
Those jugs must be rotated every 8-12 months, so keep that in mind, too. Also, they take a bit more space since you can’t stack them. If you have a bit tighter budget and need a solution for smaller storage spaces, ⅚-gallon plastic jugs are the best choice.
Conclusion
There are many solutions for water preservation nowadays. Yet, all of these have their pros and cons. No unit is perfect, so before buying one, you should think carefully about what exactly do you need a water container for, and how do you intend to use it. Good luck!