The 5 Best Treatment Methods for 55-Gallon Water Barrels 

Tip tip from a 35+year Army medic. When using either bleach or calcium hypochlorite crystals don't just add direct crystals or full concentrate bleach to your barrel. Dissolve the required amount of crystals or bleach in what the Army feild hygiene manual calls a "super solution" and add that instead of strait crystals. We were always told a canteen (quart) of this solution at the dosage rate you recommend per 50 gallon lister bag (these are not used any longer) and mixing in a 5 gallon water jug to sanitize a 400 gallon water buffalo trailer. This makes sure the crystals dissolve fully and maximizes contact area for best sanitizing action. Agitate your barrel once you add the crystals to ensure even distribution so a clean stirring rod or even your barrel pump could be used to stir this solution arround. Don't forget to flush your pump with chlorinated water before using it to draw drinking water. Temperature also matters, colder water takes longer to treat as the chemical reactions that kill the organisms take longer at cold temperatures. My $.02

I bought a 1500 gallon cistern and hooked it up to my water main. All the water that flows through my house goes through the cistern first. So its always being cycled. If the water ever stops, i shut of the main and use the water through a manual valve. I also have hand pumps to pump water up to overhead shower containers i made from home depot buckets.

Yep - I have 2 barrels - each 4 feet across and 12 feet high and hold 750 gallons. Bought new specifically to hold water. Each is surrounded by a plywood surround and top to protect from sun and weather. Should be about a years supply for our needs. Filled with tap water and will filter before using.

I LOVE HER STYLE, TONE AND VOICE! So calm and well informed. He sounds like a DJ.

Thank you for making this video. It was very helpful and I will be using several of the tips you all provided.

Very important video, thank you Jonathan and Kylene. I sure appreciate the content of your channel. Happy trails!

So true, LOL. I'm finally setting up the barrels I bought 3 years ago with my down time from the virus.

I have watched so many videos about water storage. This channel posts the most comprehensive ones on RU-vid. Thank you for helping so many, in so many ways ❤️

Great video. Thanks for the measurements. Easy to understand. Take care and God bless.

There is a artesian well that has provided hundreds and hundreds of families around here with water for a lot of years. I will be filling up my barrels there. Thanks for the video.

You guys are the best and very accurate !! Iv'e watched dozens of your video's and amazed with your knowledge!! What really blows my mind is... To look at you both you would never know you were hard core preppers. Wish we were neighbors! I on other hand look the part Jaded Vietnam Combat Vet dealt a bad hand and hunkered down!! MUCH LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!!

Great video! Lots of good information oh, thank you.

Thanks for putting this up!

Well done and good information. Another tip, from the book All My Secrets of Organic and Container Gardening So Far which has photos, is that you can build a cheap homemade solar oven from recycled materials that will pasteurize small amounts of water -- such as a gallon at a time -- in emergency conditions. I have tried it and it does work. This would be good even for rainwater.

I absolutely Love your videos. Very concise and accurate information in a friendly and understandable form. Please keep it up!!

Thank you both!

You just earned another subscriber! 👍 Thankyou!

Great video! Thanks!

Thanks, Great Info.

Please keep in mind cal hypo needs to be stored very carefully. It will react abruptly (fire & explosion ) when coming in contact with many products. It has been the cause of more fires at home improvement stores, pool stores and manufacturing plants than any other product.

Great tips!

Thanks for the info. Key Largo, Florida.......

Yup- 2 50 gal empty barrels in my back yard for 3 years. Going to clean and fill them this weekend thanks for the video and encouragement

I have done well with mason jar storage. I dont know how to aquire 55 gallon drums. Thank you for your informative measures of purification.

As far as using metal v. plastic for storage, there are several things to consider. First, either one must be food grade, which generally is easier to find in HDPE (High Density Polyethylene). Also, either one must be clean. New is better, but also more expensive, sometimes substantially more, especially if you can get them free or close to that. If they are used, make sure they have contained consumable liquid or food, and must not have been allowed to become contaminated. Then make sure they are cleaned well and sanitized with a chlorine or other suitable disinfectant. The chlorine in many water systems, or if chlorine is used for disinfection purposes, tends to corrode metal unless there is a suitable coating or liner to prevent that. In general, my preference is plastic, but if you can find the right metal barrel, it can work also.

Thank you for the video! I just sanitized 5 used food grade translucent barrels and am prepping the space to set them in. We will cover them with 6 mil black trash bags in a shed. Yours is one of the few videos showing use of anything other than blue or black barrels. 😎 Have had these for over 2 years, and it feels good to get it done.

Is calcium hypochlorite the same thing as pool shock? Where can I buy it? This was a great video!!! I love that you guys did the math on the stock solution bleach jug. Thank you so much!

Thank you so much

Good information.

THANX . WATER IS GREAT

Thank you great video

Thank you for this video. We live off grid and have an artesian well. I wonder if you think storage is still needed?

I am planning to get at least a few new barrels for emergency use drinking water. Great info in video. I just need to figure a place to store the barrels. Inside the house. The garage is going to be a no, because there are so many chemicals in garage, and lots of car repairs going on in there all the time. Plastic is permeable over time. One depressing fact, is that no matter how much you store, if water supply is cut off, the storage wont last long at all. I use 5000 to 7000 gallons per month for family. So a few hundred gallons wont go very far. even a large expensive 1200 gallon tank wont go far either. I figure in worst case, the barrels can be strictly for drinking. Other uses such as bathing, or washing, or flushing toilet can be done with buckets of pool water, or barrels stored in back yard. I have a 14,000 gallon pool. Technically you can drink the pool water, but with all the swimming going on, It is not ideal at all. I live in Las vegas, and the lake is getting low. Just doing a little prep for if and when that day comes along where you turn the tap on, and there is nothing coming out, or the government starts rationing and doing rolling cut offs of water, of various lengths of time. . The preps wont last long term, but will buy time to prepare for bugging out if needed, or wether cut offs. I think there may be times where the city water supply is cut off for certain periods of time, to allow water supply to re-plenish itself. It could be a week or 2 weeks. The preps may allow me to overcome short or rolling shut offs, while others are panicking and scrambling to migrate elsewhere. Or others will be panicking and trying to get water barrels, bottled water. Hell, people are already starting to hoard bottled water. Bottle water is not ideal at all, because it is expensive, the bottles dont store well over long time. I have had 1 gallon jugs sitting on shelf that randomly fail over time and leak. So going nuts and ordering pallets of bottled water is not good. expensive, wont last. Barrels probably much better.

Thanks for the info. You have a great way of explaining thing. I do have a question. I filled my barrel with ny water which is clean, as far as I know. Should I put in the powder in at the the beginning of storage or only when I will use it if needed. Thanks in advance.

I will bookmark those online resources just in case emergency arises. Thanks, I will take your advice, but I think I will just buy two, sealed, 5-gallon jugs on hand in my small apartment for 1 person.

Great everything i need to know to treat water, but what about for preserving water for years is there a treatment or a chemical to store water for up to 5 or 7 years?

Safe drinkable water is the most critical item that everyone needs a minimum of 1 gallon a day per person for rehydration of food, the body and hygiene. I discovered a USA company DryElement that sells probably the best gravity fed water filtration system in the world and its under $200.00. Their products are made in America and the Green Nano Gravity Filter is amazing. Also, they sell a long term water treatment solution based on the mineral properties of copper and silver that allows you to store fresh water for years.

Water Preserver is way over priced. Just use household bleach. Great video! Thanks for sharing. Super information!

Hello, thanks for the detailed video. New prepper here and hence apologies in advance for the dumb question. We recently bought 12 - 3.5 gallons water bricks. So the process to store water would be, clean them, fill them with a food grade hose and use the Calcium hypochlorite stock solution to disinfect them and store? Is that it? Can we drink that water in case of emergencies? Thanks in advance.

how long is # 2,4 and 5 Good for inside the water that you just put in the barrels?

Sodium hypochlorite can be purchased in dry form as well. It is the kind of pool shock with only one ingredient which is the sodium hypochlorite.

Another option for temporary water storage is the WaterBOB. It's essentially an enclosed plastic liner that fits into a bath and holds upto 100 gallons.

I find particles are getting in(blue 55 gal) around my bung cap and I can see fine particles in my water. I filter my water, but should I start over and clean etc. Or keep storing, treat with bleach and filter it ?

I like stainless steel soda syrup cans. 5 gallons each, for real drinking water. It's not prepping in the desert. It's everyday use.

I'm considering using smaller 30 gallon drums to help reduce the weight. At around 8 pounds per gallon, that would be around 240 pounds. A weight I could put inside of a closet inside my house. The 55 gallon drum would be about 440 pounds and may be too much weight on my floor. Other than paying more per gallon, it there any disadvantage to using smaller drums?

You filter on the backend what kind of filter?

My barrel is full but I don’t remember where I got the water from. I don’t remember if I filled it from the garden hose, or, maybe used rain water from the downspout. It would be nice to know. The water doesn’t smell. I need to pump some out and look at it. I’m not sure I will be able to tell anything.

My water barrel leakage from under how can I stop the leakage water pls tell me

oh thats neat. you have the tsp equity of bleach. Which I see us twice what the army taught me. I was taught 2 cups for 500 gallons.

Hi, I have a 55 gallon water barrel filed with water do I put the 1/8 teaspoon of Calcium Hypochlorite to the water, I m going to store away? And How many years does the water stored last?

Thank you for making this wonderfully informative video. Should I use my RO filtered well water to fill the 55 gallon barrel and also use 1/8 tsp of calcium hypochlorite? We purchased the Culligan Reverse Osmosis system (just for our kitchen water) in order to filter out nitrates, bacteria and viruses from our well water. Or, if I use our outside spigot water directly from the well, it will be unfiltered. So, would that be better to fill the barrel with and then use the 1/8 tsp of calcium hypochlorite in that water? Also, where do you get that handy wheeled bottom you have on the barrel? Thank you!

We moved from Alabama to Mexico any insight on winter for Mexico this year? Blessings

We moved into our new home a year ago and found 2 55gallon blue barrels that still look brand new I want to keep them but I don’t know if the water in there is still good what should I do?

What kind of companies did you get the Free barrels from?

Are there any dangers in storing water for long periods in "plastic" barrels? Chemical leaching? Are there recommended barrels and maybe types to avoid?

If we cannot find these water barrels used, do you know where the best purchase source would be? We are on a budget. Thanks so much

I'm planning on purchasing a 60 gal. Bladder to fill up in my basement shower for an emergency water supply. It says it's for water storage for human consumption. Do you think the barrel is a better idea? I'd really like your opinion.

Hi there. I have 10 30-gallon water barrels that have been sitting for several years with the bung caps degraded or missing. The bottom of the barrels are slimy and have yard and tree debris in them as well. I've begun washing them out, but can't get the slime off the bottom (or the top of the inside of the barrels for that matter). Any tips on how to clean out the slime? I'm going to borrow a pressure washer from a friend and I'm hoping that helps. I heard somewhere else to put about 6 ounces of bleach in them and let them sit overnight. I also ordered new bung caps on Amazon. I don't know where to get a bottle brush big enough to clean them. Will the calcium hypochlorite clean them and if so how should I do it to get them safe to use again? Thanks!!! P.S. Your most recent replies to other people's questions are not visible, so I'm hoping if you reply I will be able to see your reply. Thanks tons!

The best long term water storage solution is very large food grade underground water storage containers you put these container underground where it's cool and dark and it helps to prevent Algae and bacteria growth

Can you drink that stored water? How would you filter it before drinking?

I'm concerned about them freezing in my garage... It sometimes gets into the teens or close to zero degrees F in the winter time.....

HDPE is non hygroscopic, which means it does not absorb moisture. Blue #2 barrels used for food products can be cleaned to the point that there is no detectable smell or taste of the product stored previously.

Is pool shock ok to use?

Hello, I will be using tap water for my 55 gallon water drums for storage. Should I run the tap thru my Alexapure filters first, then add bleach for long term shortage? Or fill up the barrels, add bleach and then run the water thru the Alexapure when ready to drink? Thank you so much

Can you store your water outside in both cold and warm weather?

i have a 26,000 gallon swimming pool. how do i use that water? i just use chlorine pellets in filter.

Question- I have used barrel filled, cleaned correctly, water treated correctly and stored correctly. Do you recommend any rotation at all, say after 3-5 years or test every 12 months? I have made my own 2*25l water filter systems. God bless.

That is me. I've got 5 but havent done anything about them yet. The reason is that I am just renting and hope to move soon.

To sanitize water for consuming use SODIUM CHLORITE, not sodium chloride (table salt)

Where would I get plastic jars made of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Ryton, or PVDF as stated in your blog? I recently picked up this chemical and would like to store it safely? You stated it is somewhat reactive to glass but you use glass. I was thinking about using a canning jar with a plastic lid. Thanks!

How would you keep a 55 gallon drum from freezing in the winter months, if outside?

You need a video on WHERE to find 55 gallon barrels and what's a fair price, including shipping, for one or more of the critters!! Details, details, details. Ax

I used chlorine dioxide treatment on my 55 gal drums 3 yrs ago. Do I need to change out the water? They were placed on a dirt floor in a shed which gets hot in the summer. Thanks!

A thing that really needs to be said here is the importance of location. Don't let the sun beat on your water, because UVB light will degrade your treatment and encourage algae to grow. But the biggest thing is access. A full 55-gallon drum weighs just shy of 500lbs and don't offer much for great handholds. They are a serious pain in the ass to move. So before you fill it, put it somewhere and live around it for a few weeks while it's empty. Make sure you aren't having to push it aside for more frequently-accessed items. Make sure you turn it so the bung and vent are both accessible. Don't fill it until you're sure you don't want to move it anywhere.

Add limestone pebbles to each barrell to keep water fresh

Can't you use Provodine Iodine?

Why depend on chemicals? I store water in plastic or metal containers, and I also add some pure sheet copper into the water, I can also use silver, but that is expensive. a water pitcher, I strip shiny copper wires (solid house hold 14,12,10 gauge wires) and into the pitcher and let it sit overnight , The ancients use copper vase to store water, but they are hard to find and expensive. The key word with copper in water, enough surface area with water and time. You can buy pitcher size water container from Amazon, they are made in India.

I will like to safe water in 3000 gallon plastic cylinder-shape container for water, and save it for 10 years if it is posible. My question is,can water survive that long in that big container for 10 year,widout opening it for all that time?

If you live in a location with freezing temperatures in the winter, I’m guessing you cannot store these water barrels outside, is that correct? Do you have to winterize them to prevent cracking or are they strong enough to withstand winter temperature?

What about using a metal barrel for water?

How much chlorine dioxide do I add per fifty five gallon drum.

I love your videos pop you ott let Mom do the talking

I don’t know how to post a picture on this but are 55 gallon water tanks are laying on their side with a clear hose connecting each one with a drain port on the bottom tank but in that hose has no form some orange weird speckled stuff we did treat the water and it’s only been in there for about a year and a half I don’t know what to do or how to make this right can anyone please help me I can send you the picture, but any help would be appreciated and what we need to do. Thank you.

Freezing would be my biggest concern. It would freeze.

We've acquired 55 gal barrels that contained cooking oil. They don't have a twist off lid, just two holes where a pump was used. I'm thinking of cleaning them out by filling them with water & bleach for a few hours.... tossing and filling with clean water. Is this a good idea? Or do you have another recommendation?

What do you put in the barrels to keep them from freezing and causing a leak?

How much calcium hypochlorite do I need for a 35 gallon drum of water!?? long storage.

I need to clean my barrels.

I just bought some blue barrels used. They have a small amount of blue liquid in them. It does not seem to smell bad. On the bottom of the barrel it has a 2 in a triangle, PE-HD and S70 and has a tight head on the top. How can I tell what this liquid is and if barrel will be safe if I clean them (I got 7 of them). I want make rain barrels for my garden and water for livestock.

If you store those barrels full outside in Utah don't they Freeze and crack or break?

I have a question if anyone knows the answer I would appreciate it. The local Rural King has used barrels that they say they don't know what was in them. They have blue and clear plastic barrels. Is there any way of knowing if toxic chemicals were stored in them by the color of the barrels? Is there any other way to tell the former contents of barrels?

MUST keep the light from the water!

But how long can you store treated water? When do you need to rotate your supply?

Filled 55 gallon barrels are heavy! A great way to store/move them is on furniture dollies from Harbor Freight!

So for example if I had a 40 year old bad bottle of water would to be ok to drink after I put through a filter... 🤔

Can you use pool shock?

Im using new garbage cans for water. I have filtration to use after. I can also store water for flushing the toilet this way. So far 55 gallon garbage cans are cheap.

Best explanation I have heard of Clorox. Therefore, I just put the food grade well cleaner 'Well Safe Well Sanitizer Kit' in my buy list, keeping in mind that it doesn't take much. However, my first task is to get rid of the darn sugary butter goop that came in the blue barrels to begin with. (Barrels are straight from the cornflake factory.) Aside from a pressure washer I'd surely love to hear a good suggestion from you, Provident Prepper or any of your viewers who successfully got rid of whatever was in their barrels. Obviously, I have an oily mess on my hands. Soap or no soap? Jeez. Stuff like that. Let me know how you solved your problem please...and THANK YOU for the great video!

I just bought 4 blue barrels that were formerly used for storing alcohol. Got them cheap, but that alcohol smell is strong. If I clean it out, will it be safe to use ?

How about boiling the water before putting it in the barrel? Then you would not have to add any chemicals?