Finding The Best Emergency Water Storage Tanks For Drinking

A Guide To Help You Source The Best Emergency Water Storage Tanks and Drinking Water Systems

Without water, life as we know it would cease to exist.

It is the life source behind all of this planet’s plants and animals, vast landscapes and great civilizations.

Water is so essential to human life that without it, we would last only days.

But although we rely so heavily upon it for our survival, it’s a curious fact that we can also have such a troubled relationship with it.

Consider these points:

• Water is very easily contaminated
• It’s heavy and strenuous to move around
• It evaporates over time
• And if we don’t enough of it, we die.

It all sounds a little grim, right?

Luckily, it’s not as bad it sounds, as for the most part of our lives water is clean, easy to access and readily available.

But, considering how much we rely on this life-giving substance, it’s always best to have a contingency plan in place, in case the water that freely flows from your household tap suddenly dries up.

In our modern towns and cities, our water systems and power grids are often the most susceptible utilities and are therefore likely to be taken out first when a disaster occurs.

And when these two systems fail, so does our ability to access the clean and safe drinking water that we rely on.

Unless that is, you plan ahead and have your own supply stored at home.

The first and most basic way that people store water is by buying bottles of water from the supermarket or filling jugs and containers from their tap at home before a disaster hits.

These two methods are all well and good (and are better than doing no preparation whatsoever) but you probably won’t be able to store enough water this way and the plastic in the bottles actually leak chemicals into your water supply over time.

A far better option is to use water storage tanks.

These tanks come in an astounding variety of shapes and sizes so you can be sure that you’ll have no difficulties finding an option that suits both your home and your situation.

They allow you to store large amounts of water safely, while not allowing chemicals to leak into your supply and are easily refillable, collecting rainwater to top up your supply.

So let’s discuss and think about this life-saving subject, by working our way through the following topics:

• A water crisis on our doorstep
• How much water do you need to store?
• What are the best water storage tanks?
• How to collect rainwater
• How to maintain your system

A Water Crisis On Our Doorstep

Most experts, whether or not they can decide on the particulars, agree on one thing – a water crisis is coming.

We can see it already, in the recent news that South African towns and cities are on the verge of running out of fresh drinking water.

It’s a humanitarian disaster waiting to happen, that will cause wars and conflicts to be waged across the globe over access to clean water.

And the scary thing is that it may be closer than we realize.

And it won’t just be nations or big armies fighting. Street battles in cities and towns will break out over the planet, pitting neighbors and friends against each other.

One thing’s for sure, it’s going to get ugly.

But at least you’ll be prepared and safe in your home, with your emergency water storage tanks that you installed in anticipation of such a crisis.

How Much Water Do You Need To Store?

This is going to differ for everyone, depending on your personal situation and needs.

Factors that may influence the amount of water you need are:

1. The number of people you are going to be storing the water for.

Will you be storing it for personal use only or do you want to supply water to many family members and friends? What about pets?

Obviously, if you are going to be providing water for a large number of people and pets, you’re going to need a very large system.

2. How long do you expect your water supply to last?

Or more importantly, how long do you think it will need to last?

1 liter of water per day is the average minimum amount of water a person should consume. You’ll need to keep this number in mind when working out the size of the system you are going to install.

The more people depending on the supply and the longer you plan on living off your supply has a large effect on the size of your tanks.

What Are the Best Water Storage Tanks?

With so many varieties of tanks available on the market, it can all seem a bit overwhelming at first glance.

Do you know the difference between a pillow tank and a packable tank? Is your home better suited for installing underground or stackable tanks?

It’s all a bit confusing at first but, don’t worry, I’m here to help.

With the help of this list – from the smallest to biggest tanks – you’ll feel more confident in making the right choice for your home.

Hard-Sided Plastic Stackable Tanks

 These stackable tanks are very popular due to their ease of transport and installation and due to the fact that they stack together and store so easily.

This great design allows the individual tanks to stack neatly on top of each other to form a wall of tanks in otherwise inaccessible places like basements, where bigger tanks just wouldn’t fit.

Water Bricks (3.5 gallons per tank)

Although very small when looked at as an individual brick, connect them up as a whole unit and you’ve got yourself a tank. For example, stack 20 of these together and you’ve got a tank with a 70 gallon capacity.The benefits of Water Bricks are:- Each brick holds 3.5 gallons of water, dry food or ammo.- Stackable and easily added-to to increase tank size.- Easy-Grip Design that makes them easy to carry.- Durable and built to last.A great investment and very easy to set-up, use and maintain.

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Saratoga Farms Stackable Tanks (5 gallons per tank)

A very well-designed system that stacks like a Lego set. Making them the perfect option if you are short on space.These rectangular mini storage tanks are made from 100% non-toxic, food grade plastic, so you can be sure they are safe and won’t leak any harmful chemicals into your supply.

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Drinking Water Barrels

While technically a barrel and not a tank, these water barrels do the exact same thing – store water that you can safely use in an emergency situation.You’ve probably seen these before. They are the typically blue, plastic barrels you see used to store water for a whole variety of reasons. Their simple design makes them a popular choice among survivalists.

Eagle Straight Sided Drum Water Barrel (55 gallons per barrel)

This standard issue water container has a simplistic design built to serve a basic purpose – to store water. A rigid black plastic barrel design that incorporates a built-in spigot.You’ll fit 55 gallons of water in this popular model. Enough to keep two adults hydrated for a couple of weeks.

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Water Bladder Storage Tanks 

Just like the name suggests, these tanks incorporate a stretchable bladder that fills with water just like a balloon.The biggest benefit of this design feature is that, when empty, they are easily packed and transported.

Aquatank2 Water Storage Bladder (60 – 300 gallons per tank)

The Aquatank 2 holds a maximum 300 gallons of water inside. Its expandable bladder shape makes it perfect for keeping inside your vehicle or camper but it’s also a great home water storage system too.This intelligent design, that folds-up to almost nothing in size is light and made of highly durable rubber so it won’t tear easily.This is the larger of the three tanks. You can also buy The Aquatank2 in 60 gallon and 150 gallon sizes.

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Hard-Sided Enclosed Plastic Water Tanks and Cisterns

This type of system needs to be stored outside your house, making it more conspicuous, but there are two main advantages to having this type of system:

• They have a huge water storage capacity (think hundreds of gallons worth)
• They are able to collect rainwater so you have a consistent off-grid supply of water.

Norwesco Horizontal Water Tank (35 gallons per tank)

Manufactured using FDA approved resins, Norwesco Horizontal Water Tanks ensure safe storage of potable drinking water.These tanks are sturdy, won’t corrode and are light, with no seams, welds or joints that otherwise might rust or leak.The only downside is that you’ll need a lot of space – a backyard, garage or large basement area would be suitable.Because of the refillable design, one of these tanks is more than enough to sustain someone through a short emergency.Another great feature is that you can purchase one today but add more tanks to the system at a later date. Great for those on a budget.

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RomoTech Horizontal Water Tank (50 gallons per tank)

Another tank that is approved for the safe storage of potable water.The RomoTech Water Tank has almost double the capacity of the previous tank on this list.Because of its size, it is probably only suitable for outside use but these tanks are built to handle life outdoors.A great feature of these tanks is that because of their relatively small size, they are able to be transported on the back of most pickups, allowing you to move them if needed.

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Polymart Rain Harvest Collection Tank (100 gallons per tank)

The 100 gallon Polymart Rain Harvest Collection Tank is a top choice for those looking to collect rainwater to replenish their system.This tanks design incorporates a 12” stainless steel strainer basket on the top of the tank that will keep debris like sticks and leaves out of your water system.It also features a stainless steel screened overflow assembly designed to direct overflow water during events like heavy rainstorms.Made from FDA approved, zero BPA, 100% food grade polyethylene, it’s a sturdy, strong and reliable tank.Polymart also manufactures a 250 gallon version of this tank if you require a larger system.

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Emergency Water Storage Tank (260 gallons per tank)

Made from a single composite piece of BPA-free plastic, these 260 gallon tanks are built to fit inside your basement by giving you a large capacity system while taking up minimum floor space.The composite design makes this tank free from seams which may be susceptible to leaks (very important when stored in the house).The polyethylene composite is independently certified by the National Sanitation Foundation and is completely safe for water storage.

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RomoTech Vertical Polyethylene Reservoir (550 gallons per tank)

This absolutely giant tank holds a whopping 550 gallons of water!It’s made from thick, strong, semi-translucent plastic, allowing you to quickly and easily see how much fluid is left in the tank.Unfortunately, there is no chance that you’ll be fitting this tank inside your house, so having a large backyard or some land is a must.The RomoTech Reservoir is the tank that will get you through that long drought.

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How To Collect Rainwater

Considering that these systems are designed to be used in an emergency situation, you want to make sure that you are able to refill your tanks off-grid.

And the best way to do that is by rainwater.

So take advantage of the clean, drinkable water that is falling (for free) right out of the sky.

Collecting safe, potable rainwater is a must-do survival practice that will see you and your loved ones survive longer.

And best of all, it’s so easy to do.

Just keep in mind these few things when in the planning stages of your new rainwater collection system:

• You want to aim to maximize the surface area of your catchment system. The more surface area, the more water that will be collected.
• The collected water needs to be transported efficiently so you don’t lose any of that precious resource.

Rooftop Collection

The most widely used catchment system is the house roof, as it’s sturdy and most likely has the greatest surface area of any structure in your yard (you may, however, have a large shed or something similar that could be used).

Use your house’s guttering system to redirect the water exactly where you want it to go – into your storage tank.

This, of course, works best with a large outdoor storage tank.

Note: Redirecting rainwater from your gutters to a storage tank inside your house is not recommended. It’s not only complicated but you face a real risk of flooding and damage to your house. If you are collecting water from your roof, be safe and use an exterior tank system.

Tarp Rainwater Collection

Not everyone has access to a roof. But don’t worry, there is another great way that you can collect the rainwater that will replenish your tanks.

Tarps are an excellent way to collect that precious rainwater falling from the sky and survival tarps prove incredibly useful in this situation as they are light, store easily and most importantly are made of waterproof material with a large surface area.

To direct the downpour into your storage tanks, simply tie up three of the tarp’s corners and allow the third corner to funnel the rainwater directly into your tank.

Alternatively, it’s possible to tie up all four corners of the tarp while piercing a small hole in the center of the tarp. Just place your tank directly below the hole and the water will funnel straight through the hole into the tank.

Both methods work great so it’s really a matter of what works best in your situation.

How To Maintain Your Water Storage System

Maintaining your drinking water storage system is a relatively straightforward job.

If you’ve already filled them with water and stored them somewhere safe, the work is already more than half done.

The one big problem that you need to consider is the issue of your tanks freezing due to cold weather.

How To Prevent Freezing

If you live in a cold climate, water may be prone to freezing if left outside. To prevent this from happening, the best place to store your water is in your basement or garage, where the temperature can be controlled. When storing water inside be sure to keep the tanks elevated off the floor (use a pallet or something similar).

Water freezing when stored is bad for two reasons.

The first being that you can’t drink it unless you can somehow manage to thaw it, but this may damage your tanks.

And the second being the damage to your storage tanks that could occur as the water expands as it freezes.

How To Prevent Outside Tanks From Freezing

 If you have a large outdoor storage system, you obviously can’t store the tanks inside during the cold months of the year.

But here are a few ideas that you can use to plan ahead and keep your tanks from freezing.

Firstly, if you can dig down deep enough, it’s possible to bury your tanks at a depth where the underground temperature won’t reach freezing level.

If this isn’t an option, try wrapping your tanks in insulation while using some thick plastic to act as a greenhouse to trap the sun’s warmth. This is a viable option but just be aware that during periods of extended cloudy days, it may not keep your tanks warm enough.

The last, but unfortunately, most expensive option you may have is to add a tank heater to your system.

Watch this video to help you understand all about keeping your tanks from freezing.

Bonus Thought: Be Purification Prepared

Even if you are storing water straight out of the tap, it’s a good idea to purify the water when it comes time to drink it.

And it gives you added peace of mind when collecting rainwater or drinking water from off-grid sources such as lakes, rivers and streams.

The easiest way to purify your water is to use water purification tablets.

The best thing about these tablets is that they are cheap, readily available and very simple to use.

You could also consider installing an ultraviolet filter that kills biotic life using ultraviolet light. But these are expensive and can only be used for small amounts of water.

Find out about water purification options here.

The Verdict on Emergency Water Storage Tanks

At the end of the day, no matter what kind of disaster or emergency situation may arise, you need clean drinking water to survive. Any good