So I've started taking water preps a little more seriously. I have an Aquatainer 7 gallon on the way for home use. I have a dry, temperature stable, cement basement to store it.
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71RhqoU3BzL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg)
Is anyone using these?
If so, anything I should know about them for water storage?
What do you use to treat tap water before storing it?
I have a few of these kept in a reasonably temperature stable cool dark place. I don't do any "official" testing other than taste, smell and color. They seem to have worked really well for the last 5 plus years. I will use them for cooking and drinking ONLY! I use the large plastic jugs of laundry detergent, when empty, I clean them out the best I can. I fill them with water for the purposes bathing, washing dishes, when the county is working on the water lines, flushing the toilets and whatever other uses we need water for.
https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0#msg45123
Quote from: Moab on February 16, 2025, 08:02:32 PMhttps://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0#msg45123
Perfect, thank you!
Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone in this thread and the others.
I bleach-treated, filled, and date-labelled the Aquatainer today, so I'll do a taste test in a while.
When I put it on the basement shelf, I thought it looked pretty lonely by itself, and I thought about buying another one, filling it with untreated water, and doing a taste comparison. It's weird how my brain works sometimes.
Here's another thread https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=1415.msg28686#msg28686
Quote from: echo83 on February 25, 2025, 08:56:10 PMWhen I put it on the basement shelf, I thought it looked pretty lonely by itself,
These are stackable, you should floor stack them and save the shelf space for other stuff that shelves better suit.
(https://i.imgur.com/S3yHHai.jpg)
Does anybody add a small amount of bleach or other disinfectant to prepare water for long term storage?
Quote from: Crimson_Phoenix on January 19, 2026, 01:56:19 PMDoes anybody add a small amount of bleach or other disinfectant to prepare water for long term storage?
I did...see above. Haven't done a taste test yet, but take a look at the thread that Moab linked, it's really detailed.
Quote from: echo83 on January 19, 2026, 05:01:59 PMQuote from: Crimson_Phoenix on January 19, 2026, 01:56:19 PMDoes anybody add a small amount of bleach or other disinfectant to prepare water for long term storage?
I did...see above. Haven't done a taste test yet, but take a look at the thread that Moab linked, it's really detailed.
Check that link. But iirc like either 1 teaspoon per 5 gallon jug. Or rinse it with bleach, pour all the bleach out, then add your water(?). It doesn't take much. But for sure use bleach. That's what every water treatment plant uses.
Quote from: Butler Ford on February 16, 2025, 07:38:02 PMI have a few of these kept in a reasonably temperature stable cool dark place. I don't do any "official" testing other than taste, smell and color. They seem to have worked really well for the last 5 plus years. I will use them for cooking and drinking ONLY! I use the large plastic jugs of laundry detergent, when empty, I clean them out the best I can. I fill them with water for the purposes bathing, washing dishes, when the county is working on the water lines, flushing the toilets and whatever other uses we need water for.
I wonder how well cat litter jugs seal? Those things are huge. And would hold a good amount of just cleaning water. I can never think what to do with those.
For anyone interested, I had an old ZS discussion about water purification in my bookmarks and it's available on archive.org.
https://web.archive.org/web/20121206075022/http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88480 (https://web.archive.org/web/20121206075022/http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88480)
Quote from: EBuff75 on January 20, 2026, 09:42:21 AMFor anyone interested, I had an old ZS discussion about water purification in my bookmarks and it's available on archive.org.
https://web.archive.org/web/20121206075022/http://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88480
That is one complicated archive. To link directly to that web archive's pages you've got to create a hyperlink insertion using that toolbar tool or else this forum's BBCode splits it and breaks the link.
think this is it>> Click here (https://web.archive.org/web/20160409042551/https://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88480&sid=add3a2af33951b1904c9a2d407509cac)
Or this >> Click here 2 (https://web.archive.org/web/20160409031631/https://www.zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=88480&start=24&sid=0c9eab787f0884288e2e25c7a96c5571)
Sorry about that! When I posted the link it broke up so that only the first part of it was a hyperlink, even though you need the entire thing. I've fixed it now.
So, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
Quote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
Quote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
Quote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
How does everyone go about washing these things out after original purchase and long term storage? Necks are too small for a hand and it may be hard to get a nylon bristle brush with enough reach to scrub the interior walls. Failing that, a drop of dish soap and a small amount of water and shake that thing like it owes you money?
Quote from: Crimson_Phoenix on June 26, 2026, 02:37:23 AMHow does everyone go about washing these things out after original purchase and long term storage? Necks are too small for a hand and it may be hard to get a nylon bristle brush with enough reach to scrub the interior walls. Failing that, a drop of dish soap and a small amount of water and shake that thing like it owes you money?
The method we are talking about above is to use 1/4 cup unscented liquid bleach to 1/4 cup water. Rinse it out good. Pour the water/bleach mix out. Add clean water to store.
You shouldn't need to scrub them out unless it for filled with algea or something. In that case I don't know. I would use a long brush and bleach water. And consider just using it for non potable water.
Quote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 11:23:28 PMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.
Quote from: echo83 on June 26, 2026, 07:19:26 AMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 11:23:28 PMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.
(https://i.imgflip.com/av9e9h.jpg)
Quote from: echo83 on June 26, 2026, 07:19:26 AMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 11:23:28 PMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.
Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.
On a brand new container:
I have washed mine with a squirt of dish soap and about a half gallon of water and shook it real good. But then rinsing all the soap out takes another 3-5 goes with just plain water to get all the residual soap out. Thats a pain.
So now all I do is the bleach method on new and old containers. But I put a quarter cup of bleach and a half gallon or so of water, its easier to make sure all surfaces are coated that way when you shake it up.
Quote from: Moab on June 26, 2026, 03:21:45 AMQuote from: Crimson_Phoenix on June 26, 2026, 02:37:23 AMHow does everyone go about washing these things out after original purchase and long term storage? Necks are too small for a hand and it may be hard to get a nylon bristle brush with enough reach to scrub the interior walls. Failing that, a drop of dish soap and a small amount of water and shake that thing like it owes you money?
The method we are talking about above is to use 1/4 cup unscented liquid bleach to 1/4 cup water. Rinse it out good. Pour the water/bleach mix out. Add clean water to store.
You shouldn't need to scrub them out unless it for filled with algea or something. In that case I don't know. I would use a long brush and bleach water. And consider just using it for non potable water.
My first jobs were retail and commercial kitchens and absolutely everything had to go into three sinks with hot soapy and water, bleach water, and clean water rinse or the pull down nozzle rinse then air dry, so that's where I'm coming from. Didn't matter if it was cups and tableware or stuff from the prep and make stations. I still handwash my camelbak between uses and break down and wash my 2.5gal water containers semi-annually with soap and water. :smiley_shrug:
Quote from: Moab on June 26, 2026, 10:21:10 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 26, 2026, 07:19:26 AMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 11:23:28 PMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.
Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.
As for measuring bleach mixes, I go the metric route and use the eyedroppers from the pharmacy. I used to do labwork in undergrad, so it makes sense to me. A bit more precise, I suppose. lol
Quote from: Moab on June 26, 2026, 10:21:10 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 26, 2026, 07:19:26 AMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 11:23:28 PMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.
Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.
I stored the Aquatainer in the basement from 25 FEB 2025 until 26 JUN 2026. I
did notice a whiff of bleach from the vent spout at the campsite, where it was sitting in and out of the sun in about 80 degree F heat and 60 degree cool at night. I have a pretty sensitive nose, though.
The other folks in my party didn't notice anything though. We were using the water for drinking, boiling and cleaning, and there were no issues. We used about 2 gallons of the available 7 between FRI evening and SUN morning.
I know we know, but 7 gallons of water is close to 56 pounds. I harbor no illusions about using this container for anything besides car camping and bugging in.
The reversible/stowable spigot is awesome. Great seal, very easy to use.
Quote from: echo83 on June 28, 2026, 01:43:45 PMQuote from: Moab on June 26, 2026, 10:21:10 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 26, 2026, 07:19:26 AMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 11:23:28 PMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 09:52:28 PMQuote from: Moab on June 25, 2026, 10:17:13 AMQuote from: echo83 on June 25, 2026, 07:20:51 AMSo, quick update.
In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.
I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0
I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.
Success!
The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?
The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.
How much of a teaspoon?
I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.
Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.
I stored the Aquatainer in the basement from 25 FEB 2025 until 26 JUN 2026. I did notice a whiff of bleach from the vent spout at the campsite, where it was sitting in and out of the sun in about 80 degree F heat and 60 degree cool at night. I have a pretty sensitive nose, though.
The other folks in my party didn't notice anything though. We were using the water for drinking, boiling and cleaning, and there were no issues. We used about 2 gallons of the available 7 between FRI evening and SUN morning.
I know we know, but 7 gallons of water is close to 56 pounds. I harbor no illusions about using this container for anything besides car camping and bugging in.
The reversible/stowable spigot is awesome. Great seal, very easy to use.
I know what you mean. We've had this discussion about weight before. I am out of the country. And I honestly don't remember which ones I bought. But I do recall paring my jugs down in the future to 3 or 5 gal size. If I didn't already do that with this last purchase. I'd have to look at my Amazon account.
I think we even identified a better brand and model. But I could be mistaken about that.
Iirc I bought a full set of these as "bug out in vehicle or just for home use". Because they were so cheap. I'll have to research my notes on this. I'm sure I kept some notes.
I think the consensus was or my own and another members opinion sold me. The Waterbeicks are 3.5 gallon. Which are each a more manageable size. Are much tougher made. Very securely stackable. And have a handle that can facilitate pole carrying multiples. So you could actually have more people be able to carry the smaller weight. But also move multiples at a time using a pile if you had the man power to do it. And they aren't that much more expensive:
https://www.waterbrick.org/product-category/waterbrick/
Screenshot_20260629_044006_Chrome.jpg