make shift water storage.

[NOLA556]

so for the last several months I've been out of work and BROKE BROKE BROKE! like.. literally broke. zero disposable income.

I'm trying my hardest not to let this stop me from prepping so I've been trying to come up with ideas for free (or nearly free) ways of prepping besides the mental side of it.

I thought of an old DEMCAD vid where he suggests the idea that the second you receive intel of a possible "event", the first thing you do is immediately fill up every container in your house that could possibly hold water before the water gets cut off. (sinks, bathtubs, buckets, tupperware. etc.) I wish I could find the video but the motherfucker puts out so many videos that I'll be searching and scrolling on his channel until next week trying to find it.

anyway, I realize that this isn't an original idea. nothing super creative about it, but I think it's a pretty cool little way to store water without spending any money.

I drink ALOT of milk. between my kid and I, I'm throwing away at least one empty milk jug per day. so I started wondering why the hell I throw them away. I figure I can just clean them out, fill them with tap water and store them. Of course, that water won't last very long. just plain un-purified tap water in a jug that's capped, but not really "sealed". but I figure if you just dump all of them (water the plants, give it to the dogs, etc.) maybe once a month, then just refill with more tap water.. make a habit of that and you have that much (relatively) clean water at all times.

just an idea that I had, and something that I'm going to start doing.

I want you guys to throw out water storage ideas for the BROKE prepper.

[special-k]

Not trying to poo-poo your milk jug plan, but...when I first started retrieving my drinking water from an artesian well I had the milk jug idea too.  It didn't last long.  After 2 or 3 trips to and from they started springing leaks one by one.  Do what you want but I'll guarantee the milk jugs are going to be a soaking wet dripping mess before long.  Save cleaned and empty jugs if you have nothing else to use but I wouldn't suggest handling  (emptying & refilling) them any more than you have too.  Just my 2 cents from experience.

P.S.  Most types of juice jugs last much longer.

[TreadOnMeNot]

1 gallon Arizona Iced Tea jugs make great water storing containers, that is if you like Arizona tea 

[NOLA556]

Not trying to poo-poo your milk jug plan, but...when I first started retrieving my drinking water from an artesian well I had the milk jug idea too.  It didn't last long.  After 2 or 3 trips to and from they started springing leaks one by one.  Do what you want but I'll guarantee the milk jugs are going to be a soaking wet dripping mess before long.  Save cleaned and empty jugs if you have nothing else to use but I wouldn't suggest handling  (emptying & refilling) them any more than you have too.  Just my 2 cents from experience.

P.S.  Most types of juice jugs last much longer.

THANK YOU! this is exactly the kind of input I was looking for. yes, it's obvious that the jug and cap are much more heavy-duty on juice jugs. I'm still going to try it but I'll keep what you said in mind. (really kind of a disappointment, I really hoped it would work.)

why don't they leak when they're "sealed" because the seals aren't exactly the strongest things either..? get back to me on this.

[special-k]

...why don't they leak when they're "sealed" because the seals aren't exactly the strongest things either..? get back to me on this.

The leaks occur due to handling when they are heavy with water.  Each time you fill, empty, pick-up, set down or otherwise move, it causes the thin, flimsy plastic to flex and the tiny breaks will usually start along the angles (stress points) on the bottom of the jugs.  If you keep the lids on it will slow the leak(s) due to the vacuum created, but the cracks will eventually become to numerous and to large.

[thatGuy]

Special K is on it.

IF you don't molest the bottles they will hold water.

You should also look up the SODIS Method that we were talking about.



http://www.sodis.ch/index_EN
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_water_disinfection

[goodnightChesty1775]

do not store water in old milk jugs, you can not totally clean them out and the bactieria from the milk will turn your water into a jug of waiting diarrhea over a period of time. it does suck as my family drinks milk like its cool also. i use pretty much any other drinking product bottle to store water in. after a good cleaning. 

i save the milk jugs to shoot when i go shooting thats what you could use them for.

or hell keep them filled while waiting to go shooting, if something does happen you can water plants with that water, that is all i would use it for. 

[disposable]

i also was using milk jugs but switched to 2 liter bottles. My reason was i read somewhere that milk jugs are biodegradable and deteriorate over 6 months. i'v have about 10 still filled and they are about to hit the 6 month mark so we will see. i wondered about the bacteria issue..but i bleached the containers and rinsed and then put some bleach in the water. wouldn't that stop the bac from growing?? 

[Outonowhere]

One of the biggest issues with cleaning a milk jug is it is hard to get in there and scrub all the crap out which is what is really needed to make it clean.  You also have those common recesses near the lid that allow milk to get into and sit, just waiting to contaminate your water.

I do not personally drink soda, but my immediate family does.  I have them save the 2-liter bottles for me where I take them home, clean them and fill them with tap water I run through a filter.  Store em in a cool dry place and rotate em every once in a while lol.  That and I save any Smart Water bottles I get because they are 1 liter but will fit in a normal size back pants pocket.

[Dave_M]

You can use bleach to keep the water from getting too gross/bacteria laden

Per this page they say 8 drops per gallon
http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oemergencypurifycalc.html

[NOLA556]

You can use bleach to keep the water from getting too gross/bacteria laden

Per this page they say 8 drops per gallon
http://www.csgnetwork.com/h2oemergencypurifycalc.html

 [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co thanks dave

[Kentactic]

I think Tap water would actually last pretty long. the Tap water comes with chlorine already in it...so aslong as that dosent evaporate it should be good.

[NOLA556]

I think Tap water would actually last pretty long. the Tap water comes with chlorine already in it...so aslong as that dosent evaporate it should be good.

that's what I was wondering about.. I also think I'm just gonna do the milk jug thing anyway. if it's truly an emergency I can either use that SODIS method that TG posted or just put a few drops of bleach in it.

(this is what I'm thinking until I can scrape up some cash for a more legit system of water storage)

[sledge]

I think Tap water would actually last pretty long. the Tap water comes with chlorine already in it...so aslong as that dosent evaporate it should be good.

that's what I was wondering about.. I also think I'm just gonna do the milk jug thing anyway. if it's truly an emergency I can either use that SODIS method that TG posted or just put a few drops of bleach in it.

(this is what I'm thinking until I can scrape up some cash for a more legit system of water storage)

I think you're probably alright with that NOLA.  I mean if you're just filling the jugs and storing them they aren't gonna be messed with too much so the jugs shouldn't crack.  And the point Ken made about the city adding chlorine to the water should help it last for a while. 
I don't know if ya'll have a Big Lots there but I picked up some 5 gallon water storage containers (the kind that resemble jerry cans) for 3 bucks a piece about 4 months ago.  I also came across this link which might give you some ideas.  Some of this stuff like the five gallon pails you could make yourself.  Plus their prices are pretty good.

Kits & Systems
 http://www.homespunenvironmental.com/category_s/34.htm

[NOLA556]

I think you're probably alright with that NOLA.  I mean if you're just filling the jugs and storing them they aren't gonna be messed with too much so the jugs shouldn't crack.  And the point Ken made about the city adding chlorine to the water should help it last for a while. 
I don't know if ya'll have a Big Lots there but I picked up some 5 gallon water storage containers (the kind that resemble jerry cans) for 3 bucks a piece about 4 months ago.  I also came across this link which might give you some ideas.  Some of this stuff like the five gallon pails you could make yourself.  Plus their prices are pretty good.

Kits & Systems
 http://www.homespunenvironmental.com/category_s/34.htm

thanks for the link. also, like I mentioned in my OP, I'll be dumping them (i guess on the plants, or to the dogs or something) maybe every month or so and refilling them so they'll always be relatively fresh in cash shit goes down. I don't see why they'd start breaking down too badly as long as I make sure to be extra gentle to them. and even if a few of them start to crack up, it's just a milk jug. it's not like I'm losing a huge investment or anything.

[Dave_M]

I think I'll take two milk jugs (well, in my case they previously held water) fill one up with tap water (I'm in the city so it's chlorinated)  and then fill the other one up with tap water and add the requisite 8 drops of bleach. Then after whatever time indicated, use something like one of these on each:
http://www.amazon.com/Watersafe-WS425B-Drinking-Water-Test/dp/B00005AUHX
http://www.homestoreproducts.com/cart/index.html?target=Bacteria_Test_Kit.html

Using water straight and fresh from the tap (as opposed to stored) for a control group.

[NOLA556]

I think I'll take two milk jugs (well, in my case they previously held water) fill one up with tap water (I'm in the city so it's chlorinated)  and then fill the other one up with tap water and add the requisite 8 drops of bleach. Then after whatever time indicated, use something like one of these on each:
http://www.amazon.com/Watersafe-WS425B-Drinking-Water-Test/dp/B00005AUHX
http://www.homestoreproducts.com/cart/index.html?target=Bacteria_Test_Kit.html

Using water straight and fresh from the tap (as opposed to stored) for a control group.

BADASS IDEA! let us know the results as soon as they're in.

[NOLA556]

just something I found after a quick google search. it attempts to debunk some of the common myths about PET plastic beverage bottles.

http://www.plasticsinfo.org/beveragebottles/apc_faqs.html