Water Container Guide: Food-Grade and Emergency Containers

Container Comparison Table

Plastic Codes and Water Safety

Container-Specific Notes

HDPE 5-Gallon Containers (Reliance, Scepter, etc.)

The workhorse of home water storage. At 5 gallons (41.6 lbs), these containers are manageable for most adults to carry. They stack reasonably, fit in standard shelving, and the spigots and lids are widely available.

Spigot upgrade: Most 5-gallon containers have a standard opening. A screw-in spigot replaces the cap and allows dispensing without lifting. Worth the $5 upgrade for containers you'll access frequently.

The 7-gallon Reliance Aquatainer is a common alternative — slightly more volume per container (58.3 lbs full), slightly less portable, but fewer containers needed for the same total storage.

55-Gallon HDPE Drums

The standard for serious bulk storage. Available new from water storage retailers or used from food and beverage suppliers.

Used drums: A drum that previously held food or beverage items (not chemicals, not motor oil) can be cleaned and used for water. A "food-grade" drum should have had FDA-approved contents. Avoid any drum with a chemical smell — contamination can be nearly impossible to fully remove from porous plastic.

New blue drums: The iconic blue color of water barrels is not accidental — blue was standardized to indicate potable water storage and provides modest UV blocking.

Bung holes: Standard 55-gallon barrels have two bung holes (2-inch and 3/4-inch). These require a special bung wrench to open. Don't store 55-gallon drums without also having the wrench.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel containers (specifically 304 or 316 grade) are excellent for water storage with no leaching concerns, indefinite durability, and full UV resistance. They're also opaque, which prevents algal growth even in light exposure.

Cost: Significantly more expensive than HDPE. More appropriate for smaller portable containers (water bottles, camping containers) than bulk storage.

Not all stainless is equal: Thin-walled cheap stainless can contain nickel and chromium that may leach. 304 or 316 stainless (food-grade specification) is the standard.

Containers to Avoid

Milk jugs: HDPE but thin-walled and porous from dairy residue. Short shelf life (months, not years). Not suitable for water storage.

Soda 2-liter bottles: PET plastic, acceptable for short-term use. Thinner than purpose-made water containers.

PVC containers: The plasticizer phthalates and potentially BPA-adjacent chemicals used in PVC manufacture can leach into stored water. Not acceptable.

Old polycarbonate carboys: The 5-gallon blue polycarbonate bottles used by office water coolers may contain BPA. Modern versions are BPA-free but verify before purchasing used equipment.

Repurposed chemical containers: Never. Even thorough washing cannot guarantee safe water storage in a container that held industrial chemicals, pesticides, or similar.

Labeling and Organization

Every water storage container should be labeled with:

• Contents: "Drinking Water — Treated" or "Water — Untreated" if from a source that requires treatment
• Fill date: Month and year is sufficient
• Source: Municipal tap, well, rainwater, etc.

Masking tape and a permanent marker is adequate. Reviewing dates when you do your annual rotation check is much easier with clear labeling.

Color coding: Some preparedness planners use different colored containers for different water uses — blue for drinking, clear for cooking, green for non-potable uses. Not required, but useful for large stockpiles.