ULINE barrels for storing drinking water

[Sleazy P. Martini]

I'm looking to get some 55 gallon barrels to store drinking water. I have my eye on the ULINE option (https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-10757BLU/Drums/Plastic-Drum-55-Gallon-Closed-Top-Blue), but it specifically mentions "Does not carry FDA or NSF approved certification required for storing drinking water."

It seems pretty much all of the other barrels that claim to be drinking water safe are made of the same material with the same weight and the same FDA-approved resins. Their water-safe claims seem to be from the BPA-free nature of the material (which the ULINE also has).

Am I overthinking this? Are these appropriate for storing drinking water (which I'd filter before actually drinking, of course).

 

[REELDOC]

Overthinking. You will still need to filter the water from a barrel. Get a large Berkey filter system.

https://www.berkeyfilters.com/products/royal-berkey?msclkid=4c28a38f193d1bdfede1fdd263d1540f&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9_Shopping_Brand_Computer&utm_term=4584345013302767&utm_content=All Products

It will also be a good idea to use a pair of panty hose or other fine filter medium to pre=filter the water before you fill up the Berkey.

Additionally I suggest getting the open top. Much easier to clean. If I had the cash I would replace my 6 55 galloon drums with the open top.
https://www.uline.com/Product/ProductDetailRootItem?modelnumber=S-9945

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

See if you have any food/drink manufacturers near you. Many times they're stacked up out back and can be had for the asking. The open lid is the only way to go. Also great for storing unused deer corn/grain so it won't spoil.

 

[MacEntyre]

You can also add three drops of bleach per gallon... no more or you will taste it... kills everything, some say.

 

[Gunbelt]

Don't some folks get those black pickle screw top barrels cheap?

 

[fieldgrade]

OP, there’s a guy who sells surplus barrels and larger 250 gal? Totes from his front yard not too terribly far from you if you have a truck . On 27 between Coats and Benson.

 

[Pack72]

Don't some folks get those black pickle screw top barrels cheap?

I had two that I made into rain barrels. They are good quality, but they definitely smelled like pickles so using them for drinking water might require some extra cleaning as compared to other barrels.

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

For what it's worth, I ended up going with some Augason Farms barrels since they specifically mention drinking water (even if it's marketing). @fieldgrade, I'll have to keep that in mind if I get some more on the future, thank you!

 

[Get Off My Lawn]

I had two that I made into rain barrels. They are good quality, but they definitely smelled like pickles so using them for drinking water might require some extra cleaning as compared to other barrels.

Some folks consider that a bonus.

 

[Button Pusher]

Rubbermaid Brute trash containers are food safe LDPE if they are white, yellow or grey. Sold at Home Depot and others.
I watched the lady on Ultimate Survival Alaska and she had half a dozen of them.

 

[Exile_D]

Is using plastic the best option, especially if they are outdoors in the heat and in direct sunlight?
I am totally new to this, so I may be wrong, but I thought it was said there are no real safe plastic containers that aren't leaching something undesirable.

 

[Jerzsubbie]

Don't some folks get those black pickle screw top barrels cheap?

If they’re anything like the firehouse 5gal buckets, not a chance I’d use them for storing food/water! It took months just to get the firehouse buckets to stop stinking up my garage. They still have a faint odor but not overpowering... and I cleaned them with everything from bleach to filling them with Starbucks coffee grounds!

 

[Sleazy P. Martini]

Is using plastic the best option, especially if they are outdoors in the heat and in direct sunlight?
I am totally new to this, so I may be wrong, but I thought it was said there are no real safe plastic containers that aren't leaching something undesirable.

Mine are in my garage. Exposed to heat and humidity, but no direct sunlight.

 

[BigWaylon]

If they’re anything like the firehouse 5gal buckets, not a chance I’d use them for storing food/water! It took months just to get the firehouse buckets to stop stinking up my garage. They still have a faint odor but not overpowering... and I cleaned them with everything from bleach to filling them with Starbucks coffee grounds!

Yeah, their recommended method of removing the smell didn’t do much at all.