In theory (and probably in practice) food grade storage containers have no substances that would leach out into the stored materials. All plastics are not created equally. Sometimes environmental conditions can affect the propensity of plastic to infuse [water] with toxic substances contained within the plastic - ie: used soft drink containers when reused to store frozen water. The jury is still out about the validity of these claims (at least in terms of levels of toxicity and the potential effects on health). If you are thinking about more than very short term storage, I would think that you would want to err on the safe side just because there is a 'controversy'.

 

DH and I have been looking at large water containers for storing hauled water until we can afford the $6,000 it costs to put in a well.

I don't have experience storing water in plastic. The cistern we used for potable water was made from cement and went through a triple filtering system before being drinkable.

I'm also questioning what sort of well you'll get for $6000. At the price of drilling around here that might get a 100 ft. well which most here are deeper than that. Mine is 140 ft., for example, and from asking around at work before, many I've heard were around 300 ft. At $50 per foot that doesn't get you the pump or plumbing/digging/fittings, which could add up to a couple thousand more. The cost of drilling does include the cast well casing, though.

 

I can't say for sure exactly, but different plastics may give off (leach) chemicals out of them & into the water at very low levels over time.

Food-grade would be from different plastics, or specially coated inside, to (in govt testing anyhow) not leach out any of these particular substances.

It is possible the only difference is that no one submitted the tanks for testing & certifying, but could be made out of the same plastic & one is just as safe as the other.

My only deep concern would be drinking water for humans.

You know, most garden hoses sold these days are not food-grade - there can be a vinyl (I think?) powder that can have lead or other bad residue in it. Whatever, it doesn't rinse out - it oozes out slowly over the life of the hose, in very small amounts. We aren't supposed to drink out of the hose any more......

Might be the same for the tanks.

--->Paul

 

I don't have experience storing water in plastic. The cistern we used for potable water was made from cement and went through a triple filtering system before being drinkable.

I'm also questioning what sort of well you'll get for $6000. At the price of drilling around here that might get a 100 ft. well which most here are deeper than that. Mine is 140 ft., for example, and from asking around at work before, many I've heard were around 300 ft. At $50 per foot that doesn't get you the pump or plumbing/digging/fittings, which could add up to a couple thousand more. The cost of drilling does include the cast well casing, though.

Oh that is about the going rate here in SW MO. I expect that the well will be a good 600 feet (most everybody's is). it will include a pump but no pressure tank or well house. My hubby is Canadian. From what I have seen myself, things are higher there (but so are wages - dramatically so). He mentioned the other night that our dollars are about on par now, which is very unusual.

Thanks be to you and the other posters who gave me such excellent replies! I can always count on this board for help and ideas when I need them.

Donsgal

 

Donsgal, if this is just for temporary water storage, have you considered buying one of the fresh water holding tanks for RV's? That may not be big enough though.

We're looking for something around 500 gallons ourselves, that we could mount to the bed of our semi tractor, and just run to town to refill... but I don't know where you can fill them at either?

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

 

Donsgal, A lot of dairy farmers are out of business in s/w missouri and many still have the stainless steel tanks in barn. You can pick one up at a good price and it is food safe and will out last the plastic tank.

 

If you go this route, make sure all of your fittings are safely connected/installed.

Use new, non-lead solder (used to be called 'silver solder') to avoid leaching lead in to your water.

Donsgal, A lot of dairy farmers are out of business in s/w missouri and many still have the stainless steel tanks in barn. You can pick one up at a good price and it is food safe and will out last the plastic tank.

 

I wouldnt be afraid of the plastic tankss you discribe We use a lot of them around here. Infact Ive been tempted to use a NEW sewage tank a few times,
BUT if it would make you feel better why not buy 55 gallon drums that have been in food service?
As to where to fill your tanks usually towns have a place near their water tower that you can buy water a quarters worth at a time. I use a single drum that was modified with a larger hole to accept the fitting in the town here.

 

Donsgal, if this is just for temporary water storage, have you considered buying one of the fresh water holding tanks for RV's? That may not be big enough though.

We're looking for something around 500 gallons ourselves, that we could mount to the bed of our semi tractor, and just run to town to refill... but I don't know where you can fill them at either?

The Wandering Quilter's Life in a Box!

I know people who fill up at the city park. Also, most folks are within reasonable distance to a National Forest Svc. Campground or other similar type of place, which are designed to have water that campers can use to fill up their tanks. As a last resort you might find a friendly campground that will let you fill up, hopefully, for a very small fee.

We'd be filling up, most probably at my mom's house who lives just 5 miles from the homestead. Although, it is city water (chlorine), which I am not happy about drinking any longer than necessary.

donsgal

 

donsgal,

we had 2 situations with water holding cisterns. Both were cement and filled from the roof and downspouts.
At the first gardenstead, we didn't live there, except on summer weekends. Often we would deplete the cistern to water the garden, so we brought town water for our needs. IF we had lived there year round, there is a water hauling service that would fill the cistern, which probably would be good for several weeks. Still cheaper than what the town water cost. The cost is minimal with the truck tank service, and basically just for the hauling a load. They use the trucks otherwise to haul milk, so they are stainless and clean, good enough for drinking.
We never dug a well there. At the time, that would have cost more than what we paid for the property. lol

In the garden situation, we didn't filter the water as it was mainly for watering the parched garden most of the time.

In the other situation, the cistern was 3,000 gallons. It was driven to the plumbing system by a shallow well pump setup. The first filter was a coarse, then it went through a fine filter, then through a charcoal filter before it went to the drinking water fountain which had a micro millipore filter that was safe against any pathogens up to like 99.9999% pure water. We also added a shot of hypocholorite (bleach) every so often to the cistern which basically purified it at the source already.
The only thing about plastic is what other posters have brought up. To tell the truth, I'm not even sure how safe cement cisterns really are, either. On my water supply at the faucet now, after it comes through the well filtering system, is a PUR water filter that has helped a lot with taste and filtering our a lot of 'stuff' that might be possible carcinogens. I'm not sure that I'd rely on that alone if the water was stored in a plastic tank. I think the manageable thing to be doing is to test the water periodically for the micro elements that could be bad. You might check into the cost of those comprehensive testing facilities that do that before venturing into the 'unkown' of long term plasic leaching 'effects'. JMHO