Two of the most vital skills that you can have as a prepper are to store clean drinking water and to repurpose old items to serve new, practical purposes. That’s precisely why repurposing storage items for stockpiling water is a great way to combine these two skills.
With that in mind, repurposing old milk jugs for water storage may seem like an ideal solution. After all, at the very least it would appear like it’s the next most obvious use for an old milk jug.
Here’s the problem though…storing water in your milk jugs may not be such a good idea after all.
Here are the primary reasons why you should think twice about storing water in your milk jugs:
The Materials Used in Milk Jugs Are Not Ideal for Water Storage
Most milk jugs are made out of HDPE, or high-density polyethylene. This is a very common plastic that besides being used for milk jugs and containers is used for packaging a variety of other beverages and foods as well. The reason why HDPE is so widely used is because it is resistant to chemicals and is also very sturdy…at least initially.
Over time, however, the plastics in HDPE are known to slowly degrade, and chemicals can leach off into the contents inside. This would eventually make the water you store in your old milk jugs unsafe to drink.
This leads us into our next reason…
Old Milk Jugs Will Have Contamination Issues with Water
Milk jugs never were intended to be used to be reused in the first place. Again, the plastics used in HDPE are sturdy at first, but not over the long term.
But even if that weren’t the case, however, milk jugs still wouldn’t be the best choice for storing water. That’s because even after they have been cleaned thoroughly, chances are good that milk residue would still be left over in the containers. A combination of water and milk residue unfortunately creates an environment that is conducive to the growing of bacteria.
This means that the water you store in milk jugs would likely still become contaminated even if the degradation of HDPE plastics weren’t a problem.
Milk Jugs Have Poor Long-Term Durability
Milk jugs are designed to be stored in a grocery store, carried back to your home, and then kept in your refrigerator until the milk inside runs out, at which point they should be disposed of.
They were never meant for anything much more than that. They can’t withstand challenges like prolonged exposure to sunlight, drastic changes in the temperature, or repeated physical stress.
And as the HDPE plastic degrades over time, the jugs can slowly but gradually start to become brittle and develop cracks, which would inevitably lead to water loss.
Milk Jugs Are Not Even Certified for Water Storage
Milk jugs are not specifically certified or designed for water storage in the first place. While they are made from HDPE which is considered food-grade, milk jugs are intended for single-use packaging of dairy products and are not manufactured or even tested for long-term water storage.
Certification for water storage containers typically involves testing and compliance with specific standards to ensure safety, durability, and suitability for prolonged water storage.
Containers that are designed specifically for water storage, such as water barrels or purpose-built water storage containers, undergo far more rigorous testing and certification processes to meet industry standards.
These are the kinds of storage solutions that you should take a look at for your water. Speaking of which…
Alternatives for Storing Water
Like we mentioned above, the idea of repurposing old storage solutions for storing water is a great idea at face value. You just need to be smart about which specific storage solutions you choose to use.
Far more ideal solutions for storing water include:
Glass Bottles
Glass bottles or jars, especially those with tight-sealing lids, can be used for storing water.
Glass is inert and does not leach chemicals into the water, which is a much safer option for long-term water storage than milk jugs.
Stainless Steel Containers
Stainless steel containers, such as water bottles or food-grade stainless steel drums, are durable and safe for storing water. They are resistant to corrosion and do not impart flavors or odors to the stored water.
Water Barrels
Purpose-built water barrels or drums designed for long-term water storage are an excellent option for storing larger quantities of water. These barrels often come with features such as UV protection, secure seals, and certification for water storage.
If you want to make sure the water you’re using for your and you family is safe to drink, it’s best to filter it yourself. You can learn here a cheap and easy way to create an ingenious rainwater harvesting and purification system capable of storing 165 gallons of water.
Water Storage Bags
Collapsible water storage bags made from food-grade materials are portable and convenient for storing water in emergency situations. These bags are often designed for outdoor use and can be easily transported when filled.
Rain Barrels
Rain barrels designed for collecting rainwater can also be used for storing treated or filtered water for non-potable purposes, such as gardening or cleaning.
Just make sure that the rain barrel is made from food-grade materials and is certified to be used for storing water.
In short, repurposing your milk jugs for storing water may seem like an efficient and perfect solution for water storage. But the truth is it’s only this way on the surface.
There are certainly many ways that you can reuse milk jugs, but reusing them for water storage is ideally not one of them.
via askaprepper
