Water barrels 55gal white any difference from blue

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) Preparation Forum : One Thread

Have 55 gal water barrels(white),removed malt.Notice real water barrels dark blue probably to stop sunlight...photosyntesis..bacteria. Maybe if I paint barrels dark colour less light entering.Any thoughts how much of a difference would it make.

-- s (s@t.k), September 16, 1999

Answers

FWIW I have white barrels too (pepsi) Mine are in the basement which is relatively dark. And I put bleach in the water. I'm not doing anything else.

-- (rcarver@inacom.com), September 16, 1999.

I have white barrels from pepsi. They have been filled for 6 months (water plus 1 cup each clorox). Will refill in November with water and 1/2 cup clorox.

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), September 16, 1999.

We have both blue and white barrels. When we first got the white barrels they sat in the driveway for a while and got rain in them. Then green algae grew. I scrubbed them out with just a brush and water. Put them in the basement and filled them with well water. No chemicals. No algae. If your barrels are not in sunlight, should not be a problem. The blue ones we got later and they did not get rained in, so don't know if they'd have grown algae or not. All these barrels came from a soft drink rebottling plant near us, for free. They just put them out back and let folks cart 'em off. I am supplying my friends, too.

-- Shivani Arjuna (SArjuna@aol.com), September 17, 1999.

Another thought about this. If you paint the barrels, toxicity from the paint could permeate the plastic and get into your water. If your barrels are in a dim place, that should be fine. If you are still concerned, it'd be beter to throw a dark blanket or tarp over them than to paint them IMHO. Shivani

-- Shivani Arjuna (SArjuna@aol.com), September 17, 1999.

tc: I think 1 cup of Clorox bleach per 55 gal. barrel is overkill and way too much bleach. Try about 5 to 6 teaspoons per 55 gallon barrel for your standard 5% bleach.

blessings

sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), September 19, 1999.



David...thanks....will cut back to 5 or 6 teaspoons per barrel.

I will also have the Arrowhead water containers with spigot (2 2 1/2 gal. bottled water at Sam"s for under $4).

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), September 21, 1999.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ