Bathtub water storage container but no bathtub
Posted by Delicious-Purple-818@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 15 comments
So far the best budget options I can find to use our water bob and alexapure in are either 32 gallon heavy duty outdoor trashcans or 50 gallon sterilite plastic bins that are not labeled as heavy duty. I know I wouldn't be able to fill them all the way so I'm hoping the 50 gallon sterilite container would be strong enough to support the weight of it as it sits on our basement floor near the drain just in case of leak. I do feel like the 32 gallon trashcan would be stronger but it would hold less. Any advice?
Cats_books_soups@reddit
We always used trash cans or 5 gallon plastic buckets. They hold water well and never had any issues. Plastic tote bins, especially the clear plastic aren’t designed to hold water.
Active-Weakness2326@reddit
Have you looked at water bricks? They're stackable 3.5 gallon containers, way easier to manage than trying to rig a single huge container. You can tuck them against a basement wall and the weight is distributed instead of all in one spot. 50 gallons of water weighs over 400 lbs so whatever you use make sure you're thinking about what's underneath it structurally.
ResolutionMaterial81@reddit
Look at the Vevor Water Bladders....heavy duty & self-supporting.
TacTurtle@reddit
Good outdoor trashcans will definitely hold up when filled with water, it is a pretty common way to test run outboard boat motors when doing maintenance / tuning.
I have never been impressed with sterilite containers - and the corners will be stress points.
Delicious-Purple-818@reddit (OP)
Yeah, the sterilite is brittle. But on the other hand it wouldn't have to last long either. Thanks for the info about testing boat motors.
mcav2319@reddit
As someone who has filled those containers with water, I'd look for either a 50 gal plastic drum in market place or go with the trash can
Jaicobb@reddit
The problem is bulging.
Wrap tape all around the belly. Or use tie downs/ratchet claps.
Cheap_Cap760@reddit
Buy the sterilite container and see how it works (outside). I suspect that even with a bathtub bob inside its going to bow and fail. The waterbob is bathtub shaped and the sterilite container isn't. 50 gal of water weighs around 417#. Zero chance of moving that anywhere. For around $50 you can get around (10) 5 gal buckets and lids from home depot or whatever big box store you like. They definitely will hold the water weight and are easily moved (we use them for maple sap collection).
Yurt_lady@reddit
This might not fit in the basement, but I have three 275 gallon IBC tote tank, food grade, cost $120 used. Must be food grade. I’m in AZ and these have held things like sugar water or other food syrups and were cleaned after that.
I felt really smart until someone else in AZ pointed out they have a pool and that will be plenty of water. Yes Reddit strangers, I also have a pool which is about 18,000 gallons.
RunAcceptableMTN@reddit
Why not get a water barrel? It's perhaps not the cheapest, but it would be reliable.
Academic-Face-4934@reddit
I got a 62 gallon water Bob for 26 on shein
TheSensiblePrepper@reddit
I would go with the 50 Gallon Container.
Doing this is temporary and you will go through 50 gallons of water faster than you think.
Delicious-Purple-818@reddit (OP)
That's the way I'm leaning. I have a huge family and adding 4 of them would increase our immediate drinking water a lot. I'm not in a hurry to find and filter.
AlphaDisconnect@reddit
Flush your hot water heater. Twice. Now. Thats 40 gallons. Your toilets have 2 in the back. Maybe dont flush that, river and stream water flushes just as good. They make water slash fuel bladders that can get pretty big.
Stock up on chloroflock. Has a shelf life. But simple to use.
smsff2@reddit
I believe only a round trash can or a barrel can store water reliably for a long time. I’m currently storing water in a 70-gallon rectangular bin, and it looks slightly bulged.