Best Practical Ways to Store Water Long-Term?

[PrepperLinda65]

Storing enough water for the long haul is one area I’m always tweaking. I’ve used food-grade barrels and water bricks, but I’m curious what others have found most reliable for keeping water fresh for a year or more. Do you rotate every six months, use purification tabs, or something else entirely? Any tips for minimizing plastic taste or algae growth are much appreciated. Looking to scale up a bit but don’t want to waste space or money on methods that haven’t actually worked for folks.

 

[PrepperLinda65]

Glass carboys have done well for me—no plastic taste, and if you keep ‘em in the dark, algae isn’t an issue. I rotate once a year, usually add a few drops of unscented bleach per gallon just to be sure, and that’s kept things fresh. I’ve had more trouble with 5-gal jugs than barrels oddly enough. Anybody else notice some plastics are way worse for taste than others?

 

[GarnetDusk]

Anybody else notice some plastics are way worse for taste than others?

Absolutely, some plastics really do give water a weird flavor, especially if it sits for months. I’ve noticed the blue HDPE food-grade barrels aren’t too bad, but the cheap clear jugs can make water taste almost metallic over time. Rinsing them with a baking soda solution before