Unit 4 - Water Plan
Questions about water, submitted by you…
Q. What should I be concerned about when storing my plastic 55-gallon drum of water outdoors?
Freezing and thawing concerns?
Sun damage to the plastic barrel?
A. According to Joe Dodd at Green Concepts Container, whenever possible, store your water drums indoors to extend their lifespan and reduce the risk of tampering or damage. Notably:
Barrels stored outdoors in direct sunlight have an expected lifespan of 25–30 years. When stored indoors, that lifespan can extend to 50–60 years.
Other than leaving about 3 inches of air space when filling your barrels to allow for expansion during freezing, there should be no major freezing or thawing concerns.
Green Concepts Container sells food-grade 55-gallon drums for $35. They are located at 2227 NW Eleven Mile Ave, Gresham, OR 97030. They do not have a website, but can be found on Craigslist or give them a call at (503) 793-3368.
Q. Can I (legally) harvest rainwater? And if so, how?
A. According to Joe, in Multnomah County, no, you can not “legally” harvest rainwater. Can you? Probably… depends on how nosy your neighbors are and how much you want to fight the system if you get pressed by the system. The how of it all, well… I’ll leave for you and Google to discover.
Have a question about emergency water? Send it in—I’ll cover it in the next session.