BayTec 55 gal barrel review

What you get

BayTec lists its new blue water drum as high-density polyethylene, which it describes as FDA-approved material, in a seamless closed-top design about 23 inches across and 35 inches tall, weighing around 24 lb empty. The top does not come off: you get in and out through two 2-inch bung holes, one fine thread and one coarse buttress thread with a 3/4-inch punch-out for a faucet. BayTec says the drum is UN and DOT approved, BPA free and suitable for long-term drinking water storage.

The pump, bung wrench, seals and water treatment are all sold separately. Budget for at least a siphon pump and a bung wrench, or you will not be able to open or empty it.

Check that it is new and food-grade

BayTec also sells blue barrels that look the same but are not the same: factory seconds washed out from soda syrup, and used barrels it labels not for drinking water. CDC says to use FDA-approved food-grade containers for water you store yourself, never containers that held toxic chemicals, and to contact the maker if you are not sure. When the barrel arrives, confirm it is a new, food-grade drum.

How much water it really is

CDC asks for at least one gallon per person per day for three days and, if possible, a two-week supply; Ready.gov says needs can double in very hot weather. Fifty-five gallons covers one person for 55 days at that minimum, or a family of four for about two weeks.

It is also heavy. At the 8.34 lb per gallon figure the USGS uses, 55 gallons of water weighs about 459 lb, nearly 480 lb with the barrel. Fill it where it will stay, on a level, solid floor, and never upstairs on a floor you are unsure of. Once full, it does not move.

Filling, treating and rotating

Clean and sanitize before filling. CDC's sanitizing solution is 1 teaspoon of unscented household bleach in a quart of water. Fill from a clean drinking-water source, label the barrel as drinking water with the date, and keep it somewhere cool, ideally 50°F to 70°F, away from gasoline and pesticides. A garage next to fuel cans is the wrong spot.

Both CDC and Ready.gov say water you store yourself should be replaced every six months. BayTec mentions a water preserver concentrate for longer storage; the federal guidance is still six months, so the safest plan is to rotate on that schedule. If stored water is doubtful in an emergency, Ready.gov's methods are boiling for one full minute or adding 1/8 teaspoon of bleach per gallon and waiting 30 minutes. Our guide to making water safe has the details.

How it compares, and the verdict

On our water storage comparison, the WaterBrick 3.5-gallon, Reliance Aqua-Tainer 7-gallon and Scepter 5-gallon containers are smaller, easier to carry and easier to rotate, and you can take them with you if you leave. A barrel stores the most water per square foot of floor, and suits a basement or garage corner in a house you plan to stay in.

Verdict: the cheapest way to hold a large reserve of drinking water, as long as you have the floor space and the accessories. Skip it if you rent an upstairs apartment, may need to evacuate with your water, or will not rotate it every six months.

How long can water be stored in a 55-gallon barrel?

CDC and Ready.gov say water you fill yourself should be replaced every six months. Label the barrel with the fill date and set a reminder.

How do I get water out of a sealed barrel?

Through one of the two 2-inch bung openings, using a siphon or drum pump. You will need a bung wrench to open them. BayTec sells both separately, and one bung has a punch-out for a faucet.

How much does a full 55-gallon barrel weigh?

About 459 lb of water at the USGS figure of 8.34 lb per gallon, plus roughly 24 lb for the barrel. Fill it in place on a strong, level floor.

Is the BayTec barrel safe for drinking water?

BayTec describes its new blue drum as FDA-approved HDPE, BPA free, for long-term drinking water. It also sells used barrels not meant for drinking water, so confirm yours is new and food-grade.