Scepter 5-gal review

What it is and who it suits

Scepter's page for its 5 Gallon / 20 Litre Military Water Container, product 05935, calls its military line rugged, reliable and built to last, and lists the benefits as easy to transport, food grade material, superior impact resistance and BPA free. The page offers sand, black and American green, and says the containers suit camping, emergency management and off-road adventures.

It suits a household that wants water in portable portions instead of one large tank, or that needs to move water to a car or a neighbor. Scepter files this can under Military Fuel & Water Containers, so check that any can you fill with water is the water version.

Size, weight and build

The detailed specifications we found come from a retailer's copy of Scepter's own description, which is headed as a previous model, so check the label on the can you buy. It gives 5 U.S. gallons (20 liters), 18.8 inches high, 6.8 wide and 13.7 long, and an empty weight of 4.33 pounds.

The same text describes a single carrying handle, a screw-top cap that locks in the closed position, a small spout to fill water bottles, and a breather hole with its own cap for easy pouring. It says the cans are seamless all-plastic with a minimum wall thickness of 0.10 inch, made of food-grade LDPE and HDPE that are BPA free and will not add taste, odor or chemicals to the water. Scepter's current page does not list these details, so treat them as the older model's.

Water storage rules that apply

CDC says to store at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day for 3 days, and to try for a 2-week supply if possible. That figure is per person, so count your household before deciding how many cans you need. CDC says it is best to use FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers. Scepter lists food grade material but its page does not mention FDA approval, and CDC says to contact the container manufacturer if you are not sure whether a container is food-grade.

CDC says to sanitize the container with 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart (4 cups) of water, to label it as drinking water with the storage date, and to keep containers away from toxic substances such as gasoline or pesticides. It also says to replace water every six months, and Ready.gov says the same for water that has not been commercially bottled.

Where it falls short

A can this size holds a modest amount, so a family needs several, and they take floor space. Scepter's current page does not describe a tap, so expect to pour. Our water storage comparison sets cans beside larger tanks and other containers, such as the WaterBrick four-pack, and our how much water to store guide covers the amounts.

Who should skip it

Skip it if you want a whole household's water in one container, or if you need a tap on the container. Skip it if you cannot give floor space to several cans. If you plan to carry water on foot, check the weight of a full can against what you can lift, since Scepter gives only the empty weight.

How much water does it hold?

Scepter's description gives 5 U.S. gallons, or 20 liters. CDC's emergency figure is at least 1 gallon of water per person, per day, so count the number of people in your home when deciding how many cans to keep.

Is the plastic food grade and BPA free?

Scepter's page lists food grade material and BPA free. A retailer's copy of Scepter's older description says the cans are made of food-grade LDPE and HDPE. CDC says to use FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers.

How often should I replace the stored water?

CDC says to replace water every six months and to keep containers in a cool place, 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit, away from toxic substances such as gasoline or pesticides. Label each can with the date.

How should I clean it before filling?

CDC says to wash it with soap and rinse it completely with water, then sanitize it with a solution of 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart (4 cups) of water. Cover and shake it so the solution touches all inside surfaces, wait at least 30 seconds, pour the solution out and let the container air-dry before filling.