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Water stored in plastic deposit, is it safe to drink?

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posted 6 years ago

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Hi guys

Were just about to move off grid.
Ive found a 5000 litre water deposit for our house / rain water to be stored.
Will this plastic container contain parabens? i.e. will the water be contaminated by the plastic?
Any tips on what else to use? maybe galvanised steel?
Tks
SW

Chris Kott

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Location: Marmora, Ontario

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posted 6 years ago

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Hi Sebastian. My guess as to the plastic contamination would be yes, if not immediately, then slowly, over time. If it's plastic, it will eventually break off tiny pieces of itself.

Whether this will affect you, and get into your drinking water, might be another matter. If it's cool rainwater entering the system, and if its kept out of excessive sunlight, it is possible that the leaching will be minimal.

Personally, I would use it in a pinch, but keep an eye out for a safer, longer-term solution.

Let us know how it goes, and good luck.

-CK

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Sebastian Wolff

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posted 6 years ago

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Tks Chris.
So maybe a steel one is better?

wayne fajkus

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posted 6 years ago

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I would go in this order
1. Stainless
2. Plastic
3. Galv

I have no science to back it. But the thought of galv rusting makes me think of lots of ickies.

If i'm not mistaken, most galv tanks are lined. At least most big 10,000 gallon+ tanks are.

Sometimes the answer is nothing

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Chris Wang

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Location: Qld, Australia. Zone 9a-10

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posted 6 years ago

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I have not been able to find any confirmed hazards posed by modern plastic rainwater tanks designed for drinking water. That does not mean there cannot be unknown risks though, however you can say the same about alternative materials too.

Plastic tanks are generally the best value IMO

S Bengi

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posted 6 years ago

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What types of pipe will you use for inside you house. Plastic or copper or iron.

Alot of cities are replacing old pipes with plastic
https://www.cambridgeday.com/2018/12/20/lingering-fears-about-plastic-lined-water-pipes-encourages-city-to-take-the-lead-on-safety-tests/

Eating and breathing creates free radicals which is bad for us.
Disinfecting water is has some stuff bad (chlorine/ozone/H2O2/UV/RO), but it might be the lessor of two evil.

I think ferrocement is the best, followed by iron, then plastic. but they all leach stuff. I would say use Reverse Osmosis filter in the kitchen but I think that is made from plastic. but there is ceramic filters so that at least the water you are drinking has less leached chemicals in it.

Iterations are fine, we don't have to be perfect
My 2nd Location:Florida HardinessZone:10 AHS:10 GDD:8500 Rainfall:2in/mth winter, 8in/mth summer, Soil:Sand pH8 Flat

John C Daley

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posted 6 years ago

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I am with Chris Wang on this.
Rumours about plastic being unsafe always travel faster than the truth.
10000's of plastic tanks are used in Australia.
Other than guessing, a sure fire way of getting it wrong, contact the manufacturers and seek information from them.
In Australia thee is a Standaed to which tanks must be manufactured to.
I am ware some Chinese made tanks are getting around, and I am also aware, they rarely meet any standards at all.
So do the research I think you will be satisfied with plastic after you see the facts

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
Benefits of rainfall collection https://permies.com/t/88043/benefits-rainfall-collection
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