The 55 Gallon Water Barrel is one of the most popular water storage barrels available today, as lots and lots of people are buying it.

Water storage is a very important part of preparedness. Humans can't survive long without water, so it's better to be prepared when disaster strikes, instead of just hoping clean water will be available.

One product we recommend buying when thinking about water storage for emergencies is the blue 55 gallon water storage tank.

55 Gallon Water Storage Barrel Description

This 55 Gallon Water Barrel is high quality and BPA-free water barrel, which makes it a perfect solution for storing water.

I've personally researched multiple options and this seems to be the best one.

There are several reasons someone might want to buy a 55 gallon water barrel.

Some people purchase them for normal preparation such as for earthquakes, hurricanes and any other disaster. Those who live in areas where these disasters are common personally feel the value of having one.

Water storage for emergencies has now become a priority in many households.

You can go a few days without food, but it's vitally important to have water on hand.

In an emergency situation, it's better to have water stored and ready to go through a Berkey water filter than have to leave your home and stand in a long line for handouts. And what if you can't leave your home?

This emergency water storage drum is a best seller, but there are a few things you should know about it before you buy, so let's find out more.

55 Gallon Water Barrel Storage

Before buying, you should decide how you're going to store your barrel.

These drinking water storage barrels are designed for use either indoors or outdoors.

But, it would actually be most ideal to store in a garage once you've filled it up. Do you have a garage or covered area to store your barrel?

If this is a problem, I suggest trying to find a solution to make sure you have room for one. Having a water storage drum is the easiest way by far to have long-term security in case of an emergency.

This storage drum will provide enough water for drinking, cooking, and light personal sanitation for a family of four under normal minimum emergency recommendations.

55 Gallon Water Barrel Size

There is only one size available for this drum and it's typically the same size no matter what brand or company you buy from.

The dimensions are 34 3/4" x 22 3/4". You can easily fit this in the corner of your garage or even in a nice sized laundry or utility room inside the house.

Other options for storage include a patio, a carport, or a storage shed.

When the barrel is filled, it will weigh approximately 470 pounds. So you want to make sure you have it where you want it before filling it.

55 Gallon Water Barrel Features

There are a number of features for this drum that make it unique and special. Besides the size, this barrel has the following:

• This combo includes the barrel, a bung & gas wrench, and an emergency siphon
• Long-term permanent home water storage solution
• Made from heavy-duty, thick, high molecular weight polyethylene FDA approved resin and BPA free
• Has a dark blue color that restricts light and helps control growth of harmful algae and bacteria
• The emergency siphon gives you an easy, efficient way to remove water from your storage barrel in the event of an emergency
• The Gas and Bung wrench fits perfectly with this barrel, and it also works as a gas shutoff wrench when you need one

Design of Water Storage Barrels

This 55 gallon water storage barrel is a really good-looking drum but what else would you expect? It's got a dark blue color and it has black writing on the front of it.

The emergency siphon is clear and the bung and gas wrench are red.

I've seen dark green and brown rain barrels but most of the emergency water storage containers are blue.

It's easy to identify as water and not some other liquid. It will really do you no good to have a cool or flashy design because this will likely be stored indoors in an area rarely used.

How to Make Sure Stored Water Doesn't become Contaminated

There are several things you should do to make sure the water in your barrel is clean and stays clean.

First, when you initially receive your barrel, thoroughly wash and rinse the inside.

To sanitize the inside, you can mix 1 teaspoon of liquid bleach with 1 quart of water and pour it inside. Cover the barrel and shake the container so that the bleach solution touches all of the inside surfaces.

Wait a minute and then pour out the sanitizing solution. Let the barrel air dry and the rinse the container before filling it.

In order to keep water clean for the long term in your 55 gallon water drum, one thing you'll need is Biofilm drops.

These drops maintain the freshness of the water, so that algae and bacteria don't start growing in the barrel.

These drops allow water to be stored for up to five years. Read here to learn more about biofilm drops.

Learn more about our family recommended water storage barrel right here on this page.