As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.
For most homes, the best container for storing drinking water is an opaque, food-grade plastic container made specifically for potable water. High-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is a common choice because it is tough, light, corrosion-resistant, and available in sizes from small jugs to large tanks.
“Potable” means the water is intended to be safe for drinking. A container being suitable for drinking water does not make unsafe water safe. The water going into the container must already be safe, or it must go through a suitable treatment and testing process before drinking.
For emergency storage, the CDC says unopened commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable option. When filling your own containers, the CDC recommends food-grade water-storage containers that close tightly.
Best Container for Most Drinking Water Storage
A good all-around drinking-water container has these features:
- Made for food or potable-water contact
- Opaque or protected from sunlight
- Tight-fitting lid
- Small filling or dispensing opening
- Smooth interior that can be cleaned
- Strong enough for the weight of the water
- A valve or spigot that does not require dipping cups or hands into the water
- Fittings and seals that are also suitable for drinking water
For portable storage, this usually means a food-grade HDPE water jug or jerry can.
For larger household storage, it usually means an opaque potable-water-rated polyethylene tank installed on a strong, level base.
If you want extra assurance for a permanent drinking-water system, look for applicable third-party drinking-water certification. NSF/ANSI/CAN 61, for example, evaluates health effects from materials and components that contact drinking water. Certification must apply to the actual product or component involved; a claim about one material does not automatically certify the entire tank or system.
How the Main Container Materials Compare
| Container | Best use | Main advantages | Main drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food-grade HDPE plastic | Most home storage | Light, durable, corrosion-resistant, many sizes | Must be protected from excessive heat and sunlight |
| Stainless steel | Long-term permanent systems | Strong, blocks light, long service life | Heavy and usually harder to install |
| Glass | Small indoor quantities | Does not rust and is easy to inspect | Heavy, breakable, lets light through |
| Commercial water bottles | Emergency drinking supply | Filled and sealed commercially | Not practical for large household storage |
| Potable-rated IBC tote | Large-volume storage | Large capacity and easy plumbing connections | Must have documented drinking-water suitability and known history |
| Unknown or reused container | None | May be inexpensive | Possible chemical contamination or unknown materials |
For most DIY systems, HDPE gives the best balance of safety, weight, durability, and ease of use.
Choose a Container Made for Drinking Water
Do not choose a tank only because it looks like a water tank.
Confirm that the manufacturer says it is intended for potable or drinking-water storage.
This matters especially with:
- Barrels
- Drums
- IBC totes
- Agricultural tanks
- Chemical tanks
- Used industrial containers
A container that previously held pesticides, petroleum products, bleach, solvents, or other toxic substances should not be reused for drinking water. Cleaning does not provide a reliable way to prove that residues have been removed from the material.
The CDC specifically advises against using containers that previously held toxic chemicals.
Be Careful With Used IBC Totes
An IBC tote can hold a useful amount of water, but a used tote is not automatically suitable for drinking water.
Use one for potable water only when you can confirm:
- The container itself is suitable for drinking-water contact.
- Its previous contents are known.
- It has not held hazardous chemicals.
- The valve, gasket, lid, and other wetted parts are also suitable.
- The container can be properly cleaned and sanitized.
An unknown-history tote is better kept for non-potable uses such as some irrigation or general water storage, depending on what it previously contained.
Opaque Containers Are Better Than Clear Ones
Light encourages biological growth when nutrients and microorganisms are present.
An opaque tank also protects stored water from sunlight and helps keep conditions more stable.
The CDC recommends keeping stored drinking water away from direct sunlight and in a cool location.
If you use a large plastic tank outdoors, check that the tank is designed for outdoor service. Do not assume any plastic barrel can tolerate years of sunlight and weather exposure.
A Small Opening Helps Keep Water Clean
A wide removable lid makes cleaning easier, but the normal dispensing point should limit contact with the stored water.
A spigot or valve is useful because you can remove water without putting your hand, cup, hose, or scoop into the container.
CDC safe-storage guidance favors containers with a tightly covered opening and designs that allow water to be poured or dispensed without people reaching inside.
For a large tank, a good arrangement may include:
- Secure inspection lid
- Screened or protected vent
- Potable-water-rated outlet fitting
- Shutoff valve
- Overflow that prevents insects and debris from entering
- Access that allows eventual inspection and cleaning
Any fitting that touches drinking water should be chosen with the same care as the tank itself.
What Size Drinking-Water Container Is Best?
There is no single best size.
A container should hold enough water for its purpose without becoming impossible to move, clean, support, or replace.
Water is heavy. One U.S. gallon weighs roughly 8.3 pounds. That means a filled 55-gallon drum contains roughly 460 pounds of water before adding the weight of the drum itself.
This changes how containers should be used.
Small portable containers
Containers around a few gallons are easier to:
- Carry
- Rotate
- Clean
- Inspect
- Pour from
- Replace if damaged
They work well for emergency supplies, vehicles, cabins, and small households.
Large tanks
Large tanks make more sense for:
- Whole-house storage
- Cistern systems
- Well-water reserve
- Treated rainwater systems
- Cabins with bulk water delivery
Large tanks need a properly prepared base. Floors, decks, platforms, shelving, and elevated stands must be able to handle the full weight safely.
Do not put a large filled tank on a structure unless its load capacity is known.
Should You Use One Big Tank or Several Small Containers?
Several smaller containers provide some useful redundancy.
If one develops a leak or contamination problem, you do not lose the entire water supply.
Small containers are also easier to clean.
A large tank, however, is much easier to connect to:
- Pumps
- Pressure systems
- Treatment equipment
- Household plumbing
- Automatic refill systems
For a permanent household water system, a large potable-water tank usually makes more sense. For emergency drinking water, multiple smaller containers are often easier to manage.
How to Prepare a Drinking-Water Container
A new container still needs to be prepared correctly.
Follow the container manufacturer's cleaning instructions first.
CDC guidance for reusable drinking-water storage containers includes washing the container with soap and water, rinsing it completely, and then sanitizing it before filling. The CDC provides a sanitizing procedure using unscented household chlorine bleach containing 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite. Because bleach products vary, use the current CDC instructions rather than guessing at a concentration.
Do not confuse sanitizing the empty container with treating unsafe water for drinking. They are different jobs.
Once prepared:
- Fill the container with safe water.
- Close it tightly.
- Label it as drinking water.
- Add the filling or storage date.
- Keep it cool and out of direct sunlight.
- Keep it away from gasoline, pesticides, solvents, and other chemicals.
The CDC currently recommends replacing water that you fill into emergency storage containers every six months.
Where Should Drinking Water Be Stored?
Evaluate safe container materials for stored water to assess tank venting and overflow control during extended storage.
The best location is generally:
- Cool
- Shaded
- Clean
- Dry around the outside of the container
- Protected from chemicals
- Protected from freezing
- Accessible for inspection
- Strong enough to support the full container
Avoid storing potable water containers beside fuels, pesticides, solvents, or other strong chemicals.
Some plastic materials can be affected by surrounding chemicals or vapors, so physical separation is important.
If freezing is possible, allow for the manufacturer's temperature limits and the expansion of freezing water. Pipes, valves, filters, and pumps may freeze before the main tank does.
Is Stainless Steel Better Than Plastic?
Stainless steel can be an excellent drinking-water storage material when the complete tank is intended for potable-water service.
Its main advantages are durability and complete light blockage.
It is not automatically better for every home, though.
A large stainless tank is heavy and requires suitable fittings and installation. Plastic HDPE tanks are easier to move and are available in many shapes and capacities.
For most residential installations, an approved polyethylene tank is the simpler choice. Stainless steel makes sense when long service life, temperature conditions, or installation requirements justify it.
Is Glass Good for Drinking-Water Storage?
Glass is suitable for small amounts of water stored indoors, but it is rarely the best general-purpose container.
Its biggest problem is breakage.
Large glass containers are also heavy and difficult to handle safely.
Clear glass allows light into the water, so it should be stored away from sunlight.
For a kitchen-sized container, glass can work well. For emergency storage or a household cistern, durable plastic or another purpose-built potable-water tank is normally more practical.
What About Rainwater?
A potable-water tank is only one part of a drinking-water rainwater system.
Putting roof runoff into a drinking-water-rated tank does not make the water potable.
Roof runoff can collect material from:
- Birds and other animals
- Leaves
- Dust
- Roofing materials
- Gutters
- Airborne contamination
- Nearby smoke or pollution
A drinking-water rainwater system normally has to be considered from the roof all the way to the tap. Depending on the system, this may involve suitable collection surfaces, debris control, a first flush device, prefiltration, storage, treatment, and monitoring.
A first flush device diverts some of the initial roof runoff so that part of the dirt accumulated on the collection surface does not immediately enter storage.
For drinking use, treatment should be selected according to the actual water quality and local requirements. Current laboratory testing is important because appearance, smell, a TDS meter, or a simple home test cannot establish that stored rainwater is safe to drink.
CDC guidance also distinguishes safe stored water from untreated catchment water and notes that contamination can make cistern water unsafe for drinking.
Best Choice by Situation
Emergency drinking-water supply
Use unopened commercially bottled water when practical. For water you fill yourself, use small food-grade containers intended for drinking water with tight lids.
Everyday household reserve
Use potable-water-rated HDPE containers that are manageable enough to clean and rotate.
Large household tank
Use an opaque tank specifically manufactured for potable water. Confirm that its fittings, valves, gaskets, and plumbing materials are also appropriate for drinking water.
Cabin or off-grid system
A potable-rated polyethylene or stainless tank can work well. Size it around water use, available refill supply, treatment needs, freezing conditions, pump requirements, and the strength of the tank base.
Rainwater intended for drinking
Use a potable-water-compatible storage tank, but treat container selection as only one part of the complete water-quality system. Do not rely on the tank, a single filter, or one disinfection device as proof that the water is safe to drink.
What to Look for Before Buying a Container
Check the manufacturer's documentation rather than relying on appearance or seller descriptions.
Look for:
- Intended use with drinking water
- Material specification
- Applicable drinking-water certification
- Capacity
- Dimensions
- Filled weight
- Maximum operating temperature
- Outdoor or indoor rating
- Access for cleaning
- Lid design
- Outlet size and thread type
- Replacement gasket and valve availability
For permanent systems, also check whether the tank's outlet matches the pipe, pump, and treatment equipment you intend to use.
A perfectly safe tank can still be inconvenient if its fittings cannot connect properly to the rest of the water system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest plastic container for drinking water?
A food-grade plastic container specifically made for potable-water storage is a good choice. HDPE is commonly used because it is durable and corrosion-resistant. Check the manufacturer's drinking-water documentation instead of relying only on the recycling symbol.
Are blue water barrels safe for drinking water?
Some are, but color does not determine safety. A blue barrel should be used for drinking water only when the manufacturer identifies it as suitable for potable water and it has not previously contained hazardous materials.
Can I store drinking water in a 55-gallon drum?
Yes, if the drum is intended for drinking-water storage and can be cleaned, closed, and dispensed from safely. Remember that a full 55-gallon drum is extremely heavy and should sit on a strong, stable surface.
Can I use a used IBC tote for drinking water?
Only when its suitability and complete previous-use history are known. Do not use an IBC tote that held toxic chemicals or has an unknown history for drinking water.
How long can drinking water stay in a container?
For water you fill yourself for emergency storage, the CDC recommends replacing it every six months. Commercially bottled water should be stored according to its labeling and kept in suitable conditions.
Does a food-grade container make rainwater safe to drink?
No. Food-grade storage helps prevent the container itself from creating an unnecessary contamination problem, but it does not remove microorganisms, chemicals, or other contaminants already present in the water.
Is stainless steel safer than plastic for drinking water?
Both can be suitable when manufactured and documented for drinking-water contact. Stainless steel is durable and blocks light, while potable-rated HDPE is lighter and often easier to install.
Should a drinking-water tank be clear or opaque?
Opaque is usually the better choice for bulk storage because it limits light entering the tank. Regardless of material, stored water should be kept away from direct sunlight where practical.
