The Safe Water System: Safe Storage of Drinking Water, 2011. CDC.
Safe storage options fall into three general categories: 1) existing water storage containers in the home; 2) water storage containers used in the community and modified by an intervention program; or, 3) commercial safe storage containers purchased by the program and distributed to users. To determine the appropriate safe storage container for a program, first identify containers currently used for water collection, transport, and storage in the community, as these existing containers might already be safe, or could easily be modified to be safe storage containers. Programs are also encouraged to review the options for safe water storage containers presented herein to determine which ones may be most appropriate. For more information, contact safewater@cdc.gov. Care should be taken to avoid using any container previously used for transport of toxic materials (such as pesticides or petroleum products) as a drinking water storage container. Lastly, locally-appropriate cleaning mechanisms – such as use of soap and brushes, or chlorine solution, or an abrasive – should be developed and recommended to clean the container on a regular basis.
