Inspect the storage tank for cracks leaks around the lid or man way or vents.
55 gallon water storage bleach.
These containers need to be protected against light and leakage as they are typically thinner plastic.
1 quart water 1 drop bleach 1 3 rounded.
This has been a common question and i ve written about it a number of times over the years.
It is simple and does not add unnecessary chemicals to the water.
If possible scrub interior surfaces of storage or reservoir if applicable with a strong chlorine solution containing gallon household bleach or gallon of pool chlorine to each 5 gallons of water.
The water should have a slight chlorine odor.
That would be equivalent to 16 5 ml per 55 gal of water.
I probably used to much bleach to clean out my 50 gal containers.
Just fill a 55 gallon barrel and add 1 4 teaspoon of dry calcium hypochlorite to the water of a 55 gallon barrel or make a chlorine stock solution from calcium hypochlorite and use at the same rate as bleach.
Drain all the water from the tank and associated piping.
Make sure there is adequate ventilation.
Clorox recommends 30 drops of their new concentrated bleach per 5 gal of water.
They do smell like bleach but not sure if it is now drinkable.
I then filled each container with 50 gals of water.
Double the amount of bleach if the water is cloudy colored or very cold.
If unknown calculate the volume of.
Adding disinfectant to water storage tanks.
A standard 55 gallon water barrel measures 36 high x 24 wide.
If high pressure hot water is not available the tank can be filled with preferably hot water and left to stand for several hours.
The barrel weighs roughly 22 pounds and 55 gallons of water weighs 460 pounds for a grand total of 482 pounds.
Drinking water should only have 3 to 4 ppm chlorine.
I put the entire jug of bleach some water in my 50 gal containers and swirred it around and then emptied the bleach water into the next container.
Calcium hypochlorite is inexpensive and has a 10 year shelf life.
Storage area needs to consider bottle shape and size.
Papadoc58 s comment of using half a cup of 5 25 bleach will result in over concentration of 22 ppm parts per million chlorine.
Use the table below as a guide to decide the amount of bleach you should add to the water for example 8 drops of 6 bleach or 6 drops of 8 25 bleach to each gallon of water.
Water bleach ratio for purification bleach containing 8 25 sodium hypochlorite numbers are rounded this will initially produce 5 ppm chlorine.
Use a portable pump to remove dirt or rinse water from the storage tank.
Add 1 4 teaspoon 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water if the water is cloudy and 1 8 teaspoon 8 drops if the water is clear.
High density polyethylene hdpe is the plastic commonly used to make the popular blue 55 gallon water storage drums.
1 gallon water 8 drops bleach 5 gallons water 1 2 teaspoon bleach 10 gallons water 3 4 teaspoon bleach 50 gallons water 4 teaspoons bleach.
Stir and let stand for 30 minutes.