What Does HDPE and BPA-Free Water Storage Mean?

By Ready Expert

For those who are new to the emergency preparedness world or just looking for some water storage items for your emergency food storage, this blog is a must read. When searching for a BPA free water storage containers you need to make sure they are BPA-free and made out of HDPE.

What is BPA?
You might have read or heard in the news regarding a chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical added to some plastics commonly used to make beverage containers and several other plastic containers with the recycle symbol 7. Research has discovered that BPA can leach into your food and water from containers that have the chemical in them. The research also showed that food and water contaminated with BPA caused many health problems including issues related to the prostate gland and the brain.

What is HDPE?
You might not be aware of this but HDPE is found in plastic product all around you.

HDPE stands for High-Density Polyethylene and is found in containers with the recycle symbol 2 and its in common house hold items like your milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, plastic bags and much much more! HDPE is a very durable plastic designed to withstand high temperatures (230 °F | 110 °C), and is opaque in color.

Now that you know what BPA and HDPE are, you probably get a little sense of why knowing about them is important relative to the types of containers you use to store your water. A container that is BPA-free and is made from HDPE is critical. First off, Bisphenol A (BPA) is simply a chemical that can cause harm to your body and when dealing with an emergency you don't need to have the additional problems or symptoms from the BPA.

You can find a vast variety of products that are BPA-free since it has been brought to the attention to the public. HDPE is no doubt the way to go with when looking for a water container. Since it is opaque in color it will not allow sun light to penetrate through the plastic, by doing that it will help minimize the growth of algae and bacteria in your water supply.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of high quality water containers. Let's face it, you can last weeks with out food but only days with no water. So, do yourself and your family a favor and start your emergency preparation off right. Start by having enough water for your household for 72 hours, this is a must! Get started with our BPA Free, HDPE water storage containers.

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10 years ago

Comments

Ian

11 years ago at 8:25 AM

I have the same question as David. Are all HDPE plastics BPA free?

Kev

9 years ago at 1:49 PM

There are food grade HDPE products and HDPE products that are not. It will usually specify if it is.

Andrew

11 years ago at 9:29 AM

I go to Wal-Mart with a used Ozarka Spring Water 2.5 gallon container, filled it up with water treated through reverse osmosis at their water vendor, then pour it into Voss glass bottles.

11 years ago at 12:13 AM

Yes most HDPE is BPA free. No needs to worry bout it as long as you buy the HDPE with the recycle symbol of 2. Its the food grade kind and many people use the home depot bucket kinds to make wine or beer. I remember reading somewhere online that some guy kept honey in a HDPE 2 bucket for 10 years and the honey was still good. (aka some of it had crystalized though)

Fred

10 years ago at 2:27 PM

"BPA is the starting material for making polycarbonate plastics. Any leftover BPA that is not consumed in the reaction used to make a plastic container can leach into its contents." (From Scientific American) The current favored substitute for BPA is BPS and it is the same except less leaching. HDPE is high density polyethylene not polycarbonate.

Steve

10 years ago at 12:24 PM

Don't buy into the whole BPA scare. It's a SCAM!!! BPA has been in use since the 30's & now all of a sudden it's bad for you?.........The real issue is BPS which was praised as the alternative.

Lincoln

10 years ago at 10:24 AM

People have been using formaldehyde for years and now we have the technology to find that these sort of chemicals are destructive to the body. People used mercury for years and we all know how the extent of the risk of brain damage, so just because humans have used something for X number of years, doesn't mean it's not bad for the human body.

Lincoln

10 years ago at 10:28 AM

People have been using formaldehyde for years and now we have the technology to find that these sort of chemicals are destructive to the body. People used mercury for years and we all know how the extent of the risk of brain damage and people gave it to kids in toys for Christ's sake, so just because humans have used something for X number of years, doesn't mean it's not bad for the human body.

J Brown

4 years ago at 3:38 PM

Rule of thumb... ignore anyone who uses the words "It's a SCAM !!!". The word is used incorrectly which is your first clue. You can reconsider if they provide clear and accurate scientific or technical data to support their claims which stands up to any amount of serious critical thinking. I don't think I've seen one case of that yet... xD

John Costello

9 years ago at 8:43 PM

I would like to order this product, but I could not locate a definitive statement that these containers are Food Grade HDPE, with a recycle symbol "2". Please advise if product is: _ HDPE _ Food Grade _ Bears recycle symbol "2" Thank you- John

Debbie

6 years ago at 10:49 AM

Can the 160-Gallon Emergency Water Storage Tank be stored outside? The temperature in my area ranges from the occasional dip to 20 degrees fahrenheit in the winter to high 90's &high humidity in the summer. Will that make the tank crack?

Debbie

6 years ago at 10:53 AM