Questions about Plastic Water Tanks

[Fifer]

Hello All! It's been a long time since I've posted. We've been very busy trying to get up and running, and we've really been learning a lot from all of your posts!

We are getting ready to buy/install a gray water and a fresh water tank. We've gone through the archives and are really interested in using http://www.plasticmart.com, which many of you have suggested. But before we buy, we have a few questions and concerns.

While researching tanks, I've found that most people now prefer to use plastic tanks over metal tanks, because they do not rust and they are much easier to clean. This all sounds great! but there has been a lot of information coming out lately about the links between the chemicals contained FDA approved plastics (like in Nalgene bottles and water tanks) and cancer /other health risks. (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04 ... -water.php)

I don't want to be Henny Penny, and be alarmed for no reason, but at the same time I don't want to put myself and my family at an unnecessary health risks.

Do you all have any thoughts on the matter?

Thanks!
Fifer.

[SeanF]

I filter drinking & cooking water, with this model:
http://www.lehmans.com/shopping/product ... ord=berkey

I've had cruddy, brown well water caused by rusting well casing, and also arsenic. The filtered water always tastes the same...which is great!

[swinada]

hmmm what does not cause cancer these days???? Almost everything can cause cancer.
Heck a study shows that breathing air causes cancer, cause 50% of people breathing air in 1940 have died of cancer, hence breathing air causes cancer.
Of course this study is fictional and came straight out of my imagination, but so do most other studies. Grown in somebodies imagination to support what ever they are trying to sell or not sell.
Go with plastic tanks, they are easier to handle, clean and keep clean, no problem with rust etc. Beside that, you probably will have a hard time finding any metal tanks for your fresh - drinking water.

[phillbus914]

I just bought a 55 gallon drum last week to use as my new water tank. It's a food grade blue plastic tank, it had cherry syrup in it & smells like koolaid. We'll most likely use it for washing and dishes, and drink bottled water when camping, at least until the smell and taste are gone.

I seen a news story a while back about plastic leaching chemicals that are "bad" especially for children. I've considered getting glass baby bottles for our 7 month old, but never got around to it. Plastic is so widely used it'd be nearly impossible to avoid food/drinks that come in contact with it. IF it ends up being true that plastic leaches chemicals, I'd say 99% of the public is in big trouble.