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Clean water is the most important thing to have in an emergency. Humans can only go a few days without water, and infected water can cause a host of health problems and even death. It’s no surprise then that the average human in a first-world country uses 80-100 gallons per day. Of course, a lot of this goes to flushing the toilet and taking a shower, but you get the point.

So the question is how do you store enough of it in case of an emergency?

We have said many times in the past that you really need a water source and a good water filter. We recommend  products from Berkey and Katadyn. But it’s also helpful to have a ready-to-use supply for quick access.  Today, we are taking a closer look at the Orca 120 Gallon Water Tank.

Big Features – Smart Design

The Orca 120 holds an impressive 120 gallons of water, which is more than twice what standard 50-gallon barrels hold. However, when you look at it, it doesn’t seem more than twice as big. The actual dimensions are  27.5″w x 32.5″d x 41.5″h.

The reason it doesn’t seem so big is because its rather narrow width is only 27.5″ allowing it to fit through most doorways. The Orca 120 has somewhat of a rectangular than purely cylindrical shape that hides its true size.

Easy Fill and Easy Drain

My favorite features are the easy fill and drain capabilities. At the top of the unit is a large opening perfect for industrial hoses. At the bottom is another drain so you can easily rotate the water on a timely schedule (I like to rotate my water every six months to keep freshness and taste). Standard 50-gallon barrels do not have a bottom drain, which makes it much tougher to remove old water. If you are like me you keep water storage in a garage or shed.

Instead of having to roll a 50-gallon barrel out to the street to drain it every six months, the Orca 120 lets you keep the unit in place, attach a hose to the bottom, and run it out to the street. This may not seem like a big deal, but water weighs a little over 8 pounds a gallon, so a 50-gallon drum weighs more than 400 pounds!

Durable and BPA Free

BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. They may also be used in other consumer goods. Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children.

Basically, BPA is bad, but the Orca 120 doesn’t have any. So that’s good.

The Orca 120 is also extremely strong. It’s made to be one high stackable, so you can put 120 gallons (roughly 1,000 pounds) on top of it without any problem. There are grooves at the top and bottom of the unit that make it lock in place without fear of tipping over.

 More Economical Than You Think

Many people buy the old 50-gallon barrels for $50-$100 bucks a pop and think they got a great deal. However, consider the total cost:

Orca 120 costs $294 at time of print with zero shipping costs. The cheapest 50-gallon drum we could find was $50 plus another $50 for shipping for a total of $100. To equal 120 gallons, you would have to buy two and a half drums costing $250 (I know you can’t buy a half of a drum, but let’s think about it theoretically).

So for roughly $50 more you can get a certified BPA-free, ergonomic, durable water tank with middle and bottom spigot for easy drain. This is definitely one of those times in life when it’s worth spending a little extra for something as important as an emergency water supply

In summary, we highly recommend the Orca 120 from Food Insurance/Emergency Reserve. Please also have a high-quality water filter on hand because 120 gallons will go fast. If you want the best deal on the Orca 120 you can buy one at FoodInsurance.com. Click here to get your Orca 120 ».

Best wishes.