how to make oil drums safe for water

Sparkpea

is there anyway possible to make the oil drums I have safe to put water in? even if its not drinking water I don't want to fill mine to flush toilets or whatever and leave an oily smell in my toilets and sewer. How is it possible to remove all oil from the drum and clean it as such, sterilising tablets etc?

WildOscar

Sparkpea wrote: »

is there anyway possible to make the oil drums I have safe to put water in? even if its not drinking water I don't want to fill mine to flush toilets or whatever and leave an oily smell in my toilets and sewer. How is it possible to remove all oil from the drum and clean it as such, sterilising tablets etc?

chlorine?
petrol or methanol/ but not sure if they want it for water. methylated spirits?Is that methanol
i knew a guy who once drank guinness from an old diesel drum and while there was a smell of diesel he did not die so it must be possible to get clean enough for non consumption water

Joey the lips

Oil drums must be steam cleaned professionally to make them safe. You cannot use chemicals that break oil down because they are more corrossive.

From memory oil drums were one of the few drums not recycled into any other industry... For example. An emppty oil drum is no used for anything else but storing waste oil where as empty orange juice drums were cleaned quite easy and re-used.

I would NEVER use oil drums to store water.

I am fairly certain the practice is actually illegal however all the legislation is in that hazy area on the outskirts of my mind.

Poly

You can pic up a 1000 litre IBC (The big square ones)tank for about €50. You can get ones that were used for foodstuffs.

Buford T Justice

Was going to suggest IBC's alright. Safer than oil drums, but they will allow light through.

Nearest ones to you would be Cavan
http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/machinery/1689641

Sparkpea

cheers that would be good dunno were id put it tho, suppose could leave it at our lockup, might be too big but def worth considering