Plastic gas cans for water

[DrRod]

So we are gathering at the farm and my daughter's husband shows up with two big red plastic gas cans full of water. Brand new, never been used. But I have concerns. They make different plastics for different uses and I don't think the plastic for gas is the right thing for water. Anyone have some fact on this? Thanks so much.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

It may or may not be the same plastic as used for water cans. I would have concerns about drinking it. Water cans have to use food grade plastic.

 

[s219]

Look to see if there's a recycle symbol on the gas cans. I bet it's probably polyethylene. I believe that is fine (I think bottled water containers are made from it) but you should research it to be sure.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

5 gallon water jugs are blue plastic. Sometimes they are white or clear. Gasoline jugs are red,diesel or kerosene are yellow.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

So we are gathering at the farm and my daughter's husband shows up with two big red plastic gas cans full of water. Brand new, never been used. But I have concerns. They make different plastics for different uses and I don't think the plastic for gas is the right thing for water. Anyone have some fact on this? Thanks so much.

I'm with you. Use it to water the flowers, but not for drinking. Even plastics approved to hold drinking water, are suspect in my opinion.

 

[Oaktree]

It may or may not be the same plastic as used for water cans. I would have concerns about drinking it. Water cans have to use food grade plastic.

AFAIK they're the same plastic, but I wouldn't take a chance either.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Look to see if there's a recycle symbol on the gas cans. I bet it's probably polyethylene.

Yep. HDPE. Same stuff that's used for drinking water. Perfectly safe, but why would anyone do that? There are water containers readily available.

 

[Wagtail]

Yep. HDPE. Same stuff that's used for drinking water. Perfectly safe, but why would anyone do that? There are water containers readily available.

True and as Larry Caldwell stated in post #4, there are different coloured containers for various fluids... but that's mostly for quick reference/recognition. If the son-in-law was using the red containers for potable water, then all he needs to do is mark the top (in permanent marker/texta/'sharpie') POTABLE WATER. And wrap/paint the circumference of the container with a blue 'band'.

I do that here. All of my fuel canisters are red, but my DIESEL cans have a yellow band and my 2-STROKE can has a black band. That leaves plain red as PETROL.

 

[s219]

Yep. HDPE. Same stuff that's used for drinking water. Perfectly safe, but why would anyone do that? There are water containers readily available.

I am betting it was an availability or cost issue. Around here the red cans are common, blue not so much, and the blue ones cost a little more. I'd still try to find a blue can just because I need all the help I can get sorting out containers and all the different types of fuel I have, but in a pinch I could see using a clean red can that was well labeled.

 

[smstonypoint]

I am betting it was an availability or cost issue. Around here the red cans are common, blue not so much, and the blue ones cost a little more. I'd still try to find a blue can just because I need all the help I can get sorting out containers and all the different types of fuel I have, but in a pinch I could see using a clean red can that was well labeled.

5 gallon water jugs are blue plastic. Sometimes they are white or clear. Gasoline jugs are red,diesel or kerosene are yellow.

All of the cans/jugs designed/labeled specifically for kerosene that I have seen have been blue.

Steve