Safety of Plastic Tanks & Piping

Guest · Jul 04, 2007 7:24 am

My very basic undertanding of plastics is - unless it's food grade, don't eat or drink out of it, (especially don't drink alcohol out of plastic ).

I wonder what control there is over materials used for plastic tank manufacture (another concern is that I see a lot of used bulk containers being resold for water storage).

Plastics are made up of polymers which are not harmful, but low grade plastics also contain monomers which is highly carcinogenic if ingested. I think this stuff leeches into water. :idea:

(alcohol is worse)

So my question is - what controls are in place for plastric tanks used for drinking water :?:

Thanks
Ed

Ed Perry · Jul 04, 2007 7:25 am

Anonymous

My very basic undertanding of plastics is - unless it's food grade, don't eat or drink out of it, (especially don't drink alcohol out of plastic ).

I wonder what control there is over materials used for plastic tank manufacture (another concern is that I see a lot of used bulk containers being resold for water storage).

Plastics are made up of polymers which are not harmful, but low grade plastics also contain monomers which is highly carcinogenic if ingested. I think this stuff leeches into water. :idea:

(alcohol is worse)

So my question is - what controls are in place for plastric tanks used for drinking water :?:

Thanks
Ed

Sorry that was me... thought I was logged in!
Ed

Yak_Chat · Jul 04, 2007 7:30 pm

My understanding is they use food grade plastics for the tanks and liners if it is for human consumption.
Steve

3timesbuilda · Jul 05, 2007 9:35 am

There is also the option of using concrete or stainless steel tanks.

Ed Perry · Jul 06, 2007 5:32 pm

Yak_Chat

My understanding is they use food grade plastics for the tanks and liners if it is for human consumption.
Steve

It's a while since I bought my tank... but I doubt if it's food grade and I don't remember being asked what purpose it was to be used for.

It would be interesting to know if people are asked if it's for drinking water.

Ed Perry · Jul 06, 2007 5:36 pm

Yak_Chat

My understanding is they use food grade plastics for the tanks and liners if it is for human consumption.
Steve

It's a while since I bought my tank... but I doubt if it's food grade and I don't remember being asked what purpose it was to be used for.

It would be interesting to know if people are asked if it's for drinking water.

Ed Perry · Jul 06, 2007 5:38 pm

Yak_Chat

My understanding is they use food grade plastics for the tanks and liners if it is for human consumption.
Steve

It's a while since I bought my tank... but I doubt if it's food grade and I don't remember being asked what purpose it was to be used for.

It would be interesting to know if people are asked if it's for drinking water.

Yak_Chat · Jul 06, 2007 7:15 pm

This link talks more about "Foodgrade plastic"
http://www.waterlines.com.au/articles/tank-water.shtml
Seems the original SA govt link is dead but the text is here.

I've mainly had galv tanks which always taste a bit metalic- but the food grade lined steel ones taste Ok, and Stainless would be best.
Steve

Yak_Chat · Aug 14, 2007 11:23 am

Thought I'd pop this one back up to the top.

I spoke to a plastic expert the other day who is in the tank supply chain and he said they MUST USE FOOD grade plastic.

ALL tanks (the plastic blend of the receipe) made in OZ MUST be submitted to the Aust Water Quality testing centre in Adelaide where they undergo a 6 to 8 week testing process to make sure the plastic does not release any volatile substances etc before the tank can go on the market.

I asked him about cattle/farm troughs and tanks and he said - they would generally use the same stuff, but may also put some recycled plastic into the cattle/stock troughs and tanks - so their is a difference. :shock:

Hope this clarifies the question.
and yes this answer was literally - Straight from the horses mouth :shock:

Steve

bda20 · Sep 17, 2007 10:29 am

everyone is talking about the tanks but what about the pvc plumbing to get the water to the tank???? I have never heard of a food grade pipe??