Stainless Steel Rainwater Tanks - Don't drink water from any other tank

If you're drinking water from a plastic or concrete rainwater tank then you're getting more than just H20. You could also be drinking heavy metals, pesticides, bisphenol A, harmful bacteria and tank water sludge.

The quality and safety of your rainwater depends on many factors including the type and condition of the roof and gutters it's diverted from, the presence of airborne contaminants such as pesticides, industrial pollution, dust etc, the type and condition of your water tank, how often you clean out your tank, how often you clean out your gutters, how long the water remains in the tank.

With the right type of tank, proper roof and tank maintenance and filtration, it is possible to drink rainwater safely. Drinking water should only ever be stored in a stainless steel tank. Yes, they are more expensive than plastic tanks and can be harder to get but they are safer, longer-lasting, easier to keep clean and if you only use it for drinking water, you only need a relatively small tank.

Colorbond, galvanised, fibreglass and concrete water tanks are all sealed or lined with epoxy resins. They'll tell you that the linings are "food grade" but that doesn't mean they're safe.

Bisphenol A or BPA is the toxic chemical culprit that leaches out of these linings and into your drinking water even from a new tank. It is a reproductive toxin and likely carcinogen and so widespread that over 90% of people tested in recent studies run by the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Environmental Health Laboratory, had Bisphenol A in their urine. Not only is it not possible to filter Bisphenol A out of your water but some water filter systems actually contain Bisphenol A.*

Sunlight, heat and bacteria will cause the linings to break down, as will the addition of chlorine for water disinfection, releasing more plastics into your water as well as eventually exposing your water to the underlying tank materials.

Storing your rainwater in stainless steel is therefore a must if you intend to drink it. However, you should still filter your tank water before drinking it to remove heavy metals and pesticides with a standard twin filter system attached to your kitchen sink. *Gwarehouse water filters are guaranteed Bisphenol A-free.

A 3000litre stainless steel tank is more than enough for your drinking water and a tank this size from Gwarehouse costs $1,640 (not including freight). If you already have another type of tank, you should collect your water directly into the stainless steel tank and then channel the overflow into your other tanks.

Our tanks are made from 304 stainless steel, are made with no rivets or screws and are guaranteed to outlast any other tank.