Does anyone know where to buy food grade hoses that will attach to a regular water faucet (threaded, like the ones outside a house)? I need to fill some barrels, but have been warned against using a regular garden hose for sanitary reasons.

Thanks for the help.

-- waterboy (can'tsay@privacy.com), November 27, 1999

Answers

Got mine at Home Depot---they were in the plumbing section along with the hoses for washers etc. They are a different color White with blue and are marked ok for drinking water---had to scrounge through a pile to find them. If this doesn't work try asking at an RV lot---Good luck--

-- John Q (Skulkingthestores@home.com), November 27, 1999.

something else to worry about! I've been drinking from my garden hose many decades... no problems so far. I assume you will be adding something to your water anyway to purify it.

-- citizen (lost@sea.com), November 27, 1999.

Would it be too cynical to suggest that the warnings originated from the manufacturers of "food grade" hoses?

-- Gus (y2kk@usa.net), November 27, 1999.

The original warning was because the cheap hoses sold at Walmart, Kmart etc used to outgas from the composition of the plastic used. If used for potable water all the time, the leaching of the plastic distillate could build up in a holding tank or jug and possibly reach toxic proportions. As far as I know, the new hoses don't do that but I don't know that I would chance it over the long term. This time a 40 dollar hose beats a 9.95 hands down. I do know that the RV hoses are treated against UV and last about 4 times longer than the cheapies.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), November 27, 1999.

The vinyl ones aren't OK to drink out of, no matter if you've been doing it since you were 2 years old! Vinyl goes into the water and cannot be filtered out according to my water filter company. Same goes for vinyl waterbeds or swimming pools.

I bought my food grade hoses at my local hardware store. You may need an adapter to fit on your kitchen sink faucet. Haven't tried mine yet. Sheri

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), November 27, 1999.

I'm kind of curious about this - what about plastic [red] gasoline containers. They are obviously not 'food-grade' plastic, but would it be safe to store additional 'last resort' water supplies in them if they are new and unused? Or does the chorine in [or later added by me] to the city water that would go into them chemically react in some way with that type of plastic?

I have a bunch of them, new and unused, and have thought of utilizing them for additional water storage - for washing or hygene purposes, if not for drinking...

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), November 27, 1999.

Consider making a *double* female connection hose from rubber hose.

Similar to a washing machine supply hose, only longer. The rubber hose

is less susceptible to chemical breakdown, and remains flexible

throughout a wide temperature range. The reason for the double female

ends is this allows you to hard connect to a variety of supplies such

as a sink faucet, a hose bib, a water heater, or a water barrel, and allows transfer of water resources between them, even houses via outside hose bib to hose bib connections, as well as the normal uses for a hose. Home Depot, for one, has the all the parts. Don't forget to get a couple of extra hose gaskets. Cheap insurance.

Polyvinyl chloride - PVC comes in a variety of grades. Cheap vinyl hoses are trouble for many reasons. PVC also comes as the rigid pipe used in water systems, sprinkler systems, electrical conduit to name a few. It comes in a number of different grades and specs. CPVC is the grade to be used for hot water applications, since it is designed to not breakdown under heat. This is not true for regular hose, or schedule 20/40 PVC pipe, or 3034 PVC, or C900 PVC which are made for cold water supplies.

Respectfully

Michael

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), November 27, 1999.

Whew. When I first glanced at the title of this thread, I thought it said, "Food Grade Horses". Moral: Wear reading glasses. Moral 2: Got spares?

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), November 27, 1999.

i got mine this summer at home depot too -- it was yellow and cheap. i think they called it a drinking hose.

-- tt (cuddluppy@nowhere.com), November 27, 1999.

Got only a "Whiff" of knowledge here. You buy the different hose "ONLY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE THE WATER TASTE RUBBERY". Let us get a grip on this one! If push comes to shove, I'll take water, with or without a "rubbery" taste.

-- Old Kid drinking (Moreways@departmoney.com), November 27, 1999.

In regards to the red plastic gas cans:

Contact the manufacturer. I got a great deal on Blitz gas containers--I emailed the company and asked if they were safe for storing drinking water. The answer was yes--the gas containers are made of the same plastic as their water containers--both are food grade. The containers have to labeled (by you) as water only (to avoid confusion) and never have had anything in them but potable water. I tried mine out and the water tastes fine (wash containers first). But check with the manufacturer first.

-- Sam Mcgee (weissacre@gwtc.net), November 27, 1999.

Thanks, Sam. Good advice!

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), November 27, 1999.

Even when hoses are food grade, they don't taste very good. Best with marinara sauce.

-- (y2kgourmet@Alice's.Restaurant), November 27, 1999.

I got my hose at Walmart in the RV/Camping/boating section...

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), November 27, 1999.