Cleaning Out IBC

[Wendelspanswick]

I've been given a decent one use IBC that has had sweet almond oil in it. I want to use it for potable water so for the past 2 days it's been in the back of the van with 50L of water and half a bottle of Fairy Liquid sloshing about but it's still got a sticky film of oil in the inside.
Any suggestions of what else to try to remove it, would Caustic Soda do it safely?
Can you still buy Caustic Soda easily?

 

[gordon stephenson]

I cleaned quite a lot of IBC's with my son, But not for potable water, only clean veg oil or white diesel, We used a steam cleaner to get good results, they had previously held, Bulk hand lotion, shampoo, conditioner etc, Also got just a couple that had contained PVA glue, they were a nightmare to get rid of the dried on film of glue that adhered to the sides,

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I was offered a choice of two, the other had had PVA in it, I'm glad I went for the almond oil one as at least it's edible.

 

[rikrobson]

I suspect that the water will endure the almond flavour. At lease it wasnt something nasty or smelly. you could try Bicarb. That is good for saoking up smells in the fridge.

 

[Turbo]

If you have an agri or dairy supplies place they might have a suitable chemical that's used for cleaning milking machines that would be food safe. Or get yourself a 20l drum of traffic film remover & chuck it in preferably with hot water & drive around for a while to agitate it. A high pressure steam wash with plenty of soap would be best though there will be parts you can't reach with a normal wash lance like under the top surface of the tank. Talk nicely to a car wash place, they might do it on a quiet day for a few £.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I want to use it for potable water

You going to be slaking the thirst of the five thousand?

 

[knighty]

you'll need hot water to shift it

steam cleaner would work best, but if you can get some good hot water in with plenty of washing up liquid then slosh it around plenty you should be able to shift it

 

[rtbcomp]

Doesn't cyanide smell of almond?

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Doesn't cyanide smell of almond?

I think thats bitter almonds which is an acrid smell I think.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

You going to be slaking the thirst of the five thousand?

I've got no mains water at the barn so I'm setting up a rain catchment system with the IBC as a cleaned water storage.
At some stage I've either got to get a borehole dug or a very long and deep trench up a 35° slope to get mains water!

 

[addjunkie]

White vinegar is good for shifting stuff, or try one of the citrous cleaners. But steam or as a minimum hot pressue wash.

Could a man with a mole plough not pull a pipe in for you.

 

[8ob]

@Wendelspanswick will be flogging bottled water "Darkest Somerset Almond Spring" This time next year Rodders we will be millionaires

You will need to keep the light off the IBC or the water will be green in a few weeks, the black IBC`s are better.

Bob

 

[knighty]

I've got no mains water at the barn so I'm setting up a rain catchment system with the IBC as a cleaned water storage.
At some stage I've either got to get a borehole dug or a very long and deep trench up a 35° slope to get mains water!

if it's for harvesting water to drink...

have a look at ozone generators, it's (I think) pretty much just air blowing over a little spark... but that makes O3.. which kills bugs/bacteria/etc.

you can get ones to do the tank, or ones which go on a tap and treat it as it comes through

best thing about them - no taste etc.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Try one of the HGV firms who have bulk liquid tankers for food stuffs as they might be able to clean the same way they clean the tankers.

 

[MattF]

Can you still buy Caustic Soda easily?

Yup. Most powder drain cleaners are largely caustic. For something less aggressive, try a washing powder.

 

[brightspark]

Doesn't cyanide smell of almond?

YES but u wont be around to sniff it more than once to do anything about it

 

[vwmark]

Home bargains and Wilco's sell caustic soda.

 

[winchman]

I would be wary of drinking it, as 8ob said green in a few weeks but it will be growing all sorts from day one, if its every over 15 degrees the growth increases massively.
Water should always be stored in Black tanks.
Warm caustic should shift it but loads of rinsing and PH testing after to ensure its all gone.
Might be easier to buy a new IBC
http://www.directwatertanks.co.uk/i...ed-ibc-black-plastic-pallet-ibc-re-pp-2-black

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I would be wary of drinking it, as 8ob said green in a few weeks but it will be growing all sorts from day one, if its every over 15 degrees the growth increases massively.
Water should always be stored in Black tanks.
Warm caustic should shift it but loads of rinsing and PH testing after to ensure its all gone.
Might be easier to buy a new IBC
http://www.directwatertanks.co.uk/i...ed-ibc-black-plastic-pallet-ibc-re-pp-2-black

The IBC will be in a basement so no daylight and it will be cold as well. The reason I went for a clear one is it's easier to see the level and to monitor the water condition. I can fit 8 IBCs in but this first one is a temporary solution.
I need 8000L of water storage to allow for dry spells.
I doubt whether the water will get drunk as you need to get it tested quarterly but it will be used for washing/shower etc.

 

[GW8IZR]

When we moved into our place it had only had mains water for a few years, I wonder how long the 94 year old lady would have lived if she hadn't been drinking rain water collected from the gutters stored in an open galved steel tank. She had only lived there since she was 19.....