New totes for water storage
For farms, ranches and homes that want one or a few clean tanks for water, with nothing in their past.
| Sizes | 275 gal (1,040 L) and 330 gal (1,250 L) |
|---|---|
| Footprint | 48 x 40 in; 46 in tall (275), 53 in tall (330) |
| Bottle | New HDPE, no prior contents; food-contact resin on request |
| Bottle colour | Natural white; black or UV-blocking bottles on request |
| Weight full of water | About 2,400 lb (275) and 3,000 lb (330), worked out below |
| Valve | 2 in, with adapters for a garden hose or pump on request |
| Pallet | Composite; sets on level, firm ground or a pad |
Sources: IBCTanks.com, IBC specifications; Container Exchanger, 330 gal tote dimensions; CDC, creating and storing an emergency water supply. Last reviewed 2026-11-11.
What to check on delivery
When the tote arrives, look into the bottle against the light: it should be clean and dry with no smell. Flush it with clean water before the first fill, keep the cap closed and screen any open fitting against insects. In sun, a natural bottle grows algae; shade it, or ask for a black or UV-blocking bottle.
Why a new tote for water
Most cheap totes held a chemical before, and a rinse doesn't make them safe to drink from. CDC is plain about it: don't store drinking water in containers that held toxic chemicals, and food-grade containers are best (CDC). A new tote has held nothing, so the only question is whether its bottle is food-contact resin, which we quote on request. For stock water and irrigation, a new standard bottle is clean and sound; for people, ask for food contact.
How much a full tote weighs
Water weighs about 8.34 lb a gallon. A full 275 holds about 2,290 lb of water plus the tote's own 130 lb or so, roughly 2,400 lb; a full 330 is about 2,750 lb of water plus 155 lb, close to 3,000 lb. Set it on level, firm ground or a pad, never a deck or a soft verge, and don't plan to move it full without a forklift. Check a truck's payload rating before carrying a full one; an empty tote is light enough for two people to slide onto a trailer.
How much water you need
For an emergency supply, CDC suggests at least a gallon per person per day for three days, two weeks' worth if you can, and replacing stored water every six months (CDC). At a gallon a day, a 275 gallon tote is about 275 person-days: a family of four for roughly 68 days. For cattle, Texas A&M AgriLife says a 1,000 lb heifer may drink about 20 gallons a day in hot weather (AgriLife Today), so a 275 waters about 13 head for a day in the heat. Rain catchment depends on your roof; see the rainwater guide.
Questions about this tote
- Can two water totes be joined?
- Yes. Connect the bottom valves with a hose and matching fittings and set both totes level, so they fill and empty together. Rain catchment often links two or three under one downspout.
- Can a new IBC tote be used for drinking water?
- Yes, if the bottle is food-contact resin and has held nothing else. Ask for a food-contact bottle and replace stored water every six months, as CDC advises.
- How much does a full 275 gallon water tote weigh?
- About 2,400 lb: roughly 2,290 lb of water plus the tote’s own weight.
Guides for this tote
Quote totes for water
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