Can Automotive Urea Solution Barrels Be Used to Store Drinking Water?
2 Answers
Automotive urea solution barrels can be used to store drinking water after thorough cleaning. The functions of urea are: treating exhaust to reduce pollutants in the emissions, optimizing engine performance, and improving fuel consumption. The impacts of not using urea in vehicles include: 1. Exceeding emission standards, causing environmental pollution; 2. Oxidation of chemicals in the vehicle system, leading to clogged urea nozzles and rendering the entire system inoperable; 3. Decreased vehicle power. Methods to eliminate urea warning light alerts are: 1. Replace the urea solution; 2. Replace the water heating valve; 3. Replace the urea pump and power supply module plug. Reasons for urea warning light alerts include: 1. Low urea pressure with high urea consumption; 2. Insufficient power, with urea consumption being either too high or too low; 3. Instrument panel malfunction.
As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I think this is quite a common issue. The urea solution barrels for vehicles are designed specifically for urea solution, not for drinking water. These barrels often retain chemical residues, such as plasticizers from the plastic or the urea itself, which may not be completely removed even after cleaning. I've used similar industrial barrels before—once I tried filling one with drinking water after cleaning it, only to notice a strange taste. Later, I learned there could be health risks involved. From a safety perspective, drinking water containers must be made of food-grade materials, while urea barrels often don’t meet this standard. If you accidentally use them for drinking water, long-term consumption could lead to chronic health issues. So, I suggest not cutting corners to save money or effort—it’s much safer to buy dedicated drinking water containers. After all, health is more important than anything else.
