I bought this for long-term, emergency water storage. The thing had a few scuff marks from transport, but nothing unexpected. It does not come with a spanner/opener, but I just used a pair of pliers in a wrench-type motion and had the barrel open with minimal damage to one of the two ports. I rinsed the thing with a gallon or two of water and soap, which probably wasn't needed. Then I filled it up. There is a rim with a hole at the top of the barrel. So, if you overfill, the spill-over can drain.I added some bleach to my water, since I use a well. Nothing happened, as you'd expect. So, maybe in 5 or 10 years time I can tell you how that affected the plastic. As of now, the thing is secure and holding water.For the price, I would have liked a spanner to more easily open the barrel. Maybe a document about long-term water storage would have been nice. But, it's a barrel for water storage - you order this and you get one. (Don't forget to order a pump to get the water out...).