Water should be stored in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Sunlight and heat can slowly break down plastic containers, giving the water a funny smell and flavour.
Ways to store water for household use include tanks or cisterns. Tanks can be constructed of bricks, masonry, corrugated steel sheets, or reinforced concrete, either above ground or below ground.
The general guideline is to use food-grade plastic bottles. You can also use glass bottles so long as they haven't stored non-food items. Stainless steel is another option, but you won't be able to treat your stored water with chlorine, as it corrodes steel.
Any opaque plastic container will be satisfactory for storing water at home because, unlike metal, it will not rust. B.It is best to have a container that holds a maximum of 25 litres, as that can be easily carried.
Fill bottles or jugs directly from the faucet. Cap tightly and label each container with the words "Drinking Water" and the date stored. Store sealed containers in a dark, dry, and cool place.
The recommended shelf life is two years. The U.S. Food and Drug administration which regulates bottled water does not require a shelf life be listed but due to degradation of plastic over time, especially in heat we recommend two years for still water and one year for sparkling water.
How long can I store drinking water in a Plastic Can? Drinking water can be stored in a Plastic Water Can for up to 6 months. Ensure the container itself is stored in a cool dark place to minimise exposure to sunlight and heat.
Glass is the boss in the reusable water bottle category. It is the safest and best way to store both food and liquids for several reasons. Water in glass bottles isn't affected by any flavor from the container, giving it a “purity of taste” benefit when compared to plastic bottles and other options.
Storing Water in Plastic Containers
When you're using plastic containers, never store water in them for longer than 3 to 6 months, and keep a close eye for when it starts to become discoloured, cloudy or for any signs of contamination that will make it harmful for consumption.
Water can be stored in three main places: the atmosphere, on the surface of the Earth, and underground. Specifically these water storage areas are known as reservoirs and include oceans, glacier ice, groundwater, lakes, soil moisture, living organisms, the atmosphere, and rivers.
Water can be stored in the atmosphere, on the surface of the Earth, or underground. These water storage areas are most commonly known as reservoirs. Natural reservoirs include oceans, glaciers and ice sheets, groundwater, lakes, soil moisture, wetlands, living organisms, the atmosphere, and rivers.
When you leave the glass of water uncovered for about 12 hours, carbon dioxide in the air starts to mix with it. This reduces the pH level of the water and gives it an off taste. But even then this water is safe to drink. Moreover, most experts believe that tap water has a shelf life of six months.
It's true that bacteria and other potentially dangerous microorganisms (think viruses and intestinal parasites) grow really well in moist environments. So yes, that unwashed glass can be a petri dish of possibility. Every time you take a sip, you're transferring the microbes in your mouth to the glass.
Bacteria, fungi and even mold can thrive in a water bottle, thanks mainly to its moist environment. Simply rinsing the bottle out with water isn't sufficient, and care must be taken when cleaning bottles that have attached straws and narrow-mouth lids with lots of nooks and crannies.
Preparing Water for Storage
Water stored in thoroughly clean plastic or glass containers can be chemically disinfected for long-term storage by treating each gallon with 4 to 5 drops of unscented liquid chlorine bleach (Clorox or Purex type bleaches, containing 4% to 6% sodium hypochlorite).
Sterilizing water in canning jars in a water bath canner for 20 minutes effectively kills all microorganisms making the water safe to store indefinitely.
However, the plastic in water bottles contains no dioxins at all. All in all, water in plastic bottles should be safe to drink, and no less so than water in metal bottles or any other type of container. If they have contaminants in them, they are likely to be found at tiny concentrations.
“Most experts will tell you tap water has a shelf-life of six months,” Satterfield says.
Germs and other contaminants are found in rainwater.
While useful for many things, rainwater is not as pure as you might think, so you cannot assume it is safe to drink.
How long does it take for water to expire? Though it's a bit arbitrary, Mercree notes that most bottled water companies print a standard two-year expiration date.
Although properly stored public-supply water should have an indefinite shelf life, replace it every 6 to 12 months for best taste. If the water you are storing comes from a private well, spring, or other untested source, purify it before storage to kill pathogens (see below).