Store water how long

But as long as the water is not exposed to extreme heat, and is kept sealed, it should last for a long time. The second reason that you might not want to drink old bottled water is a bit more straight-forward — taste. Simply put, the taste of water changes over time. Even sealed bottled water will be exposed to small bits of outside air. As the air mixes with the water in the bottle, it changes its taste, and not in a good way. Think of when you leave a glass of water on the counter overnight, and it has that stale, metallic, oxidized taste to it.

This is what can happen to bottled water if you store it for extremely long periods of time. This is the primary reason that most bottled water aficionados would recommend you store your water for no longer than 2 years. As you might expect, carbonated water has a considerably shorter life span than regular bottled water. Water manufacturers typically recommend storing carbonated water for no more than 6 months.

It will lose its carbonation over time, and will no longer have the bubbly appeal associated with sparkling water. But what about once you break the seal? Generally speaking, opened bottle water will be good for no more than a few days. To reuse an example from earlier in the article, imagine a glass of water that you left on the counter overnight. It develops a weird taste, and so will your opened bottled water. Try to store a 2-week supply if possible. Consider storing more water than this for hot climates, pregnant women, and persons who are sick.

Observe the expiration date for store-bought water. Replace non-store-bought water every 6 months. Choosing a Container. Before filling with safe water, use these steps to clean and sanitize water storage containers: Wash the storage container and rinse completely with water.

Sanitize the container with a solution made by mixing 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart of water. Cover the container tightly and shake it well.

Make sure the sanitizing bleach solution touches all inside surfaces of the container. Wait at least 30 seconds and then pour the sanitizing solution out of the container. Let the empty sanitized container air-dry before use OR rinse the empty container with safe water water that has been treated. Pour clean water into the sanitized container and cover with a tight lid. Removing and Storing Water.

Tips for removing safe water out of the container: If using a scoop or other device, use a clean one each time you remove safe water from the storage container to help avoid contaminating the water. Before scooping out the safe water, try not to touch the water or insides of the container with your hands. Purchase gallon-size or larger containers of bottled water.

Consult the Bottled Water publication to learn more about how to select a good quality bottled water. Follow step 3 and 4 above once you have purchased the bottled water. Water from a contaminated source must be disinfected or purified before use.

Two methods of purifying water are discussed below. If the contaminated water contains visible particles, let the particles settle to the bottom first, then strain the water through clean cloths or layers of paper towels before disinfecting. The water cannot be disinfected unless particles are removed by filtration first.

Boiling is a good way to purify water. Bring the water to a rolling boil for 1 to 3 minutes. After the water has cooled, fill clean containers as outlined in Method A. Boiled water will taste better if you put oxygen back in it before drinking. To restore the oxygen, pour the water back and forth between two clean containers several times. Regular household liquid bleach contains a compound 5.

Do not use bleaches that are scented, colorsafe, or have added cleaners. Use regular liquid bleach containing 5. The treated water should be mixed thoroughly and allowed to stand for 30 minutes before use. The water should have a slight bleach odor. If it does not, repeat the dosage and let the water stand for an additional 15 minutes before use.

Fill clean containers and store as described in Method A. The guidelines listed in this publication are the simplest options available in most communities. Let's Stay Connected. By entering your email, you consent to receive communications from Penn State Extension.