Do you know how long you can store your water? Storing water is a must in an emergency, natural disaster, or even just bad weather. It can be difficult to know how long you should store your water and how to store it properly. Fortunately, this blog post will help answer those questions and provide some tips on what you need to do now so that your family is prepared.
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What Are The Rules For Water Storage?
According to the United States Department of Health, you should store one gallon of water per person per day. If you have pets, don’t forget that they need water too! You should also store a backup supply of food. It’s important to remember that our bodies can go weeks without food but only a few days without water.
All bottled water is required to have an expiration date on the bottle. This isn’t a rule but more of a suggestion for best quality. Unless otherwise noted, the shelf life of bottled water ranges from one month to two years.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), water that you store at home or work must be replaced every six months. This is because water can become contaminated after this time.
Is It Safe To Drink Expired Water?
Some bottled water companies claim that their water never expires or lasts much longer than what is on the label, but this isn’t true.
You should replace your water every six months, whether the expiration date has arrived or not. Although expired bottled water isn’t dangerous, it can start to taste funny and lose its freshness, so it’s best to replace it regularly even if you don’t notice any changes.
If you find yourself in a situation where you must use expired water, it’s still better than no water at all. If the expiration date were only a few days away, the water would taste fine and won’t negatively affect your health.
How Do You Store Your Water?
If you use tap water to fill your containers, make sure it’s thoroughly boiled and cooled before storing it in the refrigerator. This will kill any bacteria or viruses lingering in the water and reduce the risk of exposure.
The best containers for storage are those made from food-grade plastic, glass, or metal. These materials won’t affect the quality of your water. If you store tap water, ensure it’s kept at room temperature (around 68 degrees Fahrenheit) and out of direct sunlight. You can store water at higher temperatures, but this will shorten its shelf life.
Storing water in the right containers is important to not pick up any odors or chemicals from the environment. Plastic can absorb some of the tastes of other food items stored nearby.
Bacteria Or Algae Growth
You may have concerns about leaving water containers open for so long. You might worry that it will attract bacteria and algae growth, but this isn’t a huge risk to your health. When we talk about food-grade plastics, we’re not just referring to the type of plastic in soft drinks or juice bottles.
Food-grade plastics resist picking up odors or residues, so the chances of bacteria growth are low. Plastic containers with screw caps or lids are your best bet because they will keep out any contaminants while being easy to open when you need to get water.
Winterizing Your Water Supply
If you live in an area with a risk of freezing temperatures, you should winterize your stored water before the first cold snap hits. This is something you can do at home using everyday supplies without any special equipment. You don’t need to keep your stored water indoors, but you should move all containers to a sheltered area.
If you must drain the containers to winterize them, remember that their shape will change once they’re empty. The water might not fit back into the container once it has frozen, so always leave some extra space in each one when you fill it up.
If you’re in an area that gets below freezing, the water inside your containers might freeze and expand. This could cause them to crack or break, so it’s best to drain all of the water out before this happens.
What About Natural Disasters?
Even if you follow all of these guidelines when storing water, it’s not a good idea to rely on your supply if there’s an emergency or natural disaster. If you’re evacuating, you should take all of your stored water with you.
If the power goes out and you lose refrigeration for your stored water, it won’t last long. You must carefully monitor any temperature changes in your environment because even a small increase could compromise your water quality.
Conclusion
For all the water enthusiasts out there, remember that you should store it in a container with an airtight lid. Doing so will prevent any outside contaminants from coming into contact with it. You can also add citrus slices or fresh peppermint leaves for flavor if you’re feeling bored by plain old H2O! For those concerned about the taste and smell of your water, try using a filter to remove any odor or strange flavors. Make sure to follow these guidelines for keeping your water fresh and clean. It will be safe to drink as long as the container doesn’t leak and isn’t cracked or damaged.