This would be tap water and it would be stored in BPA-free five gallon containers inside my home (can't store it in the garage year-round because it will freeze in the winter). So, the water would be stored at temps between about 65 to 80 degrees.

Can I just fill new, clean containers and sock them away for a couple of years or longer?

I’ve done it in 5 gallon containers, and used it up to two years later…I treat each 5 gallon container with chlorine-maybe about 10-15 drops per 5 gallons.

This is for people drinking and cooking water.

Kept them stored out of direct sunlight.

Yes, water for drinking and cooking.

So, you're using tap water from a municipal system which treats the water, and you give it additional treatment before 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). One teaspoon of bleach disinfects 5 gallons of water.

Allow 20 to 30 minutes before drinking. This level of treatment will prevent growth of microorganisms during storage. Most municipal water storage facilities are already disinfected so no additional treatment is necessary. Link

Great question and have been wondering about this also. How long might even the gallon jugs that have been filled out of our R/O supposedly be "ok" to consume?

I too store water in multiple 5 gallon BPA-free containers indoors out of sunlight. So far I have not had to use them. After about two years, I have used them for outdoor watering, cleaned them out, and then refilled. I have an R/O system, but when I fill the containers I use municipal supplied water.

If I was to ever use the water for human consumption after one year, I would either boil it, or treat it with chlorine or a water tablet. That opinion is only mine and nothing specific to go on. From what I have ever read, water storage is not indefinite so at some point additional treatment will be required.

This guide looks very useful.

quote:

Originally posted by DrDan:
This guide looks very useful.

Awesome. Thanks!

Para, I have four-55 gallon barrels with treated tap water. These are BPA free, food grade and cleaned well before use. My research at the time was saying long term storage was no problem. We also have a Berkey filter it can be run through just to be extra safe.

We have had a office water cooler in our house for years. We buy the five gallon jugs full of spring water for $6 each at the local supplier. Walmart carries them as well I think. I have a rack that holds six jugs plus one on the cooler itself. So I have between 25 and 35 gallons of good clean water on hand at all times.

The supplier says the water jugs will keep water for probably ten years. We don't drink tap water here.

Personal experience FWIW...I store in 5 gal BPA free containers. I live in farm country with well water. I add 1/2 tsp(2.5ml) of concentrated bleach per 5 gal straight from the tap. Only had to use it once, after about 3 years of storage, during a power failure. It was fine (used for drinking, coffee, and cooking). Tasted a little flat but no illness. I do replace it every 5 years. I'm sure treated municipal water would fare even better.

ETA: I do sanitize containers with a 1 tbls. per gal bleach solution in between fill-ups.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Yes, water for drinking and cooking.

So, you're using tap water from a municipal system which treats the water, and you give it additional treatment before storage?

Correct.

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
We have had a office water cooler in our house for years. We buy the five gallon jugs full of spring water for $6 each at the local supplier. Walmart carries them as well I think. I have a rack that holds six jugs plus one on the cooler itself. So I have between 25 and 35 gallons of good clean water on hand at all times.

The supplier says the water jugs will keep water for probably ten years. We don't drink tap water here.

Really? I think we’ve (in this area) some of the best tap water in the world right here.

Prior to consuming stored tap water,
Please consider having it tested by a reputable lab .

God only knows what may be in it these days.

I invested in a Katadyne pocket water filter. Ceramic filter-reusable.
https://www.katadyngroup.com/u...906/overview/listing

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:

quote:

Originally posted by lastmanstanding:
We have had a office water cooler in our house for years. We buy the five gallon jugs full of spring water for $6 each at the local supplier. Walmart carries them as well I think. I have a rack that holds six jugs plus one on the cooler itself. So I have between 25 and 35 gallons of good clean water on hand at all times.

The supplier says the water jugs will keep water for probably ten years. We don't drink tap water here.

Really? I think we’ve (in this area) some of the best tap water in the world right here.

Our water here just south of Duluth is very hard. Eats up water heaters about every five years or so. It's not bad tasting actually but since I started using the bottled spring water for drinking and some cooking I could really tell the difference. Especially if I'm using it in a brine for poultry or pork where the meat will sit in a brine solution for 24 hours or more.

This is actual spring water not purified tap water like most of the bottle water you buy at the gas station or by the case at Walmart.