How long does stored tap water last?
Tap water you bottle yourself in clean, food-grade containers should be replaced every 6 months, as FEMA and the Red Cross recommend.
| Stored Tap Water | |
|---|---|
| Unopened | Replace every 6 months |
| Opened | Use within a day or two once a container is opened |
| Ideal storage | Food-grade containers, cool and dark, off bare concrete. |
Storage tips
- Never reuse milk or juice jugs: they are hard to clean and break down.
- Treated municipal water stores best; well water should be disinfected first.
Signs it has gone bad
- A broken or loose seal on a commercial bottle
- Cloudiness, floating particles, green tint or algae
- A chemical, plastic or fuel smell (plastic absorbs odors from nearby chemicals)
- If in doubt, treat it before drinking (boil, filter, or disinfect) rather than discarding it in an emergency