Glass water bottles (plastic, refrigerator, Whole Foods, homemade)

[NY_girl77]

I have been trying to switch away from plastic water bottles, for many reasons. I have purchased some smaller (14 oz, 16 oz, 20 oz) glass water bottles. I use them primarily for homemade juices at this point. I have not been able to find a filter system for my home that makes the water taste good. Where I live the cold water is always warm and tastes like dirt. I do know that the Whole Foods by me has pretty good tasting water, but they only sell the huge jugs in plastic. They will however, let you bring in your own bottles and fill them. I do not like my water refrigerator cold, so I leave it out at room temperature. My question is, if I get the gallon (or 5 gallon) water jugs and fill them, is it safe to fill them with cold water and then leave them at room temperature for days? I don't live close to my local WF. So it would be beneficial for me to get large amounts at a time. I drink a lot of water everyday. I have googled this and have found articles stating it's safe, but I have read just as many stating it is not safe. I would figure if I stored them in a cool, dry place out of the sun it would be safe. Is there anyone here that has done this or currently does?

[Hemlock140]

Yes, as long as the jugs is clean when you fill it and you pour rather than drink out of it, the water should be fine. Keeping it out of the sunlight is a good idea. Bottled water, as many of us store for emergency purposes, will be safe to drink and taste good for 2-3 years or more though the FDA has determined that there is no shelf life limit. What can happen is a plasticy taste. We keep ours for 2 years, then use it on houseplants of the fish tank, and get new ones.

[NY_girl77]

Thank you. I appreciate the response.

[GregW]

You could always sterilize the bottles with Sodium Hypochlorite bleach after washing them. You could also keep the water bacteria free by putting a small amount of bleach in the stored water. Look for around 3 to 5 parts per million Chlorine to beep the bugs away. The water may taste bad but it will be sterile.

[arleigh]

Water needs to be aerated a bit to bring back taste and also reverse osmosis filtering will do a lot to improve the quality. I have 3 different filters on my house .
A whole house filter, that catches particulates that ruin valves and remove sand and grit being charcoal improves taste.
a Britta filter on the kitchen tap and an in-line filter in my bath room adjacent to my bed room .
Britta also makes pitchers that filter water too.
But if you got a serious problem with chlorine or worse high iron ,then the "reverse osmosis" is more appropriate .
I am told plastics leach their chemicals in the water especially in heat and sunlight so keep them in the dark and cool places.
Glass is best, but it's delicate .
I have water thousands of gallons of water stored, in the event of a disaster, but I have a filter bucket for running water through after it's been stored for a long time, to remove any chemicals, and restore the taste and a bit of aeration as well.