Are you looking for new and creative ways to access fresh drinking and cooking water for your home? Or are you curious about storing water for an emergency? It is so important to make sure you drink safe water free of contaminants that can make you sick. Whether you want to invest in a water delivery service or want to be more prepared for an emergency, there are a few things you need to know. Standard emergency guidelines recommend that you have one gallon of water stored for each day per person. That means if you live with one other person and want to always have a week’s worth of water on hand, then you would need 14 gallons of water stored away! Here’s everything you need to know about the best and safest ways to store water so you can drink and cook with safe, fresh water.
How to Keep Water Fresh & Clean for Longer
A water-related emergency can happen when you least expect it, which is why it can help to always have an emergency stash of potable water stored away. When clean drinking water isn’t available, you want to have a source of fresh water you can trust. Check out these tips for how to keep your water fresher and cleaner for longer when you store water at home.
Use Clean Bottles & Canisters
The first thing you want to do is make sure your water storage containers are clean. Wash the bottles or canisters using soap and water and rinse them well. You can clean bottles or canisters with a capful of household bleach for every 5 liters of water and let the water stand for 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing the container thoroughly. The type of bottles or canisters you use can affect the quality and flavor of the water, so it is important to think through the type of material you plan to use. Never use bottles or canisters that have previously stored other food or beverage items because it can be next to impossible to remove all the sugars, oils, or bacteria from lingering on the surface.
Fill with Cold Water
When you fill up water for storage purposes, you want to use cold water. If you run warm water from the tap, it could include more metals from the pipes that bring water into your home. Cold water, on the other hand, will typically have a fresher flavor and contain fewer metal contaminants before storage.
Store in a Cool, Dark Place
No matter how long you plan to store water, you always want to store it in a cool, dark place and away from direct sunlight. Both heat and sunlight can break down plastics and negatively impact the water flavor. Warm bottles or canisters can also lead to the growth of algae or bacteria. High temperatures and fluctuations can lead to stored water spoiling faster.
Pre-Bottled Water for Storage
While you might be tempted to try a do-it-yourself approach to water storage, you can also invest in a bottling service you trust. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends unopened commercial bottled water as the most reliable source of water in an emergency situation. Pre-bottled water must meet various federal standards set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, you should always pay attention to the expiration date and try to avoid water that has been sitting out in hot temperatures. The type of bottle can also impact the quality of the water, even if it is bottled commercially.
Plastic vs. Glass Water Storage
While both disposable and reusable plastic water bottles can be found everywhere, using plastic for storing water has some drawbacks. First, chemicals from plastic can leach into the water and leave a bad flavor behind. Plastic is typically made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is not durable and can easily start to break down. There are also fewer regulations on water that goes into plastic bottles, which means you might purchase plastic water bottles filled with water equivalent to your home’s tap water. On the other hand, glass water bottles do not affect the flavor of the water and instead help maintain the fresh flavor from the source. When you store water in glass bottles, you will notice how this water simply tastes better. Glass bottles don’t have any chemicals that can leach into the water, either. When you invest in glass water bottles, you also invest in an eco-friendly and durable option that will last you for years to come.
Water Storage with Lipsey Water
The actual amount you decide to store away may change depending on your specific needs and habits, but it often ends up being a bit more water than you think! When you sign up for a water delivery service with Lipsey Water, you will get water delivered in glass bottles right to your Atlanta home or office. Our glass water bottles are designed with thick, quality glass and sanitized in between uses without chemicals. Plus, we only fill our glass bottles with fresh spring water from the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and use a minimal purification process to maintain naturally occurring minerals and allow for the freshest taste.