Providing quality water to Northeast Ohio since 1897
Providing quality water to Northeast Ohio since 1897
Home Blog > How Long do 5-Gallon Water Jugs Last
Author: April Schroeder
Whether you want to prepare for an emergency or overstocked your supply, it is important to know how long 5-gallon water jugs last. After all, you do not want to drink tainted water or waste your hard-earned money.
The good news is these jugs last quite a long time. But, there are a few caveats you should know. We will teach you how to store water, which types of bottles to choose, and how much you will need.
The Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration govern bottled water companies. Neither list a regulation for the shelf life of 5-gallon water bottles. In their eyes, or according to their guidelines, water does not expire. This is true only if it is professionally packaged in food-grade bottles. We recommend that you use your water within two years of the manufacturing date. The use-by date is printed on the neck of the bottle.
First, let’s be clear – when we refer to “water” we are not talking about tap. Only use spring, distilled, reverse osmosis, or filtered water in 5-gallon water jugs. Do not refill them with tap water. The bottles must be sanitized and sealed to prevent contamination.
As stated, the shelf life of 5-gallon bottles is up to two years. The water will not go bad at that point. Yet, it may develop a stale taste. The jug itself lasts indefinitely as it is made from food-grade plastic or glass. As we describe in our article, “The Life of a 5-gallon Water Bottle”, they are often reused up to 50 times!
Most households and businesses will use about 1 gallon of water per person per day. This amount can vary. When you consider how much water you will need, answer these questions:
For each of these questions you answer yes, you should increase your monthly delivery.
It is always a good idea to store water for emergencies. And, 5-gallon bottles are an excellent choice. We recommend keeping at least four gallons of emergency water per person. A three-day supply is great. But in certain situations, two weeks is optimal. Follow these guidelines for proper storage of 5-gallon containers:
As you can see, you do not need to worry about how long 5-gallon water jugs last. Distillata provides only the highest quality food-grade bottles filled with properly treated water.
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