Quick Guide: Bottle Deposits

Reusable 5-gallon water bottles are a popular choice for homes and businesses. They offer an ample supply of clean water and come with no waste. 5-gallon bottles are reused up to 50 times. This feature also makes them budget-friendly. Users only pay a one-time deposit rather than a repeated purchase price!

How Do 5-Gallon Water Jug Deposits Work?

Here’s the skinny. 5-gallon water bottles, also referred to as “carboys”, are subject to an $8.00 deposit. Each bottle purchased on your initial delivery will have an associated fee.

• 1 bottle = a $8.00 deposit, 2 bottles = $16.00 deposit, and so on.

Future deliveries will be handled as an even exchange.

• 1 full bottle is delivered and 1 empty bottle is picked up = no deposit.

The purpose of the deposit system is to ensure that costs are kept low by maintaining a steady inventory of bottles for our production team. Also, our goal is to recapture the plastic containers for recycling.

How does a 5-gallon water exchange work if I don’t have an empty to return?

Any deliveries with a net negative exchange will be subject to an additional bottle deposit.

• 1 full bottle is delivered and no empties are picked up = $8.00 deposit.

The opposite concept applies to a net positive exchange.

• 1 full bottled is delivered and 2 empties are picked up = a $8.00 credit.

Do You Take Empty 5-Gallon Bottles From Other Companies?

We do take competitors’ empties. Due to compatibility issues we can not accept empty Primo Water bottles. There is no cash value. Competitor empty 5-gallon bottle return credit will be issued as an account credit. Read more about our competitor’s empty 5-gallon bottled exchange program here. Keep in mind, this is not a state-mandated bottle deposit program. Final refunds are not paid for the return of these water jugs without a receipt or other proof of purchase.

Watch this video to see how our delivery service works: