The United States Food and Drug Administration reviews, approves, and regulates all food and medical products—including bottled water. But, unlike other products, the FDA has never given bottled water a specific shelf life. You will likely never see bottled water labeled with an expiration date. This is because water has an indefinite expiration period, and depends mostly on how you store your bottled water.
Have you ever asked, “How long does bottled water last?” Bottled water will last forever if it’s stored correctly!
How to Store Water to Extend Its Shelf Life
To ensure the safety and quality of your water, it’s essential that you store it securely. Practicing proper food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness. In order to confirm that your water will have a long shelf-life, you should:
- Keep bottled water stored at room temperature
- Store in a dry area away from sunlight
- Never store bottled water near cleaning products or other chemicals
- Never leave bottled water in a hot car
When it comes to drinking bottled water that has been stored, you should be wary of where it was stored, for how long it was stored, and in what conditions it was stored. If you water was stored in a cool or refrigerated area out of direct sunlight, the bottled water should be safe to drink.
Storing Bottled Water for Emergencies
The shelf life of bottled water is important if you are planning to store your water for long periods of time, especially during bad weather or crisis situations. During hurricane season in Florida, it is common for residents to plan ahead and store water for potential emergencies in the area.
From June to late November, hurricanes bring power outages, debris, and even loss of running water to our great state. But, even when we lose basic amenities, our bodies expect the same amount of clean water to survive. Since tap water can be easily compromised when the power goes out, it’s important to have clean, bottled water on hand for you and your family to drink.
Plan ahead. Have bottled water stored in a designated area, and make sure it meets general water storage requirements—at room temperature and not in direct sunlight. If you are storing bottled water for emergency purposes, it is recommended to keep spring water stored for no more than one year!
Read more about our storing water for emergencies >>
Bottled Water Delivery Service Near Fort Myers, FL
If you’ve ever wondered these questions about your bottled water, now you have answers! The bottled water experts at Water Boy, Inc. have been Florida’s authority on all things bottled water since 1938. Place your order for bottled water service or emergency water now—give us a call at 800-799-5684!