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Label everything
Write the date filled and the word DRINKING on each container you filled yourself. Leave store-bought water in its sealed bottles and note the date printed on it.
Water
Rotate and label stored water
Put a date on every container and two swap days in your calendar, so the water you count on is never more than six months old.
Time30 min
LevelEasy
Steps5
Official sources2
Stored water only helps if it is still good when you need it. Clear labels and a fixed swap date keep the supply fresh without guesswork.
What you need
Gather these before you start.
- Masking tape or labels: 1 per container
- Permanent marker: 1
- Unscented household bleach (for refilled containers): as on the label for cleaning
- Calendar or phone reminder
Step by step
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Set two swap dates
Replace water you bottled yourself every six months. Pick two dates that are easy to remember, such as when the clocks change, and put them in your calendar.
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Use the old water
Use the outgoing water for plants, cleaning or flushing rather than pouring it away. Store-bought bottles can be drunk before their date and replaced.
44 of 5
Clean before refilling
Wash each container with soap and water, rinse, then sanitize it with a weak bleach solution as the label directs and rinse again. Refill with safe tap water and cap it tight.
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Store it right
Keep containers in a cool, dark place, off concrete and away from gasoline, paint and pesticides. Plastic can take on fumes from chemicals stored nearby.
The numbers
| What | Amount |
|---|---|
| Replace water you bottled yourself | Every 6 months |
| Swap dates a year | 2 |
| Labels | 1 per container |
| Water per person per day | 1 gal (3.8 L) |
| Minimum supply | 3 days |
Ready.gov, Water
Stay safe
- Use only food-grade containers or bottles made for drinking water; never reuse milk jugs, which are hard to clean.
- Never store drinking water in containers that once held chemicals.
When you're done
| Result | A water supply that is never more than six months old, with a date on every container. |
|---|---|
| Keep it ready | Check for leaks and cloudiness at each swap. Plan on 1 gal (3.8 L) per person per day for at least three days. |
Questions people ask
How often should you rotate stored water?
Every six months for water you bottled yourself. Pick two dates that are easy to remember, such as when the clocks change, and put them in your calendar.
Does stored water go bad?
Water you bottled yourself should be replaced every six months. At each swap, check the containers for leaks and cloudiness, and keep them away from gasoline, paint and pesticides, because plastic can take on their fumes.
Does bottled water expire?
Store-bought water has a date printed on it. Keep the bottles sealed, drink them before that date and buy new ones to replace them.
Sources
Related guides
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