After I had my daughter, I started caring a lot more about random things that literally never crossed my mind before. Suddenly, I was worried about carrying a small little first aid kit in my purse, and made sure there was always plenty of bottled water if I was driving a distance. I also made sure there was a stash in my basement, just in case there was a national emergency. You can live approximately three weeks without food, but without water? You’re toast.
Of course, the best way to make sure you and your family are covered is by buying a gigantic supply at a place like BJ’s or Costco. The cost is worth it to relieve the panic, and hey — it’s just bottled water. You’ll probably use it eventually, right?
Well, that’s not always the case.
My disaster basement water has been untouched for a year. That’s good for obvious reasons, but bad because I’m not really sure how long you can hold bottled water for. I remember as a kid, my mom always filled old milk jugs with the same “just in case” water, and I swear they remained as-is in my basement for about two decades.
Even if they were totally fine, they still made me a little queasy.
So, does bottled water go bad? The answer is, not really.
My bottles of water in the basement are likely still okay.
That’s because the U.S. Food And Drug Administration claims that water has an indefinite shelf life when it remains unopened.
But if I had opened one of the bottles, took a swig, and put it back with the rest?
That’s another story.
The phrase “refrigerate after opening” definitely applies here.
If you tamper with the water or take some time to finish it, bacteria can start to be introduced.
So if you open a big gallon of it and take a couple of drinks, refrigeration would help slow down the process.
As you know, your fridge is more or less the hero of your kitchen.
Does bottled water go bad? I don't drink out of a preopened bottle if its been sitting around for more then a few days. #paranoid #random
— Dago Cordova (@dago_deportes) March 8, 2011
Here’s why:
“Once someone opens and drinks from a bottled water, that water is subject to germs and spoilage because food particles could have entered the water via backwash, just as could happen with any other beverage packaged in a single-serve container,” a representative from the International Bottled Water Association said to The Takeout.
Am I the only one who thinks bottled water gets old and has a bad taste after a while?¿
— kenz⚡️ (@maclode13) July 18, 2017
But, what about high temperatures?
If you’re a fan of bottled water, you’ve probably left a few out in your car during a hot day.
Nestle Waters North America says it’s all in the plastic.
They use PET plastics, and state that they’re safe. Even though substances from the plastic may migrate into the water, it’s not to a level that would deem that water unsafe. (But, would you want to drink hot water anyway?)
I just drank from a bottle of water that had been in my room for about a week. It tasted horrible. Since when does bottled water go bad?!
— glong (@GeeLyn) June 12, 2012
You may be curious as to why bottled water has an expiration date.
That’s actually more helpful for people who need to know how long it’s been sitting on store shelves.
So, if you have expired water, don’t panic.
Unless it’s been sitting in your car half-opened for a decade, you should be okay.
If you bottled your water yourself, using a reusable container… first off, good for you.
You’re doing a great job with trying to reduce waste and saving a ton of money in the process.
But second, you may want to be more cautious.
You’re likely sipping water throughout the day, and you’re far more likely to just toss a plastic bottle after it’s been sitting around for a bit.
Will anything happen if you drink room-temperature water a few days after putting it in your reusable bottle?
It’s very, very unlikely. But you’ll notice it doesn’t taste the same.
According to Treehugger, it takes open tap water about 12 hours before carbon dioxide mixes in to flatten the taste.
If water is readily available, that alone is the reason why you should refresh your bottle.
You’ll also want to make sure that your bottle gets washed on occasion, especially if you share it.
If it gets really gross, there’s a higher chance for microorganisms to show up.
Plus, it’s an excuse to buy multiple water bottles. (And Swell has some really cute ones!)
Not like you needed a reason, since “water is healthy” and “I want to help the environment” are both good enough!
So, long story short: No, bottled water doesn’t go bad.
There haven’t been reports of anyone getting dangerously sick after drinking water from a bottle with a bad expiration.
