Mike

You may be wondering “can my distilled water go bad?”. Despite being the purest form of water, distilled water, like all water, can go bad and be unsafe to drink or use.

Water that is distilled is purified using the process of distillation. Through this process, the water is boiled. When cooled, the steam is collected and turned back into pure liquid H2O water.

Distilled water can have a longer shelf life than ordinary tap water because of its purity and lack of contaminants. This doesn’t necessarily make it the best choice for storing long-term for emergencies.

The most common use for distilled water is in humidifiers and other household appliances. I like to use distilled water in my steam iron to reduce mineral deposits.

Drinking distilled water is okay but not recommended long term due to the lack of minerals in the water.

Clean tap or spring water is superior to distilled water if drinking water is needed.

How Long Does Distilled Water Last?

Distilled water can theoretically have a longer shelf life than other water because it is the purest form. Unopened distilled water jugs will generally be safe to drink and use for several years beyond the best by date if stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

By itself, water cannot go bad, but environmental factors can compromise the safety of the water. Store-bought distilled water in a plastic container can degrade over time. The degradation process may leech chemical contaminants into the water or allow other things in the water.

Distilled Water Shelf Life

	Refrigerated	Pantry
Opened bottle of distilled water	9-12 months	3-7 days
Unopened bottle of distilled water	2+ years	2+ years

Store distilled water in glass bottles that can last much longer because the glass bottles will not degrade.
Opened bottled water can go bad sooner than unopened containers. Opening the container exposes the water to air and potentially other contaminants.
Just because the container was opened doesn’t necessarily mean it will spoil, but water safety must be taken seriously. Waterborne illnesses like Giardia and Cryptosporidium can kill you.

Distilled Water Vs. Purified Water?

Purified water has been filtered to reduce contaminants and improve purity. It is not the same thing as distilled water.
Most purified water will contain more minerals and is less pure than distilled water.

Is It Safe To Drink Distilled Water?

Distilled water is generally safe, provided the water hasn’t gone bad or been contaminated.
If all you have is distilled water, it will be acceptable to drink
The main reason not to drink distilled water is it doesn’t contain essential minerals our bodies need. That is why drinking spring water or regular tap water is preferable.

Is Expired Distilled Water Safe to Use?

Distilled water past its best by date can still be safe to use if stored properly. If you are planning to drink purified water, be extra careful to ensure it hasn’t spoiled.
About a year is the best-by-date on most distilled water I’ve seen. I have drank bottled water years beyond its best by date. There were no water issues, but I noticed a slight plastic taste.
I wouldn’t recommend drinking distilled water well beyond its best by date, but if you must, you definitely can do so.

How do I Tell if Distilled Water has Gone bad?

It can be challenging to tell if water has gone bad. Waterborne pathogens can live in water that looks and smells completely fine.

I got e.coli from drinking contaminated bottled water during a military training exercise in 2013. The water looked, smelled, and tasted perfectly clean, and there was no sign the water contained e.coli bacteria. We only learned of the e.coli after using specialized water testing equipment.

If you have any doubt about the safety of your water, don’t risk drinking it.

If you’re in a dire situation, boiling water can kill most pathogens in water. Remember that boiling usually won’t remove hazardous chemicals from the water.

• Green Algae – Algae can grow in water if the water has been contaminated and the conditions are right. Water with algae will be a yellow or greenish color. You may also notice greenish sediment in the container.
• Cloudiness – If your water is cloudy, it can indicate contamination or pathogens. Avoid drinking murky distilled water.
• Unusual smell – Strange smells strongly suggest something is wrong with your water. Just because water smells good doesn’t mean it’s safe, but don’t drink it if it stinks.
• Chemical taste – Water with an unusual or chemical taste is an indication the distilled water is contaminated. It may be chemicals from the container breaking down or something else.

How to Safely Store Distilled Water

Storing distilled water long term is the same as storing normal water. For the most extended shelf life, it’s best to use containers designed for long-term water storage. Check out our post on the best water storage containers.

• Keep your water in a cool, dry place.
• Use the proper containers. Food-grade HDPE plastic containers are designed to safely store water long term.
• Avoid direct sunlight. The sunlight can cause algae growth and the plastic containers to degrade
• Keep away from odorous materials. Strong scents can permeate your water containers and contaminate the water.
• Keep lids secure. Tightly sealed lids will prevent air exposure and leakage.

FAQ

Is drinking distilled water safe?

Yes, it is safe to drink distilled water.

Can bacteria grow in distilled water?

Yes, bacteria can grow in distilled water if it is contaminated.

How long does distilled water last?

The best by date on most bottles of distilled water is about one year if it is unopened.

How long does distilled water last after being opened?

Opened distilled water can last a year or more if stored correctly. Be careful if you intend to drink it.

How do I extend the lifespan of distilled water?

Store it in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

What are the risks of consuming contaminated distilled water?

Consuming contaminated water can cause death or severe illness from waterborne pathogens or other contaminants.

Does distilled water need to be refrigerated after opening?

If you want to drink distilled water, it should be refrigerated after opening. It does not need to be refrigerated if used for appliances.

Does distilled water have chlorine?

No, it is pure H2O.

Drinking water is one of the most important resources we need for daily survival. During an emergency situation water supplies may be compromised for extended periods. Having water tanks full of fresh drinking water will be a godsend when SHTF.

Drinking water is one of the most critical resources we need for daily survival. Having water tanks full of fresh drinking water will be a godsend during emergencies or when SHTF. During an emergency, water supplies may be compromised for extended periods.

What you Should Know About Food-Grade Plastic Water Storage Barrels

The 55-gal water storage barrel is one of my favorite long-term water storage methods. These large water storage containers are one of the most affordable, cost-effective methods for long-term water storage.

Before buying a bunch of water barrels, ensure they will work for you.

• Full barrels of water weigh about 460 lbs. Can your storage location support the weight?
• It is challenging to move a full water barrel.
• Ensure you can get a hose long enough to reach your water barrel in the storage location.
• Most water barrels have a screw on bung which require a bung wrench to open. Many water drums come with these.
• Accessing water from inside the water barrel requires a hand pump or siphon. Many drums come with these.

The things mentioned above are a minor issue for many people. Still, when getting water barrels for emergency use or water storage, you should be mindful of them. If you’re still not sure 55-gallon water drums suit you, check out our post on the best water storage vessels for some alternatives.

Tips For Storing Water in 55-Gallon Plastic Water Barrels

Selecting a Water Barrel for Long Term Water Storage

Not all plastic barrels are suitable for potable water storage.

Ensure your barrels are made of food-grade plastic high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to store potable water. A BPA-free and food-grade barrel will ensure no chemicals leach into the water.

I use a few non-food grade rain barrels that I got for free in a rain barrel catchment system, but this water is not intended for drinking water.

If you’re spending your hard earned money, buy food-grade barrels.

A 55-gallon plastic barrel of water weighs about 460 lbs. Many shelving systems can easily collapse with the concentrated weight of full water barrels. They are not movable when full, so consider your storage location carefully.

Where To Store a 55 Gallon Drum of Water?

Since full water barrels are so cumbersome, you should be strategic about where you store the water barrel.

When choosing a storage location, you want to protect your water from extreme temperatures and light. A dark, cool, dry place like a basement or garage is ideal.

Keep your drums out of direct sunlight. Any sunlight exposure will promote algae growth.

Consider how you will drain and rotate the well water stored in the drums. Siphoning water from a basement can be difficult and require a very long hose.

If your drums could get cold enough to freeze, leave at least ten percent of the barrel empty to account for expansion should it freeze.

You need to place the empty barrels where you want and then fill them in their permanent location.

Storing your drums off the ground is a good idea. Elevating the barrels off the floor prevents chemicals from leaching into the vessels.

I get free pallets from a few stores in my area and stack the containers on them for this purpose.

How to clean a 55 gallon drum for water storage (sanitize)

Even if you’re using new food-grade plastic water containers, you should thoroughly clean and sanitize them before filling them.

1. Add clean water and a bit of dish soap to your barrel.
2. Attach the lid of your barrel and shake or roll it around to get the dish soap all over the inside of the barrel.
3. Thoroughly rinse the dish soap out of the barrel
4. Choose whichever disinfection technique you prefer.
5. Rinse the bleach or other disinfectant out of the barrel. Now it’s ready to be filled.

Pick a spot for your barrel, then fill it…

Your filled water barrels will weigh about 460 lbs each. Plan your storage location accordingly.

Depending on where you plan to store your containers, they may be far from a water source.

I use a 100ft RV potable water hose to fill my barrels. These hoses are made of food-grade materials and are safe for use. Make sure whatever hose you get is long enough to reach your barrels.

Using a standard garden hose to fill your containers is not recommended. There is a greater risk of water contamination, and garden hoses are not made of food-grade materials.

The Best Water Disinfection Techniques

Depending on your local water, disinfecting the water may be optional.

I do not add water treatment or other chemicals to my filled water barrels because our water is already chlorinated. Check your local municipality and determine if you need to add anything else to your water.

The methods below will treat water and kill viruses or bacteria. Choose one that works best for you.

Using Bleach to Disinfect Your Water

• Add 2 tablespoons of new unscented chlorine bleach to your filled barrel.
• The bleach will degrade in as little as six months and won’t be effective. Only use a fresh new bleach solution.

Using Calcium Hypochlorite to Disinfect Your Water

• Add 1/4 teaspoon to your filled barrel.

Using Water Preserver to Disinfect Your Water

• Follow the water preserver instructions and add the dose to your filled barrel.

Using Aquamira water treatment to Disinfect Your Water

• Follow the instructions and add the proper dose to your filled barrel.
• Aquamira uses oxygen to disinfect the water and can improve the taste.

Using H2O ResQ to Disinfect Your Water

• Follow the instructions and add the proper dose to your filled barrel.
• This solution uses a copper-silver ion to prevent growth in your water.

Do I Need to Rotate My Water Storage?

The short answer is yes. Ideally, you should rotate your water every six months.

When I first started prepping, I was religious about my water rotation schedule. Over the years, I’ve relaxed about this.

Never once has my water been compromised in six months, and I’ve had barrels full for years which are perfectly fine for drinking water.

I rotate any water barrel filled for more than a year.

How much water should I store?

Recommendations on emergency water storage vary by source, but FEMA recommends at least two weeks of water per person.

I choose to drink and store much more than this because I live in an area prone to catastrophic natural disasters. Some water will be used for light personal sanitation and drinking, so factor this into your emergency water equation.

Should the SHTF, I want my drinking water supply to be as secure as possible.

FAQ

How long can you store water in a 55-gallon drum?

The stored water can last for years in a 55-gallon drum if stored properly. You should still rotate your water at least once a year.

How much does a 55-gallon drum of water cost?

As of this writing, 55-gallon barrels cost about $140.

How much bleach do I add to 55-gallon water for storage?

Two tablespoons for one 55-gallon barrel of water. Make sure you are using fresh bleach because it will degrade over time.

How do you keep a 55-gallon drum of water fresh?

Storing your water in a cool, dry place away from sunlight will help. Water treatment chemicals can also help extend the shelf life of water. You should plan to rotate your water every 6-12 months.

What is the best way to store water for emergencies?

Food-grade 55-gallon barrels work exceptionally well for emergency water storage if you have the space.

Can I use water purification tablets to store water long-term?

Iodine water purification tablets are not meant to sanitize water for long-term storage. I keep them as a backup should my filters fail or I can’t boil water.

You will die within three days if you don’t have enough drinking water. During a natural disaster the last thing you want is to be in dire need of water.

Besides shelter and food, you must prioritize your water supply when building out your emergency preparedness kit.

Store-bought water bottles and gallon water jugs can work fine for short term water storage but these containers are not ideal for longer term storage. These containers don’t last as long and are prone to failure.

Ideally you should invest in more permanent solutions for emergency water storage.

The best water storage containers.

There are countless water storage containers available on the market. Each type has it’s own benefits and drawbacks.

Large water storage containers are going to be very heavy and difficult to move. A 55 gallon drum of water weighs over 400lbs for reference.

Smaller containers are easier to work with and transport should you need to. A 5 or 10 gallon container will be much more manageable if you need some of your water to be portable.

I prefer to have a variety of containers for portability and bulk storage.

Best water storage containers for limited storage space

WaterBrick water containers

Our favorite water storage containers for limited space is the WaterBrick.

These stackable water storage containers are well made and can be stacked nearly anywhere.

They have a durable handle and cap. You can also buy a spigot separately.

Why we like them:

• Nested stacking design

• Durable plastic construction

• Food-grade HDPE (BPA free plastic)

• Decent value if you buy the bulk packs

Best water storage containers for durability

5 Gallon Military Water Containers

When I was in the military we used these plastic jerry can water storage containers on deployment and during training exercises.

We even used them as makeshift weighs for working out. Carry a couple of these for a few hundred yards and you’ll get strong.

If they can survive US Marines they will probably survive anything you can throw at them.

These are my favorite portable water storage containers.

The only downside to these is they can be expensive.

Why we like them:

• Extremely durable construction

• Intelligent cap and vent design

• Food-grade HDPE BPA-free plastic

• Convenient carry handle

• Great for camping and loading in vehicles

• Can be used as impromptu workout equipment

Best large water storage container

55 GALLON WATER BARREL

There are a lot of great options for bulk water storage but our favorite is the 55 gallon water barrel.

These are very cost effective for how large they are so it doesn’t cost a lot to build up a good supply of emergency water storage containers. If you want to store water in bulk but not break the bank, 55 gallon barrels are the best.

Build quality is excellent and they are very durable long term in our experience.

These 55 gallon barrels aren’t as feature-packed as some other large containers but they also don’t cost $300 a piece.

The main downside to these is they require a pump or siphon to extract the water. The pumps are included with most barrels though.

Keep in mind, these big guys are over 400lbs when filled so don’t plan on moving them easily.

Why we like them:

• Extremely cost effective for bulk storage

• Durable construction

• Food-grade HDPE plastic (BPA free)

Best budget water storage containers

Reliance Products Aqua-Tainer 7 Gallon Rigid Water Container

If you’re looking for a semi-portable water storage container that’s affordable the Reliance Aqua-Tainer is great.

These are well made and somewhat portable. They have a good lid design and also include a spigot to make pouring easier.

The main thing I don’t like about them is their thick shape. It makes carrying more difficult than the jerry cans or other containers.

Why we like them:

• Affordable

• Quality construction

• Screw cap and vent

Exchange 2.5 Gallon Water Containers

For something lighter and more portable than the Aqua-tainer check these out.

They don’t have a vent and they don’t block light but these are cheap and get the job done.

Why we like them:

• Affordable

• Food-grade HDPE plastic (BPA free)

• Relatively light weight

How to Choose Water Storage Containers for Emergency Preparedness

Long term storage of water isn’t difficult but there are a few things you should consider when choosing your water storage containers.

Can I use recycled containers to store water?

Plastic bottles such as milk jugs or soda bottles can be used for water storage containers. The main issue with these containers is they aren’t designed for long term storage.

These bottles are relatively thin and will begin to break down over time. They also don’t block light from reaching your water. The water storage containers in our list will last indefinitely.

If you use these recycled containers you must rotate the water and bottles regularly. Then use entirely new bottles and fill them with fresh water.

What size water containers should I get?

I use a combination of container sizes and types. This allows me to have a lot of water stored while also affording me the ability to move many of my storage containers if necessary.

At least 50% of my water storage containers are 55 gallon barrels or similar. These are heavy and not really movable but they are also very cost effective.

The remainder of my emergency water storage containers hold around 5 gallons of water.

I like this combination of containers so I have a lot of portable containers while being able to have a large water supply without spending too much.

Evaluate your needs and determine what works best for you and your family.

Do you need Spigots or Faucets?

For large water storage containers they are usually a necessity. Water weights about 8lbs per gallon so large water containers get heavy fast. Consider how difficult it will be to pour water from a 50+ pound container.

Not all spigots are designed the same and some containers have very poorly made spigots. They also can get awkward if the spigot sticks out of a container making them prone to breaking.

I prefer to keep a sturdy cap on my containers and only attach a spigot if needed. I also keep a piece of hose to use as a siphon on large containers if the spigot or pump breaks.

Should I buy Stackable Water Storage Containers?

Stackable containers can be very convenient especially if you’re short on space. You can free up a lot of floor space by using stackable containers.

Keep in mind that some containers are only stackable when empty.

If you’re storing your water containers on shelves or racks pay attention to how much weight you’re loading. Many shelves will fail when overloaded.

What Material is Best for Water Storage Containers

The best water storage container material is HDPE (plastic #2). All other types of plastic are either too weak or will leach chemicals into the water. Food grade plastic is a must for potable water storage containers.

Check to make sure the containers you are getting are considered food grade. Not all HDPE is considered food grade. If you want non potable water storage containers they don’t need to be food grade but should still be made of HDPE for long term storage.

What Color Storage Containers Should I get?

The best water storage containers are going to prevent light from reaching your water. By protecting your water from light it will prevent algae growth.

Blue is very common as well as other dark colors. You want your container to prevent light from reaching your water. Clear or opaque containers can work but you will want to store water in a dark place.

How to Prepare and Fill Your Water Storage Containers

When you get your water storage containers you don’t want to just fill them with tap water and put them in storage.

There are a few steps you should take to make your water last as long as possible.

How to Clean and Fill Your Containers

1. Fill your containers with warm water and a little dish soap. Seal the container and shake it to clean out any debris. Rise out the soap.

2. Fill the container with about a quart of water. Add a teaspoon of unscented household chlorine bleach.

3. Close the container and shake well to make sure the bleach water mixture is able to disinfect the entire container.

4. Thoroughly rinse and fill your sanitized container with fresh water.

5. There is no need to chemically treat water. You can use water preserver if you wish. Good quality tap water will be fine for at least a year without any additional treatment when stored properly.

6. Store water containers in a cool, dry, dark place. Keep your containers off the ground if possible. I get free wood pallets for this purpose.