In what container should I store spring water for drinking + what to do, how to preserve it?

Types of water

You can’t live without water, so a substance with the formula H2O is a popular and popular product. It is classified into:

Distilled, obtained by distillation through a still. It undergoes purification from impurities and salts and is almost no different from the melt water of mountain peaks. But the body needs mineral components, so it is not suitable for drinking.
Bottled is distributed through retail chains. It is contained in plastic containers and its composition can be drinking, carbonated, mineral, distilled. But usually this is drinking water, which is packaged in containers from 0.33 to 19 liters. This packaging is convenient: 19 liters of water is enough for drinking and convenient for cooking. The shelf life of water in a plastic bottle varies, which is due to the presence of preservatives and the quality of the container.
Mineral water is rich in mineral salts and trace elements. Water for treatment is released in glass (0.3-0.5 l) and polyethylene containers (0.5-2 l). Since it is intended for different purposes and is used as a dining room, medicinal and for outdoor use, its storage duration is different.

Note: Storage of water depends on the container in which it is located. The liquid does not lose its qualities over time. But its structure deteriorates due to the plastic in which it is stored. Plastic containers have their own shelf life and after it expires, chemical components are released into the water, changing its composition.

What is the best way to store water?

The structure of an aqueous solution is affected by the container in which it is stored. Experimentally, it was found that the best option is if the water is stored in

silver jug,
utensils made of steel or enamel,
glass

The greatest biological activity was observed with a combination of silver and light. Scientists have figured out how to store “living” water for drinking. The best option is glassware placed in diffused sunlight. If you add a silver coin or jewelry to it, the quality will improve significantly.

It is considered a bad option to keep the liquid in a plastic bottle or tanks. In synthetic containers, its composition changes significantly for the worse. If the bottle contains tap water, then its storage temperature should not be higher than +7-+10 C. Under such conditions, toxic substances are released less and the proliferation of microorganisms slows down. If the volume of water (19 liters) is not stored correctly, it is used for everyday needs or boiled.

Rules and terms of water storage

How long the quality of water in 19 liter bottles remains depends on the storage rules for such containers. On average, this is 6-12 months from the moment of bottling (see the label). It is better to keep the container away from heating devices and direct rays of the sun. Water will retain its structure at room temperature and in diffused light.

What is the shelf life of 19 liter bottled water if the bottle is already opened? It is believed that the water should be used within 3-5 days. But it is unlikely that such a volume will be consumed quickly. It is advisable to place the container in a cool place and if a lot of time has passed, it will be safer to boil the remaining liquid.

For your information. We use high-quality food-grade plastic, which is marked PET (E). It is extruded on the bottle and it is worth paying attention to this moment. Unscrupulous manufacturers package water in toxic containers labeled PVC or containing methylamine.

Tap water

How long does tap water last in a plastic bottle? It is pre-filtered and poured into bottles. They are left open to allow the chlorine to evaporate. Then the containers are sealed and used indoors for 3 days, and in the refrigerator for about a week.

Boiled water

Sometimes water is boiled for future use and left in an enamel container with a closed lid. Under the influence of high temperatures, microorganisms, both beneficial and harmful, die. If there are a lot of salts in the liquid, they settle to the bottom. The shelf life of boiled water directly depends on its composition and quality.

Do you always follow the correct storage of food/medicines and their product proximity?

Yes, of course, this is very important so as not to spend money on your health later.

43.91%

Not really, because there won’t be anything like going to the toilet.

24.72%

I look at it by appearance and if I use anything after heat treatment.

31.37%

Votes: 271

If water is used for drinking, it is usually boiled in small quantities and consumed almost immediately. According to experts, the shelf life of cold boiled water is 12 hours.

Mineral water

It is difficult to answer the question of how long mineral water can be stored, since its composition and purpose are different, as are the containers used. On average, this period ranges from 3 to 18 months (plastic packaging) or 24 months (glass containers). Each type of mineral water has an expiration date, which the manufacturer indicates on the label.

Water with a mineral composition is stored under certain conditions:

temperature regime +5-+20С,
twilight ventilated place,
lack of sun rays,
in a horizontal position.

If the mineral water is opened, then the shelf life of the water is limited to 5 days. When the composition contains organic substances, it should be kept in the refrigerator and its use is limited to a week. If all requirements are met, the mineral composition will be preserved in full. And such water is not much different from the original - the source from which it was obtained.

Advice. If the information on the label indicates “expiration date,” then denaturation of the product has already occurred, in which the composition and quality of the mineral water have changed. This product must be returned to the store.

Well water

What are the benefits of springs? A crystal clear source of moisture, saturated with useful minerals, emerges from the ground. Usually it is collected in large containers. But the long shelf life of spring water in 19 liter plastic bottles is questionable.

The ideal container for it would be ceramic or glass containers. Metal canisters with a neutral coating inside are also suitable. Natural water remains useful for up to 3 years. It is important that the source is verified and reliable and actually contains that very clean, crystal water.

The expiration date of bottled water and the date of its bottling are indicated on the label. Try not to neglect this information and store water according to the rules. And although it refers to products that are practically not subject to spoilage, there are situations when the quality is questionable. And given that we are 80% water, its composition and structure affects the health of the body.

What to look for when buying bottled spring water

Before use, any spring water must undergo thorough laboratory testing. The opinion that water in any natural source is safe and healthy is just a myth, especially in modern conditions, when large cities are surrounded by industrial enterprises.

Water from the source can be dangerous and lead to serious diseases: urolithiasis, problems with the kidneys and liver, digestion, infection with harmful microorganisms and poisoning. If you find a source of spring water and you like the taste, be sure to take samples to the nearest laboratory in order to be confident in the safety and usefulness of the collected spring water.

Springs near cities and industrial zones can be dangerous; lack of control over the environmental situation leads to the discharge of toxic substances by enterprises, some of which can enter aquifers and ultimately end up in the source. In this case, there is no need to say that such a liquid is useful. It is also worth understanding that the quality of water in springs varies depending on seasonality; if mineral fertilizers are applied to the soil, they can be washed away by rainwater into open water sources, including springs.

Just recently, the nationwide Genetic Safety Association published a report saying that bottled spring water sold in plastic containers is not always healthy or safe for health. Often this liquid is inferior in quality to tap water. The report of the non-profit partnership in the field of quality control of goods and services Roskontrol was also disappointing.

Analysis of water samples showed that only 4 out of 10 samples meet the requirements and safety standards of bottled water. In addition, Russian standards do not contain mandatory requirements for testing bottled water for trihalomethanes and potential mutagenic effects.

Just five years ago, 60% of counterfeit bottled water from well-known brands was on sale in our country; today this figure has dropped to 20%. Thus, every fifth bottle of branded drinking water is a fake. It is also worth mentioning that 2/3 of all bottled water is not produced according to the technology declared by the manufacturer. It is clear that in such conditions there is a high risk of buying at least an unhealthy liquid.

In order to protect yourself and your loved ones, purchase bottled water only from trusted suppliers and large retailers, as they purchase it in large quantities directly from manufacturers.

Bottled water comes in the following categories:

Mineral water extracted from underground sources - springs and artesian wells. At the same time, the liquid retains its organoleptic and physicochemical properties.

Mineral water is divided into 4 groups:

table water with mineralization up to 1 gram per liter;
mineral-table with mineralization from 1 to 2 grams per liter;
medical dining room with mineralization from 2 to 8 grams per liter;
medicinal with a mineralization of 8 grams per liter and above, sold only in pharmacies.

Artificial mineral water obtained by mineralization of liquid purified to a fresh state. Such water is first desalinated by pressing it through filters using reverse osmosis, and then artificially mineralized to obtain healthy water of the required quality.
Drinking water. Such water is obtained from various sources: artesian well, pump room, mineral spring. After extraction, the liquid is purified and neutralized. Drinking water is deeply purified and safe for consumption.

The overwhelming majority of drinking water is taken from central water supply sources and further purified. According to SanPiN standards, such water is divided into two categories: first and highest. First category water, or, in other words, table water, is produced from tap water by softening and removing iron and chlorine ions. The liquid is also disinfected with ultraviolet light and silver ions, which makes it possible to destroy potentially dangerous microorganisms. Purified water can be subjected to reductive mineralization.

Drinking water of the highest category must be bottled only from an artesian well, maintaining all microbiological and physicochemical parameters. However, manufacturers do not always comply with the requirements of norms and standards.

When purchasing bottled water, you should pay attention to the following features:

the quality of manufacture of the container into which water is poured - the container must be smooth and technologically advanced;
the quality of the label, it must be glued evenly and securely;
the water in the container should not have sediment or impurities;
water labeled “highest category” is preferable;
the quality of water must comply with GOST, there is good water, the characteristics of which are standardized by TU, but water of the highest category is bottled only in accordance with GOST.

How to select and store spring water

In the fight for quality of life and our health, in particular, we use all methods available to us. We boil tap water to soften it, filter it to make it suitable for drinking and cooking, add apple juice

Tap water is always chlorinated, various additives and additives are added to it, which makes it harmful for use. If you really care about your health, then such water is not suitable, except for washing clothes and cleaning the apartment.

If you have ever tasted water from a spring in your life, you probably remember its taste, this is the kind of water that will give the body the energy of nature, this water is alive, it is saturated with oxygen.

There are a huge number of sources of healing water, but it is not always clean and therefore not suitable for drinking.

For example, if such a spring is located near a city or chemical plants, then the water in such a source is contaminated with chemicals and harmful substances.

Choose springs that are located in forested areas, away from human habitats.

The purity of water also depends on seasonal phenomena, spring floods and autumn rains. During these seasons, you should not take such water for drinking.

Now about storing spring water: It can only stand for a week, after which time it becomes unsuitable for drinking. It should be stored only in glass containers and in a cool place. Do not leave water in a warm place or in plastic bottles; when stored this way, bacteria begin to grow in it.

Otherwise, spring water will greatly prolong a healthy and fulfilling life.

Did you like the article? Write your opinion in the comments. Subscribe to our FB:

Now about storing spring water: It can only stand for a week, after which time it becomes unsuitable for drinking. It should be stored only in glass containers and in a cool place. Do not leave water in a warm place or in plastic bottles; when stored this way, bacteria begin to grow in it.

The nuances of storing water in bottled containers

If you look back 20-25 years, the purchase and home delivery of bottled drinking water seemed more like a “show off” for wealthy people than an urgent need. Today, any person concerned about the quality of drinking water from the tap can afford such a “whim”.

It is no secret that environmentalists have been sounding the alarm about water pollution in cities for a long time and predicting water collapse in the future. Psychologists and sociologists scare people who care about their health with the growing rhythm of life, terrible stress and other “benefits” of civilization. Meanwhile, our body cannot breathe car exhaust, drink “chemically contaminated” water and still be healthy. To nourish your body and mind you need to drink quality drinking water. But where can I get it?

Bottled water - quality criteria

The best alternative to tap liquid at the moment is considered to be bottled natural water, which meets the requirements of GOST and sanitary standards. According to these standards, a product extracted from a well and processed in a factory must be placed in hygienic containers. This drinking liquid should not contain chemical additives, dyes, sweeteners or other extracts.

Regarding the composition of bottled water, experts divide this product into three main types:

Mineral water;
Drinking and table water;
Artificial water obtained by purifying tap water.

Please note that the quality and shelf life of the product depend on the method of storing water in bottles. It would be a good idea to study the basic operating rules in order to create optimal conditions for storing water.

The most common mistakes when storing bottled liquid

Do not leave an open container of water in direct sunlight or near a heating device. Mold and fungi grow very quickly on such a container.

Other common mistakes are listed below:

Polycarbonate and plastic containers that you leave under water should not be stored in dust or in areas with high humidity;
You should not leave the bottle near a source of strong odor, as the container will absorb the odor and transfer it to the water;
Water in containers should not be stored at temperatures below -2 and above +25 degrees Celsius.

Riens › Blog › How long does water last?

As the season approaches, I look at the “paranoid nest” more and more often, and sometimes I find interesting things there. It would seem that such a banal thing as the delivery and storage of water, in the practice of a field AHCh specialist, sometimes turns into wild difficulties. I myself saw how they gave antifreeze canisters for drinking water, how they drank chemically and thermally unpurified water, then suffering from stomach pain, although there was always a fire burning in the camp and there was always at least a kettle or a boiler available. And other extremes, when people even washed their hands only with water from mineral water bottles. Actually, copy-paste from a well-known resource in narrow circles. Let's hope they won't be offended