Yes 💦 Your Water Can Go Bad 😨
By Jeff Somers 💧 Lifehacker 💧 May 18, 2023
We all know that food and drinks can go bad. Your refrigerator likely has items right now that were once wholesome food and is now...not wholesome, and no longer food. But one basic component of our lives that might seem immune to that spoilage is water.
It’s a pretty fundamental compound, after all, and doesn’t contain anything other than a bunch of hydrogen and oxygen, so there doesn’t seem to be anything in there that other organisms could defile. When your leftover mint chutney goes bad, it makes sense, but water seems so impervious that noticing an expiration date
on a bottle of water seems kind of ludicrous. But it’s not completely wrong. Water doesn’t rot or spoil like many foods, but there’s
definitely a shelf life.
When TAP Water Goes Bad
Water that comes out of your faucet has most likely been treated with chlorine, which helps keep it free from microorganisms that can do you harm. But that water will react with the carbon dioxide in the air continuously, lowering the pH of the water, making it more acidic, which will can make it taste funny. Additionally, uncovered water will collect dust and other stuff from the air, adding to the unpleasantness. Eventually, this process could even make you sick—although the water would have to sit there a very long time before it became dangerous as opposed to just gross.
At the same time, that chlorine that was added is off-gassing and leeching away, making the water more inviting to organisms. The executive summary is that a glass of tap water left out overnight might taste weird, but is probably okay to drink
from a health point of view. But water that sits out for a very long time should probably be avoided—especially if there are obvious signs of things, you know, living in it.
In terms of stored water, as a general rule tap water can be stored for about six months as long as it’s in food-grade containers that have been sanitized.
After that, the chlorine treatment will no longer be effective, and even trace amounts of stuff can start to grow in there. This includes filtered water. That filter may do a great job of pulling out bad stuff from your tap water, but the moment the water interacts with the atmosphere, all of these processes start up, eventually leading to a glass of water that is unpleasant at best, and potentially sickening at worst.
When Bottled Water Goes Bad
Commercially bottled water lasts longer than exposed water, but it will eventually go bad. The water is pure when bottled, and the plastic (mostly) prevents microorganisms from getting in there—but the plastic itself is the problem. The plastic isn’t totally impenetrable, so the water will very slowly react with the air outside the bottle, evaporating and providing a slim-but-not-zero chance of contamination. More importantly, chemicals from the plastic can slowly leech into the water—a
process sped up by exposure to heat and the sun. These chemicals can be dangerous in large amounts, but there probably isn’t enough of them in an old bottle of water to hurt you—but it will hurt the taste. This is why old bottled water sometimes has that “plastic” taste to it.
The rule of thumb on bottled water is that it’s fine for about two years - if it remains sealed and stored in a cool, shaded place.
Once that bottle is opened, the clock speeds up, because you’re part of the equation. The moment your lips or fingers (or, you know, any other part of your body)
touch a container of water, you’re introducing microorganisms into that container. Over time, they can grow and thrive, which makes using the same yucky glass on your nightstand or re-using a water bottle without cleaning it a surefire way to get gross, disgusting water and possible illness. And if you leave bottled water open and exposed to the air, the same degenerative process that ruins your tap water works on it.
The natural state of the universe is entropy - and that includes
innocent-seeming water. It takes a long time, but like everything else in this world, that glass of water on your nightstand will eventually spoil. (Entropy is a scientific concept that is most commonly associated with a state of disorder, randomness, or uncertainty.)
CDC guidelines say to replace the water every 6 months.
Most important bullet points: prep your containers properly, and store it properly.
💧
CDC - Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/creating-storing-emergency-water-supply.html
💦
Distilled water in well sealed glass containers will yield the best longevity.
Distilled water doesn’t even have the dissolved solids that can act as nutrients for microorganisms.
Glass doesn’t leach anything into the water like plastic can.
Well sealed is best for anything you which to increase the shelf-life of.
Bottled Water
Unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency. If you do not have bottled water, you can make your water safe to drink by following the instructions on CDC’s Making Water Safe in an Emergency page and using clean containers to collect and store your water.
💦
How Much Emergency Water to Store
💧 Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days for drinking and sanitation. Try to store a 2-week supply if possible.
💧 Consider storing more water than this for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, or if living in a hot climate.
💦
Other Considerations
💧 Observe the expiration date for store-bought water.
💧 If you are filling containers with water to store, replace the water every 6 months.
💧 Store a bottle of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach (label should say it contains between 5% and 9% of sodium hypochlorite) to disinfect your water, if necessary, and to use for general cleaning and sanitizing.
💦💦
Choosing a Container
If you are filling containers with water to store, it is best to use food-grade water storage containers. FDA-approved food-grade storage containers will not transfer toxic substances into the water. They can be found at surplus or camping supply stores. Contact the storage container manufacturer if you are not sure whether the container is food-grade. If you are not able to use a food-grade water storage container, be sure the container you choose:
💧 Has a top that can be closed tightly.
💧 Is made of durable, unbreakable materials (not glass).
💧 Has a narrow neck or opening, if possible, so water can be poured out.
DO NOT USE containers that were previously used to hold liquid or solid toxic chemicals, such as bleach or pesticides.
Most important bullet points: prep your containers properly, and store it properly.
💧
CDC - Creating and Storing an Emergency Water Supply
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/creating-storing-emergency-water-supply.html
💦
Distilled water in well sealed glass containers will yield the best longevity.
Distilled water doesn’t even have the dissolved solids that can act as nutrients for microorganisms.
Glass doesn’t leach anything into the water like plastic can.
Well sealed is best for anything you which to increase the shelf-life of.
Bottled WaterUnopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency. If you do not have bottled water, you can make your water safe to drink by following the instructions on CDC’s Making Water Safe in an Emergency page and using clean containers to collect and store your water.
💦
How Much Emergency Water to Store
💧 Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days for drinking and sanitation. Try to store a 2-week supply if possible.
💧 Consider storing more water than this for pregnant women, people who are sick, pets, or if living in a hot climate.
💦
Other Considerations
💧 Observe the expiration date for store-bought water.
💧 If you are filling containers with water to store, replace the water every 6 months.
💧 Store a bottle of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach (label should say it contains between 5% and 9% of sodium hypochlorite) to disinfect your water, if necessary, and to use for general cleaning and sanitizing.
💦💦
Choosing a Container
If you are filling containers with water to store, it is best to use food-grade water storage containers. FDA-approved food-grade storage containers will not transfer toxic substances into the water. They can be found at surplus or camping supply stores. Contact the storage container manufacturer if you are not sure whether the container is food-grade. If you are not able to use a food-grade water storage container, be sure the container you choose:
💧 Has a top that can be closed tightly.
💧 Is made of durable, unbreakable materials (not glass).
💧 Has a narrow neck or opening, if possible, so water can be poured out.
DO NOT USE containers that were previously used to hold liquid or solid toxic chemicals, such as bleach or pesticides.
Cleaning and Sanitizing a Water Storage Container Before Use
Before filling with water, follow these steps to clean and sanitize water storage containers:
💧 Wash the storage container with soap and rinse completely with water.
💧 Sanitize the container with a solution made by mixing 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart (4 cups) of water. Use bleach that contains 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite.
💧 Cover the container tightly and shake it well. Make sure the sanitizing bleach solution touches all inside surfaces of the container.
💧 Wait at least 30 seconds and then pour the sanitizing solution out of the container.
💧 Let the empty container air-dry before use.
💧 Pour clean water into the sanitized container and cover it with a tight lid.
💦
Storing the Water
Tips for storing water from your home:
💧 Label container as “drinking water” and include storage date.
💧 Replace water every six months.
💧 Keep containers in a place with a cool temperature (50°F –70°F).
💧 Keep containers away from direct sunlight.
💧 Keep containers away from areas where toxic substances, such as gasoline or pesticides, are present.
💦
Using the Water
💧 Tips for taking water out of the container:
💧 If using a scoop or other device, use a clean one each time you remove water from the container to avoid contaminating the water.
💧 Do not to touch the water or insides of the container with your hands.
💧 Do not scoop out water with your hands.
Before filling with water, follow these steps to clean and sanitize water storage containers:
💧 Wash the storage container with soap and rinse completely with water.
💧 Sanitize the container with a solution made by mixing 1 teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in 1 quart (4 cups) of water. Use bleach that contains 5%–9% sodium hypochlorite.
💧 Cover the container tightly and shake it well. Make sure the sanitizing bleach solution touches all inside surfaces of the container.
💧 Wait at least 30 seconds and then pour the sanitizing solution out of the container.
💧 Let the empty container air-dry before use.
💧 Pour clean water into the sanitized container and cover it with a tight lid.
💦
Storing the Water
Tips for storing water from your home:
💧 Label container as “drinking water” and include storage date.
💧 Replace water every six months.
💧 Keep containers in a place with a cool temperature (50°F –70°F).
💧 Keep containers away from direct sunlight.
💧 Keep containers away from areas where toxic substances, such as gasoline or pesticides, are present.
💦
Using the Water
💧 Tips for taking water out of the container:
💧 If using a scoop or other device, use a clean one each time you remove water from the container to avoid contaminating the water.
💧 Do not to touch the water or insides of the container with your hands.
💧 Do not scoop out water with your hands.
Print-and-Go Fact Sheets
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/creating-storing-emergency-water-supply.html
💧💦💧💦💧💦💧💦💧
Make Water Safe During an Emergency
💧 After a disaster or emergency, tap water may not be safe to use.
💧 Always listen to your local authorities for specific advice.
💧 Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth if possible.
💧 If bottled water is not available, choose one of the following methods to make your water safe.
💧 Water contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins cannot be made safe by boiling,disinfecting, or filtering
💧💦💧💦💧
BOIL
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/emergency/creating-storing-emergency-water-supply.html
💧💦💧💦💧💦💧💦💧
Make Water Safe During an Emergency
💧 After a disaster or emergency, tap water may not be safe to use.
💧 Always listen to your local authorities for specific advice.
💧 Use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth if possible.
💧 If bottled water is not available, choose one of the following methods to make your water safe.
💧 Water contaminated with harmful chemicals or toxins cannot be made safe by boiling,disinfecting, or filtering
💧💦💧💦💧
BOIL
This method will kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites
Boiling water is the best method.
Boil your water for 1 minute.
At elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes. Let the water cool.
💧💦💧💦💧
DISINFECT
This method will kill most viruses and bacteria.
Add 8 drops or a little less than 1/8 of a teaspoon of 5%-9% unscented household bleach to 1 gallon water.
For cloudy tap water, use 16 drops or ¼ teaspoon.
If you don't have household bleach, chlorine dioxide tablets or iodine can be used according to label instructions.
💧 Add bleach to water.
💧 Mix well.
💧 Wait at least 30 minutes before using.
💧💦💧💦💧
FILTER
This method can remove parasites.
Most portable water filters do not remove bacteria or viruses.
Choose a water filter labeled to remove parasites, and follow manufacturer’s instructions. Filtered water might need additional treatment to be safe.
What to do if You are Under
.gif)
No comments:
Post a Comment