In summer it is usual to drink cold water from the refrigerator. Most houses do not have a water filter because the quality of the tap is expected to be sufficient. However, refilling bottles from tap water to put in the fridge for weeks seems not to be a good idea.
Theoretically, tap water stored in a clean container and then refrigerated should last forever. However, just because we can drink old water doesn’t mean we want to. Over time, small air bubbles seep out of the bottled water and leave behind an unpleasant taste. To avoid this problem, experts recommend changing tap water supplies every six months so that we always have quality fresh water.
Between 1 and 3 days
The shelf life of tap water depends on storage practice and methods. Depending on this, the shelf life can be one year or indefinite. It also depends on the purity and temperature at which the tap water is stored. If you put clean water at room temperature on a hot summer day, it will spoil in one to three days.
But if we fill a sealed airtight container and then store it, it won’t go bad for almost months. If the water is not from the tap and is treated and purified by water treatment plants, storing this water in a sealed container will last for more than two years . However, keep in mind that it is also important to clean the bottles from time to time.
Can stored water spoil?
In theory, the water could be stored indefinitely, if it is properly stored, sealed and kept safe from any kind of contamination. The main contaminants that can easily spoil the water are algae, bacteria and pathogens.
The water could be stored indefinitely if it is classified as food. Also, storage conditions depend on the purity level of the water. Sometimes the water is chemically treated to kill bacteria and increase its shelf life. Chemically treated water can be stored for up to a month to a year, but best practice is to remove the water after a year, clean the container, and store the new drinking water.
There is evidence that plastic containers leach chemicals into stored water, but they do not pose a serious chemical health hazard.
How do you know if it’s bad?
Normally, it is easy to identify if the tap water has gone bad after several days in the refrigerator. It will have a strange pungent odor and may turn cloudy . If stored, it is best to check the water every 6 months to prevent spoilage.
It is essential to be attentive to the signs, since we can get sick from drinking old water. Health problems depend on the extent of water deterioration, storage temperature, and many other factors.
For example, we are more likely to get sick from tap water at room temperature open in a cup than from water sealed in a container and stored in the fridge. The main reason is that open water is easy to be polluted by the surrounding environment where different types of contaminants reside, while the opposite is true for properly stored and sealed water.
