TIL I was storing my emergency water all wrong for 3 years

So I've got about 30 gallons of water in my garage for bugging out, stored in those blue 5 gallon jugs. Last week I grabbed one to wash my car and noticed the water tasted like plastic and had this weird slimy feel to it. Turns out you're supposed to keep them out of direct sunlight and rotate them every 6 months, not just let them sit. Anyone else make this mistake with their water stash or am I just dumb here?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_margaret21d ago

FULLY agree with your buddy's experience. That slimy plastic taste is a HUGE red flag. I swear those blue jugs leach something awful if they sit too long. Rotating water IS a CHORE but it beats drinking mold or chemicals. I started just cycling my stash into my normal drinking water every few months. Keeps it fresh and I don't have to think about it.

riverreed21d ago

Buddy of mine had the same setup in his shed, and when he finally cracked one open after two years it looked like a science experiment with floaty bits in it. He ended up just dumping the whole stash because he couldn't get the smell out of the jugs.