How to Store Water for an Emergency

I want to keep an emergency stash of water. Can I store it in 2-liter containers after cleaning them? What else should I know about water storage?

Plastic bottles, such as 2-liter soda containers, can be cleaned, sanitized, and reused to store water. Chemicals may leach out of the plastic at higher temperatures, so store these bottles in cool, dark, dry places. Don’t use milk jugs, as the leftover protein from milk can cause stored water to spoil.

You can also purchase commercially bottled water or water in large containers for emergency purposes. Follow directions for storing and observe the expiration dates. In general, replace commercially bottled water every six months.

Using your own containers may be less expensive. The best option is to