Best Practices for Storing and Using Drinking Water

Clean drinking water at the source means little if it becomes contaminated before reaching your glass. The way you store and handle drinking water at home directly impacts its safety, especially in areas without reliable piped water systems. Whether you’re drawing water from a well, rainwater tank, or municipal supply, understanding proper storage practices can protect your family from waterborne diseases that cause millions of diarrhoeal deaths annually.

Why proper water storage matters for health 🔗

Even water that starts out perfectly safe can become contaminated during storage. Research shows that storing water in households often leads to deterioration of water quality due to recontamination in the home. This happens through several common pathways: inserting dirty hands or utensils into storage containers, using open or poorly covered vessels, and allowing bacterial growth inside storage tanks over time.

The World Health Organization’s Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) program emphasizes that safe storage is just as critical as water treatment. Even treated water can become unsafe if stored improperly. In developing countries, studies have linked contaminated stored water to increased incidence of cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea, and intestinal worms.

Choosing the right storage containers 🔗

The container you use for storing drinking water plays a major role in maintaining water purity. According to the CDC, it is best to use FDA-approved food-grade water storage containers because they will not transfer toxic substances into the water.

Key features of safe water containers 🔗

When selecting a storage container, look for these characteristics:

Narrow openings or dispensers: Containers with small openings at the top help prevent children from dipping cups and dirty hands into the drinking water. Narrow dispensers are key to keeping water from being contaminated while being stored in the home.

Tight-fitting lids: A secure cover prevents dust, insects, and debris from entering the water. The WHO notes that covering water storage containers can reduce vector breeding and may also reduce faecal contamination at the household level.

Taps or spigots: Safe water storage containers ideally feature a sealable storage container with a tap or spigot, allowing you to pour water without inserting hands or utensils inside.

Durable, non-toxic materials: Use containers made from food-grade materials such as stainless steel, food-grade plastic, or glazed ceramic. Never use containers previously used to hold liquid or solid toxic chemicals such as bleach or pesticides.

How to clean and prepare storage containers 🔗

Before using any container for water storage, it must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The CDC recommends this process:

First, wash the storage container with soap and rinse completely with water. Then, sanitize the container with a solution made by mixing one teaspoon of unscented liquid household chlorine bleach in one quart (four cups) of water, using bleach that contains 5% to 9% sodium hypochlorite. Cover the container tightly and shake it well, ensuring the sanitizing solution touches all inside surfaces. Wait at least 30 seconds, then pour the solution out and let the empty container air-dry before filling with clean water.

Best practices for storing drinking water 🔗

Once you have a clean, appropriate container, follow these guidelines to maintain water safety:

Location matters: Keep containers in a place with a cool temperature between 50°F and 70°F. Store them away from direct sunlight and away from toxic substances such as gasoline, pesticides, or cleaning chemicals.

Label and date your water: Mark containers as “drinking water” and include the storage date. Water that has not been commercially bottled should be replaced every six months.

Keep containers sealed: Always replace the lid immediately after pouring water. This prevents contamination from dust, insects, and other environmental sources.

The right way to dispense stored water 🔗

How you remove water from storage containers is critical. Poor handling practices are a major cause of recontamination. Research identifies hand-to-water contact and dipping of utensils as significant risk factors for water contamination.

Pour, don’t dip 🔗

Always pour water from the container rather than dipping cups or ladles inside. When you insert a utensil into stored water, you introduce bacteria from hands, saliva, and environmental contamination. Studies have documented that dipping cups, dippers, or hands into stored water is a source of drinking water contamination and increased occurrence of diarrhoea.

If you must use a scoop or other device to remove water, the CDC advises using a clean one each time. Avoid touching the water or insides of the container with your hands, and never scoop out water directly with your hands.

Keep utensils clean 🔗

Any utensils used around drinking water should be kept scrupulously clean. Wash ladles, cups, or scoops with soap and water after each use, and store them in a clean, dry place. Avoid leaving utensils sitting in water for extended periods, as this encourages bacterial growth.

Protecting well water from contamination 🔗

If your household relies on a private well, additional precautions are needed to keep your water safe at the source. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, proper construction and continued maintenance help keep germs and chemicals out of well water.

Cover and seal your well 🔗

Uncovered or poorly sealed wells are vulnerable to contamination from surface runoff, debris, insects, and animals. The EPA recommends installing a well cap or sanitary seal to prevent unauthorized use of, or entry into, the well. The well cover should be watertight and sealed to the casing to prevent rodents and other animals from entering the well casing.

In most areas, well casing is required to extend at least 12 inches above the final ground level. This prevents surface water from flowing into the well from the top. If your wellhead is underground or less than 12 inches high, your water may be at greater risk of contamination.

Maintain safe distances 🔗

Keep potential contamination sources away from your well. The Minnesota Department of Health advises storing agricultural chemicals at least 150 feet away from the well. Avoid mixing or using pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, degreasers, fuels, and other pollutants near the well. Never dispose of wastes in dry wells or abandoned wells.

Test regularly 🔗

The EPA recommends testing your private well annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. The CDC emphasizes that private well water is not regulated, treated, or monitored by officials, making homeowners responsible for ensuring their water is safe to drink.

Regular maintenance keeps water safe 🔗

Storage containers and wells both require ongoing attention to remain safe:

Clean storage containers regularly: Even with careful use, containers can develop biofilm-a layer of bacteria that accumulates on inner surfaces. Storage tanks should be cleaned at least twice a year to remove sediments, algae, and bacteria.

Inspect well components annually: Check the well casing annually for cracks or holes on both the outside and inside. A damaged casing can allow contaminants to enter your water supply.

Replace stored water regularly: Stagnant water is more likely to develop bacterial growth. Replace stored water every six months if you’re filling containers yourself.

Special considerations for emergencies 🔗

During emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, or municipal water disruptions, safe water storage becomes even more critical. The Ready.gov guidelines recommend storing at least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, with a two-week supply if possible. Pregnant women, people who are sick, and those in hot climates may need more.

After a flood or natural disaster, the CDC advises that you should not drink from your well until it has been tested and, if necessary, disinfected. Flooding can impact the safety of your drinking water by allowing contaminants to enter your private well system.

Simple habits that protect your water 🔗

Maintaining safe drinking water doesn’t require expensive equipment-just consistent good practices. Keep containers covered and clean. Pour water rather than dipping. Test well water regularly and maintain well seals. These straightforward habits form the foundation of safe water use in any household.

Nursing professionals and community health workers play a vital role in educating families about these practices. Many waterborne disease outbreaks can be traced back to contamination during storage and handling rather than at the water source itself. By understanding and teaching proper water storage techniques, healthcare providers help prevent illness at its source.

What do you think? How do you currently store drinking water in your home, and what changes might you make after learning about these best practices? Have you ever considered how the design of your water container affects your family’s health?

References

1. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/drinking-water
2. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.11296
3. https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/water-sanitation-and-health/water-safety-and-quality/household-water-treatment-and-safe-storage
4. https://www.cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe_household_water_storage
6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/water-storage
7. https://www.ready.gov/water
8. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8329737_The_effect_of_container-biofilm_on_the_microbiological_quality_of_water_used_from_plastic_household_containers
9. https://www.epa.gov/privatewells/protect-your-homes-water
10. https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/protecting-your-water-source-whats-condition-your-water-well
11. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/construction/protect.html
12. https://www.cdc.gov/drinking-water/safety/index.html
13. https://www.citizenshospitals.com/blogs/10-simple-tips-to-prevent-waterborne-diseases-at-home