How to Refill Plastic Water Jugs

When refilling plastic jugs with water, make certain you use food grade plastic jugs designed for water. All food grade jugs have a recycle logo, a triangle of arrows. The recommended type by the health conscious is High Density Polyethylene. These have opaque or non-clear plastic with a No. 2 in the triangle recycle logo. HDPE bottles also have wider openings for the ease of cleaning for reuse. If you want to store water in jugs for emergencies, store one gallon of water per person, per day for at least three days. Store more jugs if possible for emergencies.

Instructions

• 1

  Wash your used plastic water jugs using hot soapy water. Dry the containers thoroughly. For extra safety, you can rinse your jugs with a solution of eight to 10 drops of chlorine bleach in two cups of tap water.

• 2

  Fill your plastic water jugs with tap water. If you do not plan to drink the water right away, label the water jugs with the date you poured the water in and the words, "Drinking Water."

• 3

  Store your water jugs in the refrigerator if desired or in a cool, dark place such as under the bed. Sunlight and fluorescent light can degrade and crack the plastic, causing the water jugs to leak.

• 4

  Empty and refill your water jugs every six months if you store them for emergencies. The Red Cross suggests rotating stored water every six months to keep your water supply fresh.