# Emergency supply Most grocery stores sell water in one or two gallon containers will leak after six **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718 "2012-03-24T22:51:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Woodenspoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bc79bd/32.png) [@Woodenspoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woodenspoon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/1 "2012-03-24T22:51:37Z")
[http://www.mygreathome.com/safety/earthquake\_preparedness/water.htm](http://www.mygreathome.com/safety/earthquake_preparedness/water.htm) “Most grocery stores sell water in one or two gallon containers. These are not designed for long-term storage and will leak after six months” I’ve seen this advice a lot, plastic leaking after 6 months? Doesn’t quite seem right? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/2 "2012-03-24T22:58:16Z")
Those generic one gallon jugs they sell water and milk in are pretty leak prone. We usually buy them once and then refill them multiple times, and I’d say 50% failing after six months seems about right. Granted we’re moving them around a lot, as opposed to just stowing them in the basement. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/3 "2012-03-24T23:07:43Z")
Before we installed a treatment system ([sulphur water](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=573571)) that solved the problem, all our drinking water was bottled. I don’t like shopping, so a few times a year I’d take the van to Sam’s Club and pack it to the brim with water. We were never too careful to turn our stock over, but never had a leak problem. Over time, some cases definitely sat for over a year–particularly the fifteen to twenty cases of accidental packaging (meant to get jugs; ended up with the 2.5 gallon brick). We normally bought Poland Springs (what Sam’s carried mostly), but there was a lot of plastic moved through here. I heart our water treatment. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/4 "2012-03-24T23:23:43Z")
The latest generation of plastic container is mighty thin. Most will spring a leak if you look at them wrong. For long-term storage you need something [heavier](http://www.myproship.com/index.aspx?StId=548&ShId=4c2a0793b1a0469ead46bad1040beba8&tab=13&Qtype=2&sku=34217). ---
**Author:** ![Woodenspoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bc79bd/32.png) [@Woodenspoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woodenspoon)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/5 "2012-03-24T23:58:48Z")
Ah 20 gallons, i got a few 6-7 gallon ones from wallyworld, and they are hard enough to lift! ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/6 "2012-03-25T00:01:45Z")
I’m not disputing anyone else’s experience, but I bought a gallon jug of distilled water for my car battery about five years ago, just used a little bit of it, and stuck the rest in the fridge. It’s still there, not leaking, in the original jug. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/7 "2012-03-25T01:09:17Z")
Is it in a transparant container or a translucent one? It makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/8 "2012-03-25T01:15:37Z")
The containers are getting thinner and thinner, both the transparent (sport bottle size) and translucent (1 gal and 2.5 gal size). I have to laugh when I see “Doomsday Preppers” and people show off their stockpiles, and they have cases of water. It will turn into a big uh-oh LONG before the Apocalypse. Potable water storage barrels are recommended for people who wish to store water for an emergency. If you are too cheap to spring for those, your best bet is to thoroughly wash and rinse 2-liter soda bottles and fill them with water. Since soda bottles are designed to hold the contents under pressure, the plastic is a heavier gauge and will last longer than regular bottled water. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/9 "2012-03-25T03:01:20Z")
We buy earthquake water (for when the big one hits) in jugs \> 1 gallon, and rotate them after a year. We’ve been doing this for a decade, and never have had a leak. We don’t touch them between the time they come back from the store and we bring them into the kitchen to use, though. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/10 "2012-03-25T05:03:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The latest generation of plastic container is mighty thin. Most will spring a leak if you look at them wrong. For long-term storage you need something [heavier](http://www.myproship.com/index.aspx?StId=548&ShId=4c2a0793b1a0469ead46bad1040beba8&tab=13&Qtype=2&sku=34217). Thanks **silenus**! I just ordered one. ---
**Author:** ![Woodenspoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bc79bd/32.png) [@Woodenspoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Woodenspoon)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2012, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-supply-most-grocery-stores-sell-water-in-one-or-two-gallon-containers-will-leak-after-six/616718/11 "2012-03-25T13:52:00Z")
For the 20 gallon you still need to rotate, which is a pain, they do sell 30-55gallon plastic drums I’ve found, but more than I’m willing to bother with at this point though, rotating those would be quite an effort. Should build in some release valve/hose attachment at the bottom so you can water plants with the one you are rotating out…