Storing water in plastic bottles.

aisach

Active Member
Any organic chemists out there?
I rotate many gallons of water from outside the house to inside. This in an attempt to disintegrate the chlorine and chloramine in the tap water. (Working on obtaining a RO system in the future) It was suggested to me yesterday that chemicals from the plastic will leach into the water. The water may sit as long as 2 weeks before it is used, and nearly all of it goes into an aerated solution eventually. I rarely use just straight plain old water on the plants. Also the containers themselves don't last a long time in the Arizona desert heat. It can get well over a hundred degrees for weeks on end.
Any thoughts?
PS These are 1 gallon HDPE water bottles from the grocery. Not 2 liter PET soda bottles.
 

bhandari1

Active Member
I'm a Biologist, and have learned that plastics and such things do in fact release chemicals when exposed to high radiant heat...this is why you may have heard the rumor of not to drink water out of a plastic bottle if it has been in your car on a hot day, or how you shouldn't drink from a hose baking in the sun for the same reason...that being said, people are told to avoid such situations when possible to decrease risks of cancer and whatnot (but that's just because we don't have enough info yet to know if its truly harmful or not, probably is tho)! ANYWAY, if your just trying to rid the H2O of chlorine...just let it sit out in an open container (inside is fine) and all the chlorine will evaporate out in 24-48 hours!
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Yep both sunlight and heat can make a normally stable plastic like HDPE or PET become unstable.

Chlorine will evporate eventually but chloramines do not. This report suggests using fish tank chemicals, campden tablets or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Depending on how much water you use I can see the cost of that approach adding up. An R/O system may end up cheaper and it will give you clean drinking and cooking water. Filterdirect $145 shipped.
 

Edgar9

Well-Known Member
I had a nalgene plastic water bottle #7 next to my bed that I would use for water during the night when thirsty. When I poured water into a cup from it I didn't notice anything but recently I drank right from the nalgene bottle after water had been sitting in it at room temperature for just one night and I could taste the plastic.
 

aisach

Active Member
Yep both sunlight and heat can make a normally stable plastic like HDPE or PET become unstable.

Chlorine will evporate eventually but chloramines do not. This report suggests using fish tank chemicals, campden tablets or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Depending on how much water you use I can see the cost of that approach adding up. An R/O system may end up cheaper and it will give you clean drinking and cooking water. Filterdirect $145 shipped.

Yes that is what I was wondering. If the (hd poly eth) leached into the solution. But also, if aeration would cause it to volatilize out of solution. Wasnt sure about the organic composition. I aerate for about 24 hours usually.

Thanks everyone.
 

Sincerely420

New Member
I store my water in old one gallon water jugs and I'm sure they prepped these to be store for some time right?!
Maybe it depends more on the container you use to store the water?!
Interesting tho!

Cheers for the post..never thought about this surprisingly!
I did notice that solo cups go yellow in the inside after storing water so I stopped using tho.
i used them to sit water out in when my plants were at the age and size that they got about a couple cups water
 

BarnBuster

Virtually Unknown Member
Truthfully, I really don't worry about this. Like S420 says this stuff sits in hot factory production terminals, hot warehouses, hot semi trucks, hot stockrooms. So it's low on my worry list.
 

Sativied

Well-Known Member
I store my water in old one gallon water jugs and I'm sure they prepped these to be store for some time right?!
Maybe it depends more on the container you use to store the water?!
Yes, basically just don't use containers/bottles/buckets that were not made to last - and that includes many food grade products. Many of the plastics used to store drinks and foods are specifically made to degrade faster than for example a container that is specifically created to be reused over and over. For the same reason one shouldn't continue to use the same bottles for the frozen bottles chilling method of reservoirs for a very long time.

I agree with BB though, not something I worry about.
 

aisach

Active Member
Truthfully, I really don't worry about this. Like S420 says this stuff sits in hot factory production terminals, hot warehouses, hot semi trucks, hot stockrooms. So it's low on my worry list.
Very true BB. Just wanted to assure my 'patients' that I wasnt poisoning them. Some people have time to overthink a lot of things. An inquisitive mind can be a very dangerous thing, no? heh he he.
 

ProfessorPotSnob

New Member
I dont trust plastic water bottles , just look up plastics and the hormone disruption .. I am not one for jumping on conspiracy wagons but bottled water and its containers lack regulations like other food products here in America and elsewhere in the world .
 

Sincerely420

New Member
Def. don't trust the Chinese lol...But about the water bottles, I can't be arsed with doing away with them!
I just use the jugs that the water come in to store them! I figure that's what they're made for right?!
I'm sure the ppl of the major corps like Nestle arent gonna sell us something toxic, and risk being FLOORED by a lawsuit ya know?!

I say this because there are no warning lables on any bottles saying that you shouldn't store them in plastic for too long!
Maybe you should try to get poisoned from some water that sat in its container to long and sue lol!
I would try it, but my immune system is just wayyyyyyy to much of a beast for the test lol!

I need a stake to the heart to be taken outta here lol :leaf:
 

ProfessorPotSnob

New Member
I drink well water from glass most times not , but to each there own as I use plastics everday even though they are not safe in the long run for us or the environment .. I refuse to drink bottled water or have any part of it due to my own beliefs and practices :)

Here is an older video about water and the companies and people in control of it .

[video=youtube;tx65EeLk4Ro]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx65EeLk4Ro[/video]

[video]http://tv.naturalnews.com/v.asp?v=6B6D8E76B41489ACA5C1C0BC0CBE28B7[/video]
 

BarnBuster

Virtually Unknown Member
Truthfully, I really don't worry about this. Like S420 says this stuff sits in hot factory production terminals, hot warehouses, hot semi trucks, hot stockrooms. So it's low on my worry list.

although I don't microwave any of this plastic stuff either.
 

ProfessorPotSnob

New Member
Just a Rant : Fuck Nestle , I have seen the damage they have done to the Great Lakes and Mecosta County Michigan in person .. Almost took a job with them but choose to relocate to the Northern Woods once again as I could not accept a position from such a corporate pig ..
 

Sincerely420

New Member
Lol..I'm a fan of some of Jessie V's work so I can't sorta relate! But I'm gonna die one day anyways lol.
Doing what I'm doin now, here at RIU, can't you see that I'm here to live fast and die young haha!

I'm not planning on living for 100 years! And I hope like hell I get poisoned one day(sooner than later) from drinking water thats been bottled to long lol! That'll be the day you read about me in the news NATIONALLY haha!
 

AliCakes

Well-Known Member
Chloramines actually do evaporate out on their own as well, but the half life is about 28 hours instead of just over 2 hours for chlorine.
 

aisach

Active Member
Chloramines actually do evaporate out on their own as well, but the half life is about 28 hours instead of just over 2 hours for chlorine.
Awesome! I thought it was 28 days. Musta got my units mixed up.
Would like to have them sit (away from the sun and heat) but we just dont have the room. Maybe I don't need as many containers then. Cool.

As for water, remember that municipalities are regulated 'to deliver' water that meets specific criteria. And the analytical data is PUBLIC information, as it impacts public health. It may be regulated by the state (as here in Arizona) or federal.
 
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