Water in canteen for long term storage

[Blowmax10]

I'm putting a bag together to keep in my car

Is there anything wrong with filling my GI canteen with normal tap water?

Does the water need to be treated?

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

If you are changing the water VERY frequently then I feel you would be okay to just use water from the tap. I would not go more than two weeks though if it is left in the car in the heat.

[Blowmax10]

If you are changing the water VERY frequently then I feel you would be okay to just use water from the tap. I would not go more than two weeks though if it is left in the car in the heat.

What will happen to the water? I have purification tablets in the bag

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Heat and stagnant water will increase the chances of algae and other impurities to grow/multiply. No sense in going through your purification tabs when you have fresh water available, was my thought. You just need to remember to set and alarm on your phone or mark it down on a calendar to replace the water. You could add a little bleach (non-fragrance) if you wanted.

Household/common bleach 4-6%
- Add 2 drops to a 1-quart canteen, or 4 drops if the water is cold or cloudy.
- Replace cap.

Even with the bleach, I would not leave it in a hot car more than a month or so. If you have a water supply that is reliable and a little bleach which is inexpensive, then in my book why risk getting sick when you may need that water the most.

[Blowmax10]

I'll never remember to change it

I recently moved to AZ and here in the Sonoran Desert water is the #1 survival concern

[Blowmax10]

you know I have a pressure cooker - I wonder about pressure canning some water?

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

I added to my post above the formula for bleach.

Another option is just throw a couple bottles of water in the car, drink them weekly and replace them. I will do that as I will be out and about and may want a drink. Instead of stopping at the store, I'll just have the water. It may be a little warm, but it is still wet. When I get home I just throw another bottle in the car. You can refill the bottle from the tap if you are drinking them often enough and replacing.

[Urban Survivalist]

I'll never remember to change it

I recently moved to AZ and here in the Sonoran Desert water is the #1 survival concern

I live in Arizona and I keep at least a gallon in my Jeep at all times. I rotate the water about once a month and I have never had a problem. I did find a bottle of water under the back seat a little while back. I suspect it had been there for several months and I looked it over, It looked Ok so I drank it. I had no ill effects or sickness. This was last summer so A couple months of car storage in the heat and the water was fine. But it's not hard to change it out.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

We are in our 6th week above 100, 108 was the lowest afternoon temp this week. water aint hard to change round here
Tap is ok for quite a while, aquamire drops will make you feel a whole lot better bout it.

[claymore]

Never heard of canning water b4. Wife says don't know why it wouldn't work. Bet you could use a water bath. Sounds like a lot of work to go through but the water would definitely be sterile.

[Roman]

One option is using a water bottle with built in filters. Now you can bring just one bottle with you on a camping trip instead of lugging around several bottles or worrying about the water in your canteen. Filter-outlet.com carries filtered water bottles.

[john1929]

you may want to keep a few small bottles of warter with your canteen and fill it when needed. That way you can refresh them now and then and use the old bottles up in you home.