Bottled Water

• Bottled water is one of the most easily obtainable sources of water for those looking to store it away. It is available at most retail stores. The bottles of water, especially for personal use, are easily transportable and are sealed and filtered already.
  Another upside to bottled water is that it comes with an expiration date printed on the bottle itself. This is not necessarily when the water will be undrinkable, but it is when the bottle is expected to begin to interact with the water and break down. Replace any bottled water after its expiration date.
  
  

Plastic Containers

• Plastic containers that are made specifically to store water in are ready available at most outdoor, home improvement and general goods stores. These range from personal-use size to between 1-gallon and 55-gallon sizes.
  According to the National Terror Alert website, the best containers to use are stamped with the letters HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) and coded with the recycle symbol with a "2" inside. These are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for storing water in; they will not break down and contaminate the water.
  Water from your tap, if you live in an area that doesn't have individual wells, is already treated and filtered and ready to be stored. If you have a well, consider treating the water with chlorine or iodine or running it through filters before storing.
  To avoid contamination, always make sure to wash out any container with warm, soapy water and rinse well before storing any water in them.
  
  

Metal Containers

• Stainless steel metal containers which have been washed out are also considered safe for use, as long as the water that is being put inside them has not and will not be treated with chlorine. Chlorine is corrosive to most metals and will slowly break it down overtime, contaminating the water inside.
  Tap water and bottled water have been treated and filtered but do not contain the sufficient levels of chlorine that is needed to corrode the metal containers. Wait to treat the water with additional chlorine reserves until after it is removed from the container.
  
  

Where to Store Water

• Store water in a cool, dark, dry place and away from any kind of direct sunlight. Another option is to freeze jugs of water, if you have the space, as it will not only keep the water clean and free of contamination, but will also keep your freezer cooler longer in case of a power outage.
  Always remember to replace your stored water every six months to a year.
  
  

On the Safe Side

• If you are worried about the purification of your water, make sure to either add water purification tablets, which are available at most outdoors supply stores, or add 1/8 tsp. of chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Make sure to use household liquid bleach that contains 5.25 percent sodium hypochlorite. Never use scented or color-safe bleach products or soap that contains bleach.