Water coolers
Does Water Expire?
Updated: Dec 30, 2025 |
Published: Feb 13, 2025
Authored by
Amanda Russo
Amanda Russo, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Creative Salt, has nearly two decades of experience in writing marketing communications and educational content for audiences across industries. Working with Culligan over the past two years, she has gained an extensive background in water quality and water treatment. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in English and Rhetoric.
Summary: Water itself does not expire, but the way it’s stored and dispensed can impact its safety, taste, and quality. Plastic bottles can degrade over time and pose potential health and environmental concerns, making proper storage, or bottleless water systems, a better long-term solution.
If you’re asking yourself, “Can water expire?” the short answer is no. Water itself does not expire. However, it’s important to consider where and how your water is stored, as the bottles or containers storing your water can expire or degrade over time.
As long as bottled water is produced according to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations, it has an indefinite shelf life. In other words, bottled water doesn’t expire. However, plastic bottles may degrade over time, so it’s common to see a best-by date on the packaging. Keep in mind that this only applies to plain water. If you buy bottled water with additives, those additives may break down over time, causing the water to have a foul taste or odor.
Unlike jugs and bottled water, water from point-of-use bottleless water coolers is not at risk of expiring. These coolers pull fresh water directly from your building’s existing waterline and pass it through several stages of filtration, including reverse osmosis, carbon filtration and in-tank UV sanitization, ensuring a continuous supply of clean and safe water. This advanced filtration system eliminates common concerns related to bottled water storage, such as plastic degradation and leaching.
This article provides more information on water safety, including how long water lasts and how to store it according to the OSHA drinking water requirements. You’ll also learn about the risks associated with water storage and find out how to mitigate them in offices and other workplaces.
How long does bottled water last?
Since it’s made up of stable elements and has no expiration date, it lasts indefinitely, and there’s no risk of it going bad. However, you should replace stored water every 6 months to ensure freshness.
To maximize the shelf life of your water, store it in a cool environment. The temperature should range from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When storing water long-term, it’s also important to keep it out of direct sunlight and away from harmful chemicals. For example, you shouldn’t store water in the same place you store fertilizer, motor oil or copier toner.
Water storage risks and safety
When it comes to storing water, the container used matters. While the water within the container is stable and won’t expire or go bad, the container used for its storage can put its safety at risk, especially if it’s plastic.
Risks of storing water in plastic bottles
Over time, plastic bottles break down in a process known as degradation. This impairs its structural integrity, causing microplastics to form. As their name implies, microplastics are tiny plastic particles. In 2024, CNN reported that bottled water may contain 10 to 100 times more of these particles than previously estimated.
Some water bottles also contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as PFAS. When exposed to heat or sunlight, these chemicals can leach into your water, increasing the risk of poor health outcomes. Certain levels of PFAS exposure may contribute to the following:
- Developmental delays in children
- Increased risk of obesity
- High cholesterol
- Reduced fertility
- High blood pressure during pregnancy
- Increased risk of certain cancers
- Impaired immune function
- Undesirable hormonal changes
Bottled water vs. dispensers
Bottled water is readily available, but it’s not always the best option, especially in a business environment. Many companies struggle to find extra shelf space for plastic bottles, making long-term water storage difficult. Even if you have plenty of room, high temperatures can affect bottled water quality, increasing the risk of PFAS exposure. Drinking from warm bottles is a risky practice that businesses can avoid by switching to bottleless water coolers.
Unlike bottled water, point-of-use bottleless coolers provide a continuous supply of freshly filtered water without the need for jugs or storage. These systems reduce concerns about plastic degradation, leaching and environmental waste. Businesses can enjoy cleaner, safer water while minimizing the harmful impact of disposing of single-use bottles and jugs.
For workplaces that want to offer both still and sparkling options, consider installing a sparkling water dispenser, such as the 533 Touchless Sparkling Water Dispenser. These systems allow you to meet employee preferences while keeping your operations efficient and environmentally friendly.
By replacing bottled water with bottleless coolers and sparkling water dispensers, companies can streamline hydration solutions, avoid plastic waste and ensure consistent access to safe, high-quality drinking water.
Storing water long term: How to store it in the office
When storing water in the office, you should keep it away from direct sunlight and harmful chemicals and rotate it frequently. If you plan to store water for several months, write “Drinking Water” on each container. Add the date to the container to make it easy to determine which containers need to be discarded after 6 months. Finally, store water in a cool, dry place to prevent leaching and preserve the taste.
It’s also helpful to follow these tips:
- Store water at temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Rotate stock regularly.
- Keep enough on hand for all employees.
Let’s explore each of these tips in more detail.
- Store water at temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The components of plastic are held together by chemical bonds. These bonds are more likely to break down at high temperatures, so it’s important to prevent bottled water from getting too warm. Plus, not many people enjoy drinking lukewarm water when they could be drinking something cool and refreshing. Leaching doesn’t occur in cold temperatures, but if it’s too cold, the water may freeze. As water freezes, it expands, increasing the risk of cracks in plastic bottles and jugs.
- Rotate stock regularly. Appoint at least one of your employees to rotate your water stock regularly. The designated individual should check the date on each container and remove it from the storage area if it’s more than 6 months old.
- Keep enough on hand for all employees. If your company is growing rapidly, revisit your water storage needs every few months. You may need to purchase additional bottles for your water cooler or order extra cases of bottled water from your supplier. Staying on top of your storage needs is a great way to ensure you stay in compliance with the OSHA requirements.
Water storage checklist
Here’s a quick checklist to help you ensure your workplace’s water is stored and maintained properly:
- Choose a cool place that’s not in direct sunlight or near chemicals
- Ensure temperatures remain between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit
- Check your water regularly by designating a specific frequency with which an employee reviews the expiration dates on stored bottles of water
- Replace water that’s been unused for six months
- Make sure to maintain an appropriate amount of water to serve all employees and guests
So, can water go bad?
Stored water doesn’t go bad, but you should rotate your stock regularly to ensure employees always have access to the freshest-tasting water. If you’re hampered by a lack of shelf space, minimal filtration options or other challenges, consider a bottle-free water cooler.
Bottleless coolers: an ideal solution for peak water freshness
Bottle-free coolers provide a continuous supply of filtered water, meeting OSHA drinking water requirements without the need for storage or frequent maintenance. They also reduce the risk of exposure to PFAS and other harmful substances, delivering cleaner, safer water directly to your team. Schedule a free consultation to explore the best hydration solutions for your workplace.
Authored by
Amanda Russo
Amanda Russo, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Creative Salt, has nearly two decades of experience in writing marketing communications and educational content for audiences across industries. Working with Culligan over the past two years, she has gained an extensive background in water quality and water treatment. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in English and Rhetoric.
Reviewed by
Cari Dienstman
Cari Dienstman is the Senior Website & Content Manager at Culligan Quench, with over six years of experience creating content focused on point-of-use water filtration. She holds a master’s degree in Digital Marketing from Brandeis University and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Temple University.
Key Takeaways
Water doesn’t expire, but how it’s stored and dispensed affects its safety and quality.
While water itself is stable, containers, temperature, and storage methods can introduce risks over time. Here are the four main takeaways to keep in mind:
- Water itself doesn’t go bad: Pure water has no expiration date, but plastic bottles can degrade, which is why best-by dates are used.
- Plastic bottles can pose risks: Heat and sunlight can cause plastic to break down and leach microplastics or PFAS into stored water.
- Proper storage matters: Keep bottled water cool (50–70°F), out of sunlight, and rotate supplies every six months for best taste and safety.
- Bottleless coolers reduce concerns: Point-of-use systems provide continuously filtered water without storage, plastic waste, or degradation risks.
More frequently asked questions about water expiration
How long is unopened bottled water good for?
Unopened bottled water is typically good until the expiration date listed on the bottle. It’s important to note that it’s not the water itself that expires, but it’s the plastic container that can degrade over time. As long as it’s been stored in moderate temperatures and not exposed to heat or direct sunlight, the water should be safe to drink until the expiration date.
Does bottled water go bad once it’s been opened?
It’s not recommended to drink water that’s been opened after about 24 hours because bacteria and mold can grow in it when it’s exposed to the air.
Can I drink expired bottled water?
It’s not recommended to drink expired bottled water because while the water itself may not be expired or go bad, the plastic bottles can degrade over time and form microplastics which can be harmful to your health.
What’s the best way to store water for emergencies?
According to the CDC, unopened, commercially bottled water is the safest and most reliable source of water in an emergency. You should keep the containers somewhere cool, away from direct sunlight and replace them every 6 months for ideal freshness.
Why you should pay attention to 'best by' labels and dates on bottled water?
You should pay attention to expiration dates listed on bottled water because once they pass those dates, their taste and/or safety could be compromised.