Aquatainer Water Storage Tips

[majorhavoc]

So, quick update.

In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.

I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0

I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.

Success!

The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?

The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.

How much of a teaspoon?

I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.

[Moab]

So, quick update.

In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.

I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0

I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.

Success!

The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?

The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.

How much of a teaspoon?

I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.

Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome. 

[MacWa77ace]

On a brand new container:

I have washed mine with a squirt of dish soap and about a half gallon of water and shook it real good. But then rinsing all the soap out takes another 3-5 goes with just plain water to get all the residual soap out. Thats a pain.

So now all I do is the bleach method on new and old containers. But I put a quarter cup of bleach and a half gallon or so of water, its easier to make sure all surfaces are coated that way when you shake it up.

[Crimson_Phoenix]

How does everyone go about washing these things out after original purchase and long term storage? Necks are too small for a hand and it may be hard to get a nylon bristle brush with enough reach to scrub the interior walls. Failing that, a drop of dish soap and a small amount of water and shake that thing like it owes you money?

The method we are talking about above is to use 1/4 cup unscented liquid bleach to 1/4 cup water. Rinse it out good. Pour the water/bleach mix out. Add clean water to store.

You shouldn't need to scrub them out unless it for filled with algea or something. In that case I don't know. I would use a long brush and bleach water. And consider just using it for non potable water.

My first jobs were retail and commercial kitchens and absolutely everything had to go into three sinks with hot soapy and water, bleach water, and clean water rinse or the pull down nozzle rinse then air dry, so that's where I'm coming from. Didn't matter if it was cups and tableware or stuff from the prep and make stations. I still handwash my camelbak between uses and break down and wash my 2.5gal water containers semi-annually with soap and water. 

[Crimson_Phoenix]

So, quick update.

In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.

I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0

I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.

Success!

The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?

The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.

How much of a teaspoon?

I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.

Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.

As for measuring bleach mixes, I go the metric route and use the eyedroppers from the pharmacy. I used to do labwork in undergrad, so it makes sense to me. A bit more precise, I suppose. lol

[echo83]

So, quick update.

In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.

I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0

I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.

Success!

The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?

The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.

How much of a teaspoon?

I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.

Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.

I stored the Aquatainer in the basement from 25 FEB 2025 until 26 JUN 2026. I did notice a whiff of bleach from the vent spout at the campsite, where it was sitting in and out of the sun in about 80 degree F heat and 60 degree cool at night. I have a pretty sensitive nose, though. 

The other folks in my party didn't notice anything though. We were using the water for drinking, boiling and cleaning, and there were no issues. We used about 2 gallons of the available 7 between FRI evening and SUN morning. 

I know we know, but 7 gallons of water is close to 56 pounds. I harbor no illusions about using this container for anything besides car camping and bugging in. 

The reversible/stowable spigot is awesome. Great seal, very easy to use. 

[Moab]

So, quick update.

In preparation for bringing my 7 gallon Aquatainer on a camping trip this weekend, I did a taste test of the water that I labelled/stored on 25 FEB 2025.

I used the instructions from this thread: https://ufozs.com/smf/index.php?topic=2408.0

I did a taste test with a cup of tap water, for a side-by-side comparison. Both samples were exactly the same.

Success!

The 1/4 cup water to 1/4 cup bleach, swish around, pour out, and add your clean water? Or the 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon?

The teaspoon method. I rinsed the container with tap water prior to filling it, but the only bleach I added was by teaspoon.

How much of a teaspoon?

I went by what @majorhavoc said in the other thread: Seat of the pants answer: 1/4 - 1/2 tsp (whatever 4 drops times 7 amounts to) of unscented, regular strength liquid bleach.

Cool. Thanks. Just curious. Both methods probably end up with a 1/4 to a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a 5 gallon or 20 liter jug. But I was encouraged by you not noticing any bleach taste. That's awesome.

I stored the Aquatainer in the basement from 25 FEB 2025 until 26 JUN 2026. I did notice a whiff of bleach from the vent spout at the campsite, where it was sitting in and out of the sun in about 80 degree F heat and 60 degree cool at night. I have a pretty sensitive nose, though.

The other folks in my party didn't notice anything though. We were using the water for drinking, boiling and cleaning, and there were no issues. We used about 2 gallons of the available 7 between FRI evening and SUN morning.

I know we know, but 7 gallons of water is close to 56 pounds. I harbor no illusions about using this container for anything besides car camping and bugging in.

The reversible/stowable spigot is awesome. Great seal, very easy to use.

I know what you mean. We've had this discussion about weight before. I am out of the country. And I honestly don't remember which ones I bought. But I do recall paring my jugs down in the future to 3 or 5 gal size. If I didn't already do that with this last purchase. I'd have to look at my Amazon account.

I think we even identified a better brand and model. But I could be mistaken about that. 

Iirc I bought a full set of these as "bug out in vehicle or just for home use". Because they were so cheap. I'll have to research my notes on this. I'm sure I kept some notes.

[Moab]

I think the consensus was or my own and another members opinion sold me. The Waterbeicks are 3.5 gallon. Which are each a more manageable size. Are much tougher made. Very securely stackable. And have a handle that can facilitate pole carrying multiples. So you could actually have more people be able to carry the smaller weight. But also move multiples at a time using a pile if you had the man power to do it. And they aren't that much more expensive:

https://www.waterbrick.org/product-category/waterbrick/

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