Is water safe to keep/drink if kept near sun for a long time?
Posted by FickleMickleDane@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 39 comments
TLDR; I've forgotten about 3-4 packs of 48 pack bottled water next to a window in my storage room where sunlight leaks for about a little over a year now. My shade is always down, but it still leaks light and gets warm around that area. Was wondering if it's still safe to drink/keep due to plastic degradation. I've drank some already and it tastes fine, but worried if I should continue drinking it, store it for good, or just throw all of them away.
DaveyAllenCountry@reddit
BPAs and other forever plastics get put into water when the bottle begins to Disintegrate internally (why they have an expiration date) or if they are heated up by direct source or the sun. If the plastic becomes flimsy/squishy from time the water is prolly full of toxic plastic now. It's often said to not use individual bottles for long term storage bc they are cheaply made. Instead, it is suggested to use treated tap water in BPA free, food grade containers meant for water storage (typically blue) such as the Samson stackers. You can also use very specific amounts of clorox [Sodium Hypochlorite 6% or 7.5% ONLY] to treat the water for stable storage.
manifestrawberry@reddit
It's a hot topic, but ideally, you want to keep your water in glass or stainless steel due to microplastics, especially being exposed to the heat.
"Safe to drink" for emergencies, like it probably won't make you feel violently ill, like drinking unfiltered lake water etc. but what happens when plastics accumulate in your body is the question nowadays.
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/plastic-particles-bottled-water
minosi1@reddit
Microplastics separated from bottles are way, way less of a concern than often talked about. They cane become a problem for micro-organisms but pose very little to no risk to complex organisms like people.
On top of that, the common PET bottles are made from chemicals which are essentially inert, toxicity-wise. The our gastro system is very much designed to expel anything it cannot /chemically/ decompose. Were we fish breathing the water, that would be another discussion as those same microplastics we safely expel is to fish like what asbestos dust is to human lungs.
KnuttyBunny69@reddit
There is not one true statement in all of that. Why would you choose to spread easily disprovable nonsense?
minosi1@reddit
Read a bit on why general "microplastics" are a menace and why they became a concern only after they were discovered across the aquatic ecosystems.
If you think the longevity of unbound polyethylene fragments, polyester(s) fragments or, in this case, polyethylene terepthalate fragments is something new, I have a bridge to sell.
This stuff was WELL known back when these came to be in the 1930s. My super-old 1960s organic chemistry book I studied from in the 2000 had these thing accounted fro. Also what was known - as was well tested - was their inertness to humans. Excepting their vapors - those were known to not be a good thing when in high volumes - the act like casual irritant and, most importantly as the carrier mediums for more toxic substances in manufacturing settings. (Hint: fish breathe water ..). That is what makes these actually so useful - only thanks to it they do not degrade to begin. Granted, PVC is a different animal, but that is not the topic here.
When the approach changes is when ecologists started talk about how the aquatic life is affected - which it is. But even there the pollution is mechanical, plastics fragments have a low density and "float" in water, unlike other organic matter with the ability to float. It is not chemical, as in "toxic". Again that is the whole point - because, e.g., PET is chemically as inert as it gets, it is exactly the problem - is does not react, hence it does not decompose in nature.
Sure, if one wanted to be pedantic, it is true there are chemicals released from (new) bottles into the water which are of a concern. Those are residuals from manufacturing, metals from the machines, etc. I.e. not polymer fragments of the bottles themselves /i.e. microplastics/ but stuff "dissolved" or attached to it.
I can probably did some papers on this, but will not bother. This is no science forum.
I did one big error in my comments to this thread - not noticing OP was implicitly referring store-bought bottled water and presumed the water was self-stored. But that has no relation to the microplastics topic.
xcrunner432003@reddit
we do not expel microplastics. they bioaccumulate and enter organs, testes, placenta, brain, etc.
KJHagen@reddit
Thousands of us drank water from pallets of bottled water left in the sun in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some were in the sun and dust for a year or more. It may develop a “plastic” taste, but is likely drinkable.
I would suggest, if you have the slightest doubt about it, to use it for other purposes. Buy some new bottles. You should be rotating through your stock anyway.
DwarvenRedshirt@reddit
If you cycle through it regularly, there shouldn't be a problem. If you leave it there for 5 years before touching it, there may be problems.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Microplastics are usually pretty large particles (as far as water contaminants go) and therefore easy to filter. Do you have a ZeroWater pitcher or something similar? You could always just run it through a filter first. I know that kind of defeats the whole convenience part, but it would eliminate any plastics.
Nicetillnot@reddit
Put a cover on the windows and carry on. You have just identified and addressed a shortcoming. It isn't ideal, but you will be fine if you drink it. Watch bottles for degradation. Discoloration or cloudiness of areas on bottles getting sunlight is a telltale sign of changes in the plastic itself, and this becomes a greywater only bottle.
slendermanismydad@reddit
It should be fine to drink but I'd try to finish it and rotate it out.
Decent-Apple9772@reddit
There are three concerns:
Algae. All but the cleanest water will grow algae when set stagnant in the sun. That is a major concern for rain barrels and ponds. Your bottled water should not have the algae nor nutrients to start that process.
Plastic breakdown. Almost all plastic breaks down with exposure to UV and then leaks and/or releases microplastics and plasticizers. I would be concerned about that if the sun exposure was measured in months.
Fire. Plastic water bottles in direct sunlight can act as magnifying glasses and start fires. Same with crystal balls. 🔮
In your case with indirect sunlight I would not worry about it.
FlashyImprovement5@reddit
check out this
Widely used in third world countries.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
UV does not penetrate most plastics, at all.
FlashyImprovement5@reddit
The WHO recommended small plastic bottles over large ones so the UV can penetrate better. Larger bottles also take longer times in the sun to be effective.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
They specifically mention PET, I thought most bottles, at least in the US, are HDPE.
THC_Dude_Abides@reddit
Yeah but that’s hours/days not months or years. But that said the water is probably fine. You could boil it and pass it through a gravity filter and retreat it with purification tabs and store it in an opaque container if you are that worried. Or you could water your plants with it.
Dangerous-School2958@reddit
Yep. UV to kill pathogens was something I was about to bring up.
VOIDPCB@reddit
"I drank some already." That's reddit for you nobody ever has any sense when it comes to gross ass shit.
swaggyxwaggy@reddit
I thought sun made the plastic break down quicker. Could be wrong though
suzaii@reddit
Personally, I would use it as grey water first. In the event of an emergency, drink it.
Polar_san_@reddit
If the water is in plastic containers, it can go bad from micro plastics or even evaporate.
If it is in metal ot cristal containers is usually good to drink.
Paranormal_Lemon@reddit
Heat will make it leech chemicals faster so it might not taste good
CardiologistPlus8488@reddit
How near the sun are you keeping it??
last_one_in@reddit
I try to keep mine around 1AU from the sun, plus or minus a bit.
Ingelwood@reddit
Wise, sir.
Maltz42@reddit
If it's near enough to boil, then the water should be fine!
MalleusDraconiasOTL@reddit
I would cycle out the water that's been in the sun (that is, drink what you have and replace with new packs, just make sure the new ones are no longer getting sunlight).
DeafHeretic@reddit
What is the relative risk?
Is it safer to become dehydrated because you have no or limited water - or is safer to drink water stored in this manner?
SaltPrepper35@reddit
If it's all you've got, it's definitely better than getting dehydrated.
DeafHeretic@reddit
I use Nalgene bottles for my daily driver (crossover SUV). For other storage I have larger (5-7 gallon and 20 liter containers - most of which have the same BPA free thick translucent as the Nalgene bottles - some of which are the kind brewers use).
Anarkya@reddit
Related to this post: Is there a filtering system that could save the water? Like a sawyer kit or a brita?
pakZ@reddit
Reverse osmosis
SheistyPenguin@reddit
Clear Plastic Bottles exposed to UV light, will help kill bacteria in the bottles. Look up "SODIS".
Clear Plastic Bottles exposed to high temperatures (above room temperature), are more likely to leech their chemicals into the water.
In an emergency, which is more dangerous: drinking some plastics, or dehydration? Probably the latter.
EnergyLantern@reddit
I actually looked up the sodium content for spring water and you could actually get very sick or die if there were micro organisms in water without salt and water generally has to be moving to be safe. Standing water is a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you were to buy sandbags, they have ratings as to how long they would last in the sun. Products for cars are actually tested for how long components would last in the sun. There are also bottles that are made out of some biodegradable or compostable material.
Plastic water bottles are ubiquitous due to their convenience, yet they harbor potential risks. Sunlight exposure can lead these containers to degrade and emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are potentially detrimental to human health.Jun 20, 2024
Sunlight and plastic: the risky combination for bottled water safety | EurekAlert!
I have some trees and bushes that I had to cut back because the sun actually turned the branches black and charcoal because it has been hot. When products break down like that, it has to be melting or
minosi1@reddit
Depends what water.
Causal tap water tends to be relatively rich in nitrogen and other nutrients for microorganisms to be able to live from if they manage to get in. Hint: some will always.
On the other hand, a proper mineral water that has essentially no nutrients and is in an enclosed container will little air in to absorb nitrogen from will stay safe to drink for a relatively long time even at higher temperatures.
In either case, the plastics degradation is the least of your worries. You need to worry about microbial contamination way, WAY more than that so boiling the water may be a good idea if it was kept in a warm place for too long. Especialy if you have no guarantee how nutrient-rich the water was to begin.
OneLastPrep@reddit
Define "safe"
It would save your life if you were in need of hydration and you could worry about the microplastic leeching later.
Are you able to put some blackout curtains in that window to avoid it happening again?
PineapplePiazzas@reddit
https://www.tastingtable.com/679017/is-it-safe-to-drink-bottled-water-left-in-the-sun/
smsff2@reddit
It’s safe to drink.
I used to drink water that had been left outside for many years when there was no other option. Sometimes, I noticed a faint plasticky smell. Other times, I thought it might just be my imagination. It’s hard to say. In any case, I’m alive and well—no issues at all.