How long does 20L jar water last after opening? Storage tips that keep it fresh
A sealed 20L jar is best used by the best-before date printed on its label, kept in a cool, shaded place. Once opened and placed on a dispenser, aim to finish it within about a week. Sunlight, heat and an unclean dispenser are what spoil water fastest — not time alone.
Sealed jars
Check the label for a packing date and a best-before date or period. Store sealed jars indoors, away from windows and the kitchen stove, standing upright or lying flat — but never in the sun. A sealed jar left on a terrace or in a hot car can develop a plastic taste and algae, even before its date.
Opened jars
Once the cap seal is removed, air and the dispenser itself come into contact with the water. As a practical rule, finish an opened jar within about seven days. If a jar is lasting much longer than that, you are probably ordering more than you need — switch to a smaller plan or fewer jars per delivery.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sealed, stored indoors in shade | Use by the best-before date on the label |
| Opened, on a clean dispenser | Finish within about a week |
| Opened, dispenser in a warm or sunny spot | Move it to shade; finish sooner |
| Water smells or tastes off | Stop drinking it and ask for a replacement |
| Green tinge in the jar | Do not drink; return the jar |
Five storage mistakes
- Keeping jars in direct sunlight — on a balcony, near a window or on a terrace.
- Storing jars next to kerosene, paint, cleaning chemicals or petrol; plastic can pick up odours.
- Leaving an opened jar without a dispenser or cap.
- Not cleaning the dispenser — see our guide on cleaning a dispenser.
- Ordering far more jars than you use, so some sit for weeks.
Plan jars so none sits too long
Fixed delivery days help: you get the same number of jars on the same day each week, so you can match deliveries to what you actually drink. Use our guide on how many jars a family needs to set the right number.
Slide to your monthly use and see which plan fits.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I keep water in a dispenser?
Aim to finish an opened 20L jar within about a week, and keep the dispenser out of sunlight and cleaned every few weeks.
Does packaged water expire?
Packaged drinking water carries a best-before date or period on the label. Use sealed jars by that date and store them in a cool, shaded place.
Why does jar water taste like plastic?
Usually because the jar was stored or transported in heat or sunlight. Ask for a replacement and store jars indoors in the shade.
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