Frequently Asked Questions. How long can you keep bottled water? According to the US Food and Drug Administration, bottled drinking water doesn't require an expiration date. We recommend to use the standard best practices and to consume the bottled water within 2 years from the date of manufactured.

While water itself does not "expire," drinking 20-year-old bottled water is not recommended due to the degradation of the plastic container. Most commercial bottled water is packaged in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). Over two decades, especially if the bottle was exposed to heat or sunlight, the plastic undergoes "leaching," where chemicals like antimony and phthalates seep into the water. These chemicals are known endocrine disruptors and can give the water a distinct "plastic" or "stale" taste. Furthermore, while the water was sealed and sterile at the time of bottling, the plastic is slightly porous; over 20 years, outside odors and microscopic contaminants can permeate the bottle. If the water was stored in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place, it might technically be safe to drink, but for standard plastic bottles found in a basement or garage, the risk of chemical ingestion far outweighs any benefit. In 2026, the general rule of thumb is that if the bottle is more than 2 years old, it is better used for watering plants than for human consumption.