How to Can/Bottle Water

This is not a parsimonious means to have water storage. But, it appeals to me, lots. I was following rabbit trails from blog to blog and found a video. When I went to the next several videos, hopping from site to site, I could not find my way back. Therefore, I don't have the details.

Basically, this woman was canning water just like we would can produce--in canning jars, processed on the stove. People add an extra jar full of water to their canning process in order to have a full canner--water bath or pressure canner. So, this does not seem too far-fetched. I suppose if a person has plenty of jars, the extra to fill the canner could be saved for drinking water, making the cost of canning water negligible.

Since I always have canning jars empty for months, I think this provides a means to have water that is 100%, guaranteed BPA free. I do drink from plastic water bottles on occasion. However, I don't want to depend on those and they are expensive. And, they do leak. Ask me how I know. I really cannot afford the larger water storage methods, nor do I want to handle three gallon containers, the smallest storage container especially made for water storage.

I know glass bottles can break more easily than plastic containers and could fall off a shelf during an earthquake. I don't have earthquakes, and I will not have anyone handling these besides me. They will be stored, four to a box with partitions.


I can justify buying more canning jars since the cost of the jar is not much more than the cost of bottle water.
The poster boiled the water, put the boiling water in hot, sterilized jars, used new lids and rings she had. Then, she processed it for 15 minutes. While this seems straightforward enough, I still have questions.

*First, have any of you canned water or know anyone who has?
*Second, would canning tap water, as is, but boiled, be prudent? There is chlorine and fluoride, at least. I do not want to purchase distilled water to can nor do I want to buy commercial drinking water to can.
*Third, I don't know whether water bath or pressure cooker would be best. Do you?
*Fourth, Would filtering the water first through a Brita filter with a pitcher be good to do before water is boiled? I don't have a Brita filtering system on the sink.

Problems: Will light still cause stuff to grow in the water? I can store in absolute darkness. Glass is breakable, but I am willing to chance that since I probably won't be leaving my home. Small amounts=lots of glasses jars of water. Water stored in small amounts=something I can handle. So, I don't consider lots of jars  a problem. If I put it in a box, it can be dark and contained, not liable to fall from a shelf, and no more problem than home-canned produce.

Even if I poured this finished product in a bucket to flush the commode, I would have wasted/spent only the cost of processing on the stove. Actually, I would not consider it a waste of electricity. I could just store the water I can, still add Clorox or pool shock (which I am still looking for)  to water after storage to make it potable if necessary.

Another thought--for those wondering how to store water, you could always store it, unprocessed, in glass canning jars to use for non-potable water. Just put in bleach and store in the dark. If you need the jars to can food, you can open the jars or buy new ones. A person can never have too many canning jars! Of course, I would use quarts, but it seems that half-gallon jars would work, too.

Update: Lorie led me to her post and her take on water in canning jars. It is not the video where the jars are processed. However, it is an excellent idea that involves no processing. Thanks, Lorie.

Your turn
Your thoughts about this whole process? Do you see any further considerations that I am missing? Was this a wacky idea she had?  Do you know where that woman and her video is on the Internet???