How long does Water in cooler last

[george olly]

Hi All

Can anyone tell me how long water lasts in a water cooler. Also how long does water last when unopened before going into the water cooler. Many Thanks George

[Keithcaley]

This is a really difficult one - the water is not 'sterile' when bottled, nor is it chlorinated, so environmental factors will have a big influence on its keeping qualities.

Most of the places that sell the 19 litre bottles have a high turnover (and good good stock rotation - we hope!), so that the water that you buy should not have been bottled more than a day or two previously. Obviously, if you buy from somewhere that doesn't have such a good turnover, then you need to take that 'lead time' into account.

In winter, if the bottles are kept cool, and in a dark place, I reckon that they would probably be OK to consume within 3 or 4 weeks.

In summer, if they are exposed to sunlight, then I wouldn't want to be starting to drink them much beyond a week from date of purchase / bottling.

Always examine your bottles before mounting in the dispenser, and during use as well, come to that... - if you see the slightest trace of GREEN, (Algae) then cease consumption, and sterilize your water dispenser / cooler, (if you have already mounted the bottle, that is) because the algae will have got inside, and even in relative darkness, the heat from the compressor etc. will encourage algae growth. One indication of Algae growth in the dispenser will be a reduced flow, so that's something to watch out for.

There is plenty of advice on sterilizing coolers etc on the internet, either using Milton Fluid or diluted household bleach - both of which are basically sodium hypochlorite, although you have to be more careful to get the correct dilution with bleach, 'cos it's a lot more concentrated!

Are you asking because you have experienced a problem, or just out of curiosity / seeking general advice?

The reason that I ask, is that all the suppliers that I have ever dealt with have exchanged 'dubious' bottles free of charge, on the spot, regardless of age, without question. If you meet any resistance to supplying a free replacement, no matter what the circumstances, then I would be inclined to change supplier, PRONTO!

BTW - you can get decorative cover to protect the bottles from daylight while they are mounted on your dispenser (although they are hard to find!) - but a black bin bag works just as well, if not better. Goths love 'em!

[Sultan]

They have a use by date on them. Are you saying that is to be ignored? Green algae cannot grow in the dark so will not grow inside the tank itself, they may flow in from the bottle.

[Keithcaley]

They have a use by date on them. Are you saying that is to be ignored?

I would most certainly not advise anyone to use them past the 'use by' date - but this is generally one full year after the date of bottling, and my own personal experience is that, dependent on storage conditions as I mentioned, they can become unusable long before that - which is why I advise caution.

Green algae cannot grow in the dark so will not grow inside the tank itself, they may flow in from the bottle.

I agree with you that algae will not grow in total darkness, but light can be refracted some way inside the machine through the water if the bottle is exposed to bright sunlight - and as you say, algae may have already got into 'the works' from the bottle itself...

Thank you for your input, it is much appreciated.

[george olly]

Hi All

Many thanks for you input and valuable advice. The reason I posted the query is that we don't live here so the villa can be empty for 3-4 months at a time with a part used bottle in the cooler and a full unopened one, use by date for the new bottle seems to be 1 year. As you suggest this date is much dependent on storage conditions, time of year etc so I agree caution should be observed, don't want visitors to the villa to go down with something nasty. One further question is there an easy way to remove a part used bottle from the cooler without flooding the villa. Is the dispenser easily cleaned from within. Thank you again keithcaley and sultan. George

[PapaBravo]

There is an alternative to the 19 Ltr water bottles.

I grew tired of changing bottles, sometimes 3 times a week when we had visitors in summer, and my wife, who is petite, has major problems if I am not around when the bottle needs to be changed. I had seen a couple of water coolers by the entrance to Ikea, which were plumbed in, so had no bottles, and was interested in them.

I then found a shop in Catalkoy that specialises in filtered water. The owner installs a filtered water system for around 1200 TL. For this you get a filtration system and reservoir under the sink, a tap over the sink that provides filtered water on demand at room temperature, and a small unit that replaces the 19 Ltr bottle on your water cooler. The water for the water cooler is supplied from the under-sink reservoir by plastic microbore tubing. The owner does all the installation and is very professional, having been in the business for many years, and the piping is hidden in a plastic conduit that runs along the top of the skirting. He notes the date of installation and will come back every 12 months to change the 5 filters at a cost of 250 TL. He also provided a water tester - the filtered water showed 'green' and the readout indicated a low level of impurities in the filtered water. When the water from the 19 Ltr bottle was tested it showed 'Red' and the readout showed a much higher level of impurities. I now have a continuous source of clean, filtered water from the tap and from the water cooler.

As I said earlier, the cost of installation is around 1200 TL, and then an annual cost of 250 TL per year for new filters. A 19 Ltr bottle of water is around 5 TL, so an average of 2 bottles a week costs 260 TL per year, 3 bottles a week costs 390 TL a year and so on. So you can work out how quickly you recover your costs . I have no connection with the owner other than as a very satisfied customer. His English is not too good; his wife speaks better English, but the lady in the 'Stop and Go' launderette 2 doors down speaks excellent English and is happy to help. The shop is located on the same strip of shops as 'Pit Stop', on the left a mile or so before you get to Catalkoy (travelling from Girne). I should add that this is not a recommendation, simply a report from a satisfied customer. My neighbours ordered a system when they saw ours, and are as satisfied as we are.

[Butterflyaway]

Hi PapaBravo,

On your recommendation I have bought this system.

The gentleman as you rightly point out speaks very little English. However, his assistant translated most of my questions.

He visited at the stated time to do a survey. As I wanted my unit not in the kitchen it was quite a complicated installation. I also wanted water to my fridge/freezer.

His quote was as you wrote.

We agreed a date for installation. His assistant phoned just before to make sure I was still available. He came and fitted the unit and then waited about 20 minutes for the water to run through the filters/reservoir and taps. Then we waited a while to see how fast the water would dispense. It is about 1 litre per minute. He did the tests and the water looked and tasted perfect.

He rang his assistant who translated a few questions and she gave me her mobile in case of queries. I paid and he left.

I then went out for a few hours and on my return a few hours later, discovered a pool of water under the unit and on the floor. This was 19:30 on Friday evening.

I rang the lady, explained the problem. She said she would call him and call me back. She told me he was in Famagusta, but would come to me ASAP. At 20:30 he arrived, cut a bit of damaged pipe and fixed the leak. Two minutes. He could have told his assistant, that I should turn off the unit and he would come when he was next in the area. He didn't, he did what no other person in TRNC has done since I have been here, (apart from Dave Griffiths of Wines of the World when my new fridge stopped working, thanks again Dave).

I also think that when I had this system before in the UK, the filters did not need changing as frequently as every year. More like every three years. You can tell when they need changing as the water comes out much more slowly. So your cost comparison, is even more favourable. Please do not forget the cost of replacing old water machines and there is no way you could put a cost on doing your back in with carrying those 19 litre water bottles.

I could go on extolling the virtues of changing your water machine for this R/O system, but make your own minds up. I think the guy is great and his service is second to none.

Tell him Mr Steve was happy!

[PapaBravo]

Butterflyaway, glad you are pleased with your new system. PB