How to Buy 5 Gallon Water Jugs

Locating five-gallon water jugs to buy takes a bit of effort, but plastic water jugs can be found in most communities for very little money. Once purchased, the jugs can be reused as needed or used to store water for emergency situations. For camping or other recreational activities, you may want to purchase more durable sportsman's water jugs.

Buying Water Jugs

1. Check your local grocery store. If they have bottled water available, chances are they sell it in five-gallon jugs. You will have to pay an additional deposit on the jug in addition to the price of the water.

2. Look in local sporting goods stores. There are various manufacturers who make five-gallon water jugs for camping, fishing or other outdoor activities. These will cost more than what's available at a grocery store, but will also be more durable.

3. Request catalogs from Cabela's, L.L. Bean and other suppliers of outdoor equipment. Be sure to figure in the cost of shipping to the overall cost of the jugs when pricing.

4. Check online retailers. Websites such as Amazon and Walmart.com carry the jugs at reasonable prices. Wal-Mart will take orders online and send the jugs to your nearest store for no shipping charge.

5. Check with retailers such as U.S. Plastics if you plan to purchase a number of jugs. Buying jugs by the case or in greater numbers can give you significant savings over purchasing one at a time.

Tip

If you plan to store water for emergency use, add 1/8 teaspoon of regular household chlorine bleach per gallon of water. This will not affect the taste of the water but will destroy any bacteria from the tap water or an unclean container. Wash and dry all water jugs before filling with water. There are a variety of types of jugs on the market. Some are collapsible for storage. Some have a spout making the water easy to access. Choose the type of jug that suits your needs.