Though water itself doesn’t expire, bottled water often has an expiration date.

In 1987, New Jersey became the first and only U.S. state to pass a law requiring that all food products including bottled water have an expiration date of 2 years or less from the date of manufacture.

When this law was passed, printing an expiration date became an industry standard for bottled water manufacturers across the country.

However, this law was later changed, and no current legislation requires manufacturers to print an expiration date on bottled water.

Still, it’s generally not a good idea to drink water from plastic bottles that’s way beyond its expiration date.

This is because plastic can begin to leach into the water over time, contaminating it with chemicals, such as antimony and bisphenol A (BPA).

If ingested regularly, these plastic compounds can slowly accumulate in your body, which could harm gut health, immunity, and respiratory function.

Additionally, bottled water that’s carbonated may eventually become flat, losing its carbonation and developing an off taste.

Though it’s not required, bottled water is usually printed with an expiration date. Over time, plastic can begin leaching into bottled water, which can negatively affect your health.

Storing bottled water properly can help prevent bacterial growth and reduce the risk of side effects, such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

In particular, warm temperatures can foster bacterial growth and increase the release of harmful plastic chemicals into the water.

Keeping bottled water in a cool place out of direct sunlight can help promote proper food safety and reduce your risk of negative health effects.

Because plastic bottles are also slightly permeable, it’s best to store bottled water away from household cleaning supplies and chemicals.

If you notice that your water has developed an odd taste or odor, you should boil it before drinking or discard it.