5 gallon water jugs

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sieglere

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So there's a bunch of water jugs where I work and I'm wondering if there's any reason I can't use these as a carboy (aside from having to do slightly less than 5 gallon batches).
Any thoughts or insights?
 
Yooper had a great response to this question a few years back, pasted here:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/5-gallon-dear-park-water-jug-44637/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/5-gallon-water-jug-carboy-75764/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/5-gallon-water-buckets-19076/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/culligan-water-bottle-57828/

This comes up often, so you can read the opinions and decide. I checked out the jugs where I work- they are #7 which is now under fire for being dangerous even for holding water (from trustedmd.com):

To be certain that you are choosing a bottle that does not leach, check the recycling symbol on your bottle. If it is a #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), or a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene), your bottle is fine. The type of plastic bottle in which water is usually sold is usually a #1, and is only recommended for one time use. Do not refill it. Better to use a reusable water bottle, and fill it with your own filtered water from home and keep these single-use bottles out of the landfill.

Unfortunately, those fabulous colourful hard plastic lexan bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol, may leach BPA. Bisphenol A is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies. Synthetic xenoestrogens are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes. For more of the science on the effects of BPA on our endocrine system etc. see these studies: Environmental Health Perspectives Journal. Nalgene, the company that manufactures the lexan water bottles also makes #2 HDPE bottles in the same sizes and shapes, so we have a viable alternative.

Unfortunately, most plastic baby bottles and drinking cups are made with plastics containing Bisphenol A. In 2006 Europe banned all products made for children under age 3 containing BPA, and as of Dec. 2006 the city of San Franscisco followed suit. In March 2007 a billion-dollar class action suit was commenced against Gerber, Playtex, Evenflo, Avent, and Dr. Brown's in Los Angeles superior court for harm done to babies caused by drinking out of baby bottles and sippy cups containing BPA. So, to be certain that your baby is not exposed, use glass bottles.
 
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