Our reservoirs and soft bottles are lined with food grade material and contains no BPA or other harmful materials. If there’s an off-taste or smell to water that’s been stored in the reservoir, you can try adding a tablespoon of baking soda to a couple liters of boiling water and pouring this into the bag or bottle. When it’s cool enough to handle, slosh the water around and then let it sit for a few hours or overnight. Pour out the water-baking soda solution and rinse well before using it. A vinegar and water solution or lemon juice and water solution may also work to remove off tastes. Time may also help reduce off tastes and odors.
Many water sources have a fair amount of minerals and or other chemicals (even tap water) which may become more noticeable after a period of storage. We do not recommend storing your reservoirs for long periods of time with water in them. It’s best to let them dry out between uses.
This article applies to our MSR and Platypus brand reservoirs and soft bottles.