Due to the storage issues in a NYC apt., from which I am moving out TODAY!!, some of my "just in case" supplies were stuffed into the bottom of a long closet. Getting to them required me to get on my knees and pull them out or to pull lots of clothes out. I didn't do this often.

Well, I pulled all the stuff out to pack up some of it and decide what to leave behind. One of the 2.5 gallon containers of water was nearly empty when it was pulled out. I checked for signs of a leak all around the other stuff and closet and looked for holes in the container itself. The only hole in the container was about 1/4 inch long and less than 1/8 wide, and it was on top. The container had been dented on top, and apparently 90% plus of the water evaporated out of it. It must have taken months for that to happen.

I still had water in my stash, but I did not have as mucha s I thought I did.

I think checking my stuff will be much easier in the house, and, hopefully, I have learned a lesson.

I had several water containers that all failed at the same place. The containers were subjected to sitting in a row undisturbed in my garage. IIRC they were Reliance brand containers that were about 6 or 7 gallon capacity. Every one of them failed in the same place. Since they were in my garage I noticed the leaks early. I'm glad I didn't have them inside the house. The leaks were toward the bottom of the containers so I might have created quite the mess that way.

If it's the 2.5 gallon containers with the spout made out of the translucent milk carton material, don't use those for long term storage. The plastics degrade over a short period of time and leak. The 1 gallon containers made of the clear plastic hold up much better. Just be glad the leak wasn't on the bottom or it could've ruined your other stuff.

ME TOO!! Wow, there must be some design flaw or something. Did they freeze?

Whew, thanks for sharing that! I don't trust the cheapo plastics containers anyway but I didn't think they would fail so fast.

I have been using the Reliance Aqua Pak 5 Gallon water containers (blue plastic with the white spigot included) for a few years now ... and, so far, have not had any issues or failures with those.
I keep them stacked "2 containers high", and store them under the steps in my garage. It never gets cold enough for them to freeze there... so, I'm sure that helps.

But, if others are experiencing failures with those, I will definitely be checking mine more often.

Technically, Aquatainers aren't meant to be stacked while full of water. Sort of a design flaw IMHO to make them easily fit together and stackable, but to expect users to only stack them if they're empty.

Good point ... certainly, there will be much more pressure/stress on the bottom container when they are stacked.
I haven't had any problems with the Aqua-Paks yet; but, now I am thinking I will probably unstack those, instead of continuing to test my luck.

Stacking just two Aquatainers probably isn't that big a deal, but just thought I'd mention it. I'm sure it's stacking like 4 or 5 of them that Reliance is most worried about. Not only are the bottom containers more likely to fail under all that weight, but you also have to worry about one of the upper containers tipping over and landing on someone.

After all these years I still find myself using 2L soda bottles for water storage. Never had one leak or break so far.