It should be stored in the refrigerator in a clean bottle or pitcher with a lid. To prevent recontamination, be careful not to touch the inside of the water bottle or lid. Water can be filtered to remove Cryptosporidium oocysts and the cysts of another protozoan parasite, Giardia lamblia. They may be either attached to a faucet or have a pour-through design. Follow the manufacturer's instructions that are supplied with water treatment equipment to prevent clogging and ensure proper filtration.
Improper maintenance can actually increase health risks.
Under current standards, bottled water is not necessarily any safer than tap water. Read the label on bottled water for information about the water source and treatment. Water can be distilled or pasteurized to kill all pathogens before bottling. Procedures for using ozone to inactivate oocysts in bottled water have not yet been established. Oocysts can be removed by reverse osmosis or a filter with an absolute one micron rating.