How the 5-Gallon Jug Exchange and Refundable Bottle Deposit Work: A First-Timer's Guide to Water Delivery

If you've never had water delivered before, the jug exchange can seem a little mysterious. Who owns the jugs? What's the deposit for? Do you have to wash the empties? What happens if you go away for a few weeks?

Fall is a popular time to sort this out. The kids are back in school, more people are working from home again as the rain settles in, and nobody wants to haul heavy jugs from the store through a wet parking lot. Here's exactly how the 5-gallon jug exchange works with Taj Water, from your first order to your hundredth swap.

The short version

1. You choose how many 5-gallon jugs you want and how often you want them.
2. On your first order, you pay a refundable bottle deposit for the jugs.
3. We drop off full jugs where you need them.
4. On every delivery after that, we pick up your empties and leave full ones.

That's it. No buying new jugs every time, no recycling bin full of plastic, and no trips to the store.

Why the jugs are reusable

Our 5-gallon jugs are built to be used again and again. Instead of a single-use bottle that ends up in the blue bin after one go, each jug comes back to us on the next delivery cycle and the loop keeps going. It's a simple system that means less plastic waste for your household or workplace, and better value over time.

Before jugs head out on a route, they're filled, sealed and labelled at our facility in Port Coquitlam. Then they're organized by route and delivery schedule, so the right number of jugs ends up at the right door.

What the refundable bottle deposit is for

The deposit is a small one-time amount on your first order that covers the reusable jugs while they're at your home or business. It isn't a monthly fee and it isn't a rental charge. Think of it as a placeholder for the jugs themselves.

A few things to know:

• You pay it once, on your first order. After that, each delivery is a straight swap: your empties for our full jugs.
• It's refundable. The jugs stay part of the exchange, and the deposit reflects that.
• No surprises. Check our products page for current pricing, or ask us when you order. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges added later.

If you have questions about how the deposit works for your account, or you're adding jugs for a second floor or a new location, get in touch and we'll walk you through it.

How a typical delivery day goes

Once you're set up, delivery day is easy:

• Leave your empties out. Put empty jugs in the spot you've agreed on, such as by the front door, in the garage, at reception or in the breakroom. Caps on is helpful.
• We swap them. Our driver drops off your full jugs right where you need them and takes the empties.
• You're done. Nothing to rinse and nothing to recycle. The empties go back into the exchange.

Because we run our own routes with our own vehicles, you're not dealing with a third-party courier who's never seen your building before. And if something about your drop-off spot changes, you can call and talk to a real person on our local team.

Picking a schedule that fits

The jug exchange works on a recurring schedule, so you're not reordering every time you run low. You can choose:

• Weekly, for busy households, offices or anyone who goes through water fast.
• Bi-weekly, the sweet spot for many homes.
• Monthly, for lighter use or a single person.

There are no long-term contracts. You can pause, skip or change your deliveries anytime, which is handy around the holidays, for a winter trip, or if your household grows or shrinks.

Not sure how many jugs to start with? Our guide on how many 5-gallon jugs you need per month walks through a simple way to estimate, and you can always adjust after a few deliveries. Our FAQ also covers scheduling questions.

Tips for storing your 5-gallon jugs

A few habits keep your water tasting fresh and your jugs in good shape between deliveries:

• Keep them cool and out of direct sun. A pantry, closet, basement or shaded corner of the garage works well. Avoid sunny windows and spots right beside a heater.
• Store them away from strong smells and chemicals. Plastic can pick up odours, so keep full jugs away from paint, gasoline, solvents, cleaning products and garden chemicals.
• Leave the caps on until you're ready to use a jug. Don't open a new jug early just to have it ready.
• Store jugs upright on a solid, level surface. A full jug is heavy, so keep it low, close to the floor, and away from the edge of a shelf.
• Keep a spare. One full jug in reserve means a busy week doesn't leave you empty before the next delivery. A few extra jugs can also be part of your storm kit, and our emergency drinking water storage guide has planning tips for the windstorm season.

Do you need a dispenser?

Not strictly, but most people find one makes life easier. A dispenser holds the 5-gallon jug for you, so there's no lifting and pouring, and a hot and cold unit gives you chilled water plus hot water for tea, instant oatmeal or a quick cup of soup.

You can rent a dispenser from us, and rentals include free maintenance and service swaps. If a unit acts up, we'll bring a working one on your next delivery. If you already own a dispenser that takes 5-gallon jugs, it works with our delivery too. Our post on hot and cold dispenser rental for home covers what's included, and you can see the current options on our dispensers page.

Setting up water for a workplace instead? Our office water station setup checklist covers the dispenser, jugs, cups and a restock plan.

Purified or distilled: which jugs should you get?

Both come in the same reusable 5-gallon jug and work with the same exchange.

• 5-gallon purified water is the everyday choice for drinking, cooking, coffee and tea. It's what goes in your home or office cooler.
• 5-gallon distilled water is meant for things like appliances and irons, coffee and espresso machines, steamers, automotive batteries and aquariums. It isn't necessary for everyday drinking.

You can mix both on the same delivery. Learn more on our water page.

Where we deliver

We deliver from our Port Coquitlam facility to homes and businesses across 14 Lower Mainland cities. That includes Burke Mountain, Westwood Plateau and Maillardville in Coquitlam, Suter Brook and Newport Village in Port Moody, and Sapperton and Queensborough in New Westminster. We also serve Port Coquitlam, Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and Langley.

Order today and we can usually deliver this week, with next-day slots often available in most of our service area. Give us a call to confirm timing for your address.

FAQ

Do I have to buy the 5-gallon jugs?

No. The jugs are reusable and stay part of the exchange. You pay a refundable bottle deposit on your first order, and after that we swap your empties for full jugs on every delivery.

Is the bottle deposit charged every time?

No. The deposit is paid once, on your first order. Each delivery after that is a straight swap.

Do I need to wash the empty jugs?

No. Just leave your empties in your usual drop-off spot, ideally with the caps on, and we'll take care of the rest.

What if I'm away or need fewer jugs for a while?

You can pause, skip or change your deliveries anytime. There are no long-term contracts.

Can I get purified and distilled water in the same delivery?

Yes. Both come in reusable 5-gallon jugs, and you can add both to the same order.

How much does water delivery cost?

It depends on how many jugs you order and whether you add a dispenser rental or accessories. Current pricing is on our products page, and we're happy to answer any questions about the bottle deposit when you call or order.

Ready to make the switch?

Skip the store run and the plastic pile-up this fall. Choose your 5-gallon jugs, pick a schedule, and we'll handle the swaps from there. Order 5-gallon water or start your order today.

Have a question about the jug exchange or setting up delivery for your home or business? Get in touch or call us at (778) 504-7880. You'll talk to a real person on our local team.