Have you ever tried a canned water?
If you've spotted a tallboy in the cooler that turned out to be water, you've met the category. Canned water is exactly what it sounds like: clean drinking water packaged in an aluminum can instead of a plastic bottle. Simple idea. Surprisingly big deal.
Here's everything you need to know - how it's made, why the can matters, and where to grab one in Canada.
So what exactly is canned water?
Canned water is purified still or spring water sealed in an aluminum can, the same format as your favourite beer or pop. No mystery, no additives. At JUG, it's reverse osmosis (RO) filtered Canadian water in a 473 mL aluminum can. Cold. Crisp. Canadian.
The category took off because people wanted the convenience of bottled water without the plastic guilt. Aluminum turned out to be the answer that was sitting in the beer fridge the whole time.
How canned water is made
Most premium canned water - JUG included - starts with reverse osmosis filtration. RO pushes water through a semi-permeable membrane that strips out dissolved solids, chlorine, heavy metals, and just about everything else that isn't H2O. What's left is clean, neutral-tasting water.
From there it's canned the same way a brewery cans a lager: filled, sealed, packed. The can blocks 100% of light and oxygen, so the water inside tastes exactly like it did the day it was filled.
Why aluminum beats plastic
This is the part worth repeating at the dinner table:
Aluminum is infinitely recyclable. A can can be melted down and back on the shelf as a new can in about 60 days, with no loss of quality. It's the most recycled beverage container on the planet.
Plastic isn't keeping up. In Canada, plastic bottles are recycled at rates below 30%, and a bottle that misses the bin can take up to 400 years to break down. Most "recycled" plastic is actually downcycled once and then landfilled.
Cans get colder, faster. Aluminum conducts temperature better than plastic, which is why a can from the cooler always hits different on a dock in July.
Is canned water good for you?
Short answer: it's water. RO-filtered water is as clean as drinking water gets, and modern can liners are the same food-safe linings used across the entire beverage industry. No sugar, no calories, no caffeine, no blurry ending.
Canned water vs. bottled water vs. tap
Tap water is great - we're not here to knock it. We're lucky in Canada to have clean and fresh water in most placed. But when you're at a bonfire, on the golf course, at a show, or three hours up North, nobody's passing around a faucet. That's the moment canned water exists for: cold, portable, sealed, and not another plastic bottle in the lake.
Compared to bottled water, canned water gives you the same grab-and-go convenience with packaging that actually gets recycled. Same water occasion, better exit strategy.
Where to buy canned water in Canada
JUG is canned in Ontario, Canada and easy to find:
- Circle K stores across Ontario — gas up, grab snacks, mix in a few JUGs
- Bondi Produce, Sysco and GFS
- Online at jug.ca — 12-packs shipped across Canada
- over 250 Bars, restaurants, golf courses, hotels, and offices across Ontario — see where to find JUG
Why we can water at JUG
JUG was built on a simple bet: water deserves its moment. We take Canadian water, run it through reverse osmosis, and put it in a can that can hang anywhere a beer can - the cooler, the cottage, the back nine, the dive bar fridge.
Better for the planet than plastic. Cold and crisp out of the can. Always Canadian. Just how it should be.
Canned water FAQ
Does canned water taste like metal? No - cans are lined, so the water never touches aluminum. It tastes like clean, cold water. Full stop.
How long does canned water last? Sealed cans block all light and oxygen, so canned water stays fresh for years. It's a favourite for cottages, boats, and emergency kits for exactly that reason.
Is canned water more expensive than bottled? Premium canned water costs about the same as other premium bottled waters - with packaging that's actually worth something at the recycling depot.
What sizes does JUG come in? 473 mL cans, sold in 12-packs online and as singles in retail.
Thirsty? Mix in a few JUGs and see what the fuss is about.