@oldmtwoman We’re on a municipal tap. I can see your point on the possible growth from well water. I’ve never stored well water, only spring and tap. Never had a problem with growth or off tastes from spring water but then again, the trips to the spring were monthly.
I can see storing canned water for a sterile situation. I think what more of the problem was that folks were storing water in the canning jars with lid and ring without going through the process. The lids will naturally seal over time which can be problematic when you’re talking about the possibility of bad things happening in the jar that wasn’t processed especially if it was just filtered water, spring water, or well water. In effect, the debate was whether it is or is not safe to just fill the jars and let them sit without processing or if there is some chance of botulism. I haven’t personally tried this because I just store in juice and soda bottles. I would think that out of the tap it would be fine because of the chemicals but many felt not so much even if the chemicals destroy the toxin but I would process spring water or well water.