Refilling a Water Bottle

[Spooner]

Originally posted by: ahurtt
Urban Myth.

Please stop perpetuating this utterly stupid belief. My God, it is amazing what some people will believe or go along with just because they are afraid of somebody else thinking they are misinformed. . .

/thread

Relax, dude, relax....

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Zoblefu
I've heard (possibly BS) that the plastic used for those bottles can slowly "come off" into the water as it is filled, refilled, washed, refilled, etc, since they were not made specifically for that purpose the plastic can be of lower quality to make the bottles cheaper.

No idea if it's true or not, but that's the reason I had heard about not re-using water bottles.

you could eat the plastic they use for water bottles and it wouldn't harm you
you would just p00p it out

 

[lokiju]

I buy cases of bottled watter from Sams Club.

I'll take one with me to work each day and then just refill it throughout the day with the spring water cooler here.

I take it home with me and finish it before I go to bed and then throw out the bottle and start it all over the next day.

In that situation I don't see how it could possible be bad.

For those that reuse the same bottle for weeks or months, that's a different story, I'd not like it just because you can't get a scrubber or anything like that down in there to clean it.

 

[techs]

I'd like to thank the OP for this thread and the people who responded.
I believed the myth that you shouldn't refill plastic bottles.
I am now better informed.

:thumbsup:

 

[ch33zw1z]

It's not a problem, I use them for a couple days then recycle.

 

[hanoverphist]

i use a 64oz mug everyday, made of plastic. that sucker has gone months without cleaning, and the straws usually go the same. water bottles usually only last a few days until they annoy me, but if they would stand up to the abuse i put them thru id refill them and keep using. i do wash that mug quite often now (like once or twice a week) ever since it started growing and grossed me out one time.

 

[duragezic]

If you are gonna be reusing it that much, I would just use a larger bottle, nalgene-type one since it is easier to wash it. I might refill a water bottle once or twice throughout the day, but with such a small opening, I would just toss it at the end of the day.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: Zoblefu
I've heard (possibly BS) that the plastic used for those bottles can slowly "come off" into the water as it is filled, refilled, washed, refilled, etc, since they were not made specifically for that purpose the plastic can be of lower quality to make the bottles cheaper.

No idea if it's true or not, but that's the reason I had heard about not re-using water bottles.

I have a feeling that if this was true and it was harmful, someone would've sued someone else by now. There are no warnings on the bottles to not reuse them. At least none that I've noticed.

Actually, there's SOME truth in that statement, although it's terribly distorted...

Let me clarify the issue.

The various plastics used for different containers may have a different shelf life. They DO, indeed, start to break down and decompose, in very microscopic quantities - and they may end up in your system.

Have you ever seen an old plastic bottle, left untouched in a garage or an attic, become opaque, taking a "matted" appearance, as if it was sanded with a very fine abrasive sponge? that's exactly it - those bottles are starting to slowly decay.

Take a peek at any plastic bottle (usually at the bottom). You will see a triangle with a number inside it. Most of the times, that number is 1 or 2... sometimes it's 4 or 5.

That particular number DOES indicate the longevity of the material - as you can imagine, 1, being the lowest. AFAIK, the safest bottles to use in the long run are marked 5... you can find them in various sports/outdoors stores. I don't remember ever seeing a "6".

And yes, it helps to also periodically wash the damned thing...

Rule of thumb: if you fill the bottle with water, and you see bubbles on the surface that last for more than 1 or 2 seconds, that water is probably not clean. And if you see foam, instead of bubbles, it's DEFINITELY not clean

 

[Deeko]

haha, I've had the same empty gatorade bottle on my desk at work for about 2 years now. I refill it every day from the water cooler here, I never wash it, and I haven't died yet.

 

[AnitaPeterson]

sorry, double post...

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: Deeko
haha, I've had the same empty gatorade bottle on my desk at work for about 2 years now. I refill it every day from the water cooler here, I never wash it, and I haven't died yet.

I used to do the same thing with my bottles, until I saw black mold growing under the cap ( usually I just check the bottle and the rim ). Just rinse out the thing with a water/bleach solution every once in a while.

 

[paulxcook]

This thread reminds me that I need to clean out my bottle at work.

 

[Jeff7]

No problems, go for it.

Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
I have heard claims that there is a layer in the plastic of the bottle that starts to break down and get in the water when you refil it. I say screw it and refill anyways. Just a scam to get you to buy more.

That was based on some undergrad research thing, which was found to be flawed. But the media ran the story anyway.

The simple fact that you can buy water bottles made of polyethylene says that they're probably safe.

 

[BoomerD]

There are supposed to be several reasons why it's bad for you to do, but I do it anyway. I've used the same 2-3 plastic water bottles since I started school in Jan. 2007.

 

[Chryso]

It is bad for the people who sell bottled water.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: Zoblefu
I've heard (possibly BS) that the plastic used for those bottles can slowly "come off" into the water as it is filled, refilled, washed, refilled, etc, since they were not made specifically for that purpose the plastic can be of lower quality to make the bottles cheaper.

No idea if it's true or not, but that's the reason I had heard about not re-using water bottles.

I have a feeling that if this was true and it was harmful, someone would've sued someone else by now. There are no warnings on the bottles to not reuse them. At least none that I've noticed.

Actually, there's SOME truth in that statement, although it's terribly distorted...

Let me clarify the issue.

The various plastics used for different containers may have a different shelf life. They DO, indeed, start to break down and decompose, in very microscopic quantities - and they may end up in your system.

Have you ever seen an old plastic bottle, left untouched in a garage or an attic, become opaque, taking a "matted" appearance, as if it was sanded with a very fine abrasive sponge? that's exactly it - those bottles are starting to slowly decay.

Take a peek at any plastic bottle (usually at the bottom). You will see a triangle with a number inside it. Most of the times, that number is 1 or 2... sometimes it's 4 or 5.

That particular number DOES indicate the longevity of the material - as you can imagine, 1, being the lowest. AFAIK, the safest bottles to use in the long run are marked 5... you can find them in various sports/outdoors stores. I don't remember ever seeing a "6".

And yes, it helps to also periodically wash the damned thing...

Rule of thumb: if you fill the bottle with water, and you see bubbles on the surface that last for more than 1 or 2 seconds, that water is probably not clean. And if you see foam, instead of bubbles, it's DEFINITELY not clean

And there's SOME truth to your statement, but most of it is wrong.

http://www.packaginggraphics.n...ogo-identification.htm

AFAIK recycling codes have nothing at all to do with how long it takes the materials to breakdown. Explain #7.

 

[AbAbber2k]

I refill my water bottles until the plastic starts to get hard and crack and is no longer able to contain the water therein.

 

[moshquerade]

i don't think it's bad.

good job on reusing the bottle. there's a movement to get back to tap water (which bottled water most of the time is) and use refillable containers b/c there has been an explosion of used bottled water containers in our waste/landfills.

 

[TheSlamma]

It's not bad but a bottle does need to be washed every few days.

Aluminum water bottles are teh best BTW.

 

[Kelemvor]

As long as you don't fill it and leave it sit for a week before drinking it, it should be fine. People say the plastic can seep into the water and such but not if you're drinking it often.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

i re used my Pom glass. Sheesh, I spent close to $2 on it so imma keep the glass it came in.

 

[BeauJangles]

It is accepted that parts of the plastic that makes up bottles can become 'free' and migrate into the beverage it holds. The effects of these free 'toxins' are debated.

The problem is that, unless you're drinking out of a ceramic cup, you're exposing yourself to all sorts of bad things. The aluminum water bottles that are trying to be marketed as healthier and cooler than Nalgene bottles aren't really that much better. High amounts of aluminum has been linked to high incidents of Alzheimer's disease.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

I used to use plastic for a lot of things but then when i got my puppy i read that plastic is bad for them. So i only have ceramic bowls for them.
If it's bad for my doggy, imagine what its doing to me/us.

 

[Beattie]

OH NO!!! BACTERIA THAT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH MIGHT GET... BACK IN MY MOUTH!

RUN FOR THE HILLS! PURGE THE UNCLEAN!

 

[MaxDepth]

AND WHO...ahem, who is thinking about the landfills! Don't they need love, too? Aren't you denying them all those extra plastic bottles by just using one?

Originally posted by: Beattie
OH NO!!! BACTERIA THAT CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH MIGHT GET... BACK IN MY MOUTH!

RUN FOR THE HILLS! PURGE THE UNCLEAN!