Store Bought Water Bottles

[Serenity]

Store Bought Water Bottles.....

Is it worth the money?? Or are you actually being gypped??

Slate.com - Evian Criminals (http://www.slate.com/id/2165124/)

SSSuurre, it's more convenient to get it off of the store, if you are really thirsty, but what if you wanted to get a whole case maybe from Costco or any store, then what would you think???

I think, it's not worth buying a case, when you can just filter them in
a pitcher at home & pour them in a one gallon jug!!.

Brita Water Filtration System (http://www.brita.com/index_us.html)

I have it Home, & I bought the Brita Water Pitcher (http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/search.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&keyword=Brita+water+filter&vertical=APPL) from Longs drugs. (you also get them in Sears. Maybe in Walmart, or probably K-Mart.)

I think that, it would be your best bet, if you wanted to save some money than buying a case when you can just filter them at home.

I actually saw that ad in the Hon. Adv. in the Busn. Section (07/28/07), but I just can't find it in the internet right now.

Now, what do you actually think??? You are actually drinking filtered water from the tap when you buy bottled (filtered) water from the store :eek: .

It's thirst quenching for the lastminute, but on a practical basis on buying a whole case for your home, not a good idea financially!!.

Sooo...

Got comments about this???

Inquiring minds would like to know.

[Menehune Man]

I agree that water is water. The important part is filtration.

Some places are so primitive that boiling the water is all they do. That kills any bacteria, etc. though does nothing for metal and mineral content.

I believe most (if not all) bottled water is from the same water sources that the populace use, just run through more and hopefully better filtration systems.

Oahu has a terrific natural filter through rock to the aquafer and then it's run through filters also. Our "problem" lies in the old pipes I believe.

So using home filtration seems a proper way to go to me.
Gets the job done and at less cost too.

[oceanpacific]

Then, there's the $0.06 per container fee that you only get $0.05 back upon redemption. That's a loss of 16.67% ............ assuming you don't forget to redeem them.

We bought them for convenience ........... soccer, picnics, hiking (scouts), etc.

[lavagal]

And then there's the stat that nearly 85 percent of all water bottles bought in the United States are NOT recycled.

source: http://container-recycling.org/mediafold/newsarticles/plastic/2006/5-WMW-DownDrain.htm

[tutusue]

Personally I don't see the need for bottled water here. The only time I buy bottles is for a casting session when I have a room full of clients. That's for convenience only. Otherwise tap water is fine with me.

This reminds me of a slightly funny, albeit sad, story. I had good friends who fell on hard times a number of years ago. They ended up on food stamps and living in my Makaha condo. They had a $5./day bottled water habit (1-6 pack of the good stuff!) that they just would not give up...to the point that they tried to get more food stamps because they didn't have enough for the amount of food they needed after buying the water. At first I encouraged them to drink tap water, even citing various studies. No way. Then I strongly encouraged them to cut back to $2.50/day and fill the empties with tap water! No way!! Finally I told them if they didn't stop that ridiculous expenditure I was going to charge them rent. That one did it!!! They saved 6 bottles and refilled them with tap water.

And, no, the friendship did not survive this situation. Just as well...:rolleyes:

[scrivener]

We have some of the best tap water in the world here, but I'm with Menehune Man: Sometimes the route water takes to get from the supply to your faucet is fraught with yuckies. I recently developed a sensitivity to the taste of my tap water and just couldn't get over it. So I'm on bottled water now at home, which is costing me about seven bucks per week. That seems a bit much, considering the near free-ness of tap water, but it's less than the cost of two beers at the corner bar. We have a water service at work (the tap water there is nasty), so my water needs during the working day are taken care of.

I once had a PUR pitcher that I really liked; I'm considering going that way again, but I just can't be bothered with something like that right now.

Side note on the bottles: I don't recycle mine, either. If it's convenient, I throw them in a trash can that I know will get dug through, but if it's not, it's right to the curb for my bottles. The bottle tax practically gives me PERMISSION now to toss the bottles: If I want to forfeit my $1.40 per week by not recycling, I've paid for that privilege. Until someone convinces me that recycling is not just as bad for the environment as NOT recycling, I'll recycle or not recycle as I deem appropriate.

[Palolo Joe]

I once had a PUR pitcher that I really liked; I'm considering going that way again, but I just can't be bothered with something like that right now.

Just can't be bothered by taking a trip to Wal-Mart to buy a new one?

Hopefully you'll find yourself bothered within a couple of weeks of spending $7 a week on bottled water (not including the redemption fees), but I'm thinking that hasn't happened.

Side note on the bottles: I don't recycle mine, either. If it's convenient, I throw them in a trash can that I know will get dug through, but if it's not, it's right to the curb for my bottles. The bottle tax practically gives me PERMISSION now to toss the bottles: If I want to forfeit my $1.40 per week by not recycling, I've paid for that privilege. Until someone convinces me that recycling is not just as bad for the environment as NOT recycling, I'll recycle or not recycle as I deem appropriate.

This is rich. Great example for your students to live by... NOT.

Sometimes you seem like a really smart guy.

Other times, I just shake my head at your thought process.

[scrivener]

Just can't be bothered by taking a trip to Wal-Mart to buy a new one?
I know it's a dumb way to reason it out, but it's slightly out of the money and time budget right now. I'm so stressed over both that it's keeping me up at night.

Hopefully you'll find yourself bothered within a couple of weeks of spending $7 a week on bottled water (not including the redemption fees), but I'm thinking that hasn't happened.
It's really $7 with the redemption deposits. Comes out to just over twenty-five cents per bottle.

This is rich. Great example for your students to live by... NOT.
Sometimes you seem like a really smart guy.
Other times, I just shake my head at your thought process.
I teach my students to question what the majority tells them. Everyone I know who insists on recycling says he or she does it for the environment. When I ask them what happens to a bottle once it's been redeemed, they have no idea. When I ask them what kind of resources are used in the recycling of a bottle, and whether those resources are more efficient than making new bottles, they have no idea. When I ask them what the by-products of recycling bottles are, such as waste and pollution, they have no idea. They have accepted without questioning that recycling is better.

I don't think I'm an especially smart guy, but I know this: When everyone from politicians to businesspeople to folks in the media all prescribe the same action without backing any of it up with meaningful, understandable evidence, something's not right. I don't buy all the second-hand smoke hype and I am not convinced that recycling bottles is better for the environment.

One of my students, in an effort to prove that I was being dumb about all this, did some research of his own and now HE's not sure recycling is such a good thing. I never got to see that report (it was for another class), but I have inspired the multimedia club to follow a bottle on its path from the redemption center to wherever it goes. I don't know if they'll be allowed to do it, but they're planning it right now.

I know: If I'm not convinced one way or the other, isn't it just as easy to do it as not to do it? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Most of the time, in all honesty, I dump my bottles in the school bin, where the student council will get the refund. But the bottles I empty at home either go into the trash at the service station (where several people check for bottles every day) or out to the curb. Convince me that I'm doing something bad.

[Leo Lakio]

I teach my students to question what the majority tells them. --- When everyone from politicians to businesspeople to folks in the media all prescribe the same action without backing any of it up with meaningful, understandable evidence, something's not right.Put this in the context of a religious discussion, and you may have just helped present my side of the story, Scriv. :D

[Palolo Joe]

I know it's a dumb way to reason it out, but it's slightly out of the money and time budget right now. I'm so stressed over both that it's keeping me up at night.

I'd like to believe that... but I've read your posts about the twist-ties on bread packaging.

You do have SOME extra time on your hands, if you can afford to do that kind of stuff. :rolleyes:

I don't think I'm an especially smart guy, but I know this: When everyone from politicians to businesspeople to folks in the media all prescribe the same action without backing any of it up with meaningful, understandable evidence, something's not right. I don't buy all the second-hand smoke hype and I am not convinced that recycling bottles is better for the environment.

One of my students, in an effort to prove that I was being dumb about all this, did some research of his own and now HE's not sure recycling is such a good thing. I never got to see that report (it was for another class), but I have inspired the multimedia club to follow a bottle on its path from the redemption center to wherever it goes. I don't know if they'll be allowed to do it, but they're planning it right now.

I know: If I'm not convinced one way or the other, isn't it just as easy to do it as not to do it? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Most of the time, in all honesty, I dump my bottles in the school bin, where the student council will get the refund. But the bottles I empty at home either go into the trash at the service station (where several people check for bottles every day) or out to the curb. Convince me that I'm doing something bad.

You raise a couple of good points. And at least you're putting the bottles in a place where others can benefit, instead of just throwing them away and adding to the landfill problem.

[infinitypro]

We have purchased bottled water, and then refilled them with tap. As long as the bottle stays is sturdy (and someone doesn't mistakenly throw away the cap) we have all brands of bottles with tap water from our kitchen. On the way out the door, we'll grab one of our filled bottles for the day. However, we've encountered some moments when we need to purchase a new bottle of water, and again that one too is reused here at home.

We just won a case of water for a $1 raffle, it's still sitting in the kitchen storage because we have enough in the refrigerator to last awhile. We'll break those out when guests come over! :)

We used to recycle, and haul all of the bags to Halawa Industrial, however due to time we haven't. Now, we just recycle and donate for the school.

Hawaii water is excellent as compared to the tap I tasted in my home in Houston...happy to be home in Hawaii!

[Leo Lakio]

We have purchased bottled water, and then refilled them with tap. As long as the bottle stays is sturdy (and someone doesn't mistakenly throw away the cap) we have all brands of bottles with tap water from our kitchen. On the way out the door, we'll grab one of our filled bottles for the day. However, we've encountered some moments when we need to purchase a new bottle of water, and again that one too is reused here at home.For your health, don't reuse those bottles for more than a couple of weeks. (1) Backwash from your mouth will put bacterial flora into the bottles; over time, they will multiply in the bottle to levels that can make you ill. Regular washing of the bottles can help, though you cannot generally get into all of the bottle to scrub it. (2) It has been suggested that harmful chemicals (specifically, bisphenol-A) can leach from degradation of the plastic over time into the water, again with potential harm to your health, but the research into this is inconclusive.

[scrivener]

For your health, don't reuse those bottles for more than a couple of weeks. (1) Backwash from your mouth will put bacterial flora into the bottles; over time, they will multiply in the bottle to levels that can make you ill.
Beat me to it. I've been brought down by an overused bottle, and so have a few of my friends. One day I took a sip, and I tasted something moldy. I threw it out. The next day I was flat on my back!

I don't know about the leeching thing. I've heard different stories about that.

[helen]

I tend to recycle plastic juice or water bottles by filling them up again with water but I never drink directly from a bottle, instead pouring it to a cup.

As far as this leeching thing goes, maybe it is the amount of time, like after years that becomes an issue, but I don't think period of weeks or a month or two is going to be an issue. If uncertain use the expireation date on the bottle as a guide as to when to toss out the bottle.

[Leo Lakio]

I don't know about the leeching thing. I've heard different stories about that.Good point. There was a story about carcinogenic chemicals going around a while back, but it was an unfounded theory. I've heard the story from bottle manufacturers, too --- but it would be in their interest to get you to buy more, wouldn't it.

Recent studies seem to show a leaching of bisphenol-A from plastics, but there's not been conclusive evidence of harm from that chemical. I will change my earlier posting, if it's not too late.

I don't know about the leeching thing.As far as this leeching thing goes"Leaching," folks. Unless you are describing the bottled-water sellers as bloodsuckers.

[Miulang]

There's at least one bottled water company in the US that uses biodegradable bottles. It's in Colorado and its name is BIOTA (http://www.biotaspringwater.com/) (or, as its advertising says, "Blame It On The Altitude") . The bottle is made from corn rather than petroleum, so it is "greener" but I don't know how much corn is needed to produce those bottles, either. And since we know that corn is now being used for everything from fuel to sweeteners, it will just be competing with all the other uses for corn.

I bought a bottle of Biota water at a deli, and it was more expensive than other bottled waters, but I was on my way to a picnic and didn't have time to fill up a container of tap water to take with me. The bottles look exactly like the other plastic drink bottles. I only knew the difference from the labelling. I was going to take that bottle and set it in the sun to see how long it would take to degrade, but I forgot I wanted to do that experiment and recycled the bottle anyway.

Miulang

[scrivener]

I was going to take that bottle and set it in the sun to see how long it would take to degrade, but I forgot I wanted to do that experiment and recycled the bottle anyway.
Now that's interesting. Let's say that what the bottle degrades to is something completely harmless (biodegradable all by itself: not necessarily a good thing). In this case, wouldn't it be BETTER for people to throw their bottles away, or even just to toss them in their yard, in the park, or at the side of the road? This would save the fuel it takes to take the bottle either to the landfill or the recycling plant, not to mention saving some room in the landfill, even if only for a little while.

If that were the case, the state would have to rescind the bottle tax, thereby encouraging the disposal of bottles anywhere but in the trash.

Also: If these bottles became the standard, it would be the weird case of increased soda and water consumption leading to an increase in the cost of milk, since yet MORE corn would be needed for bottles. Demand for milk would go down, but the price would go up.

[Miulang]

Now that's interesting. Let's say that what the bottle degrades to is something completely harmless (biodegradable all by itself: not necessarily a good thing). In this case, wouldn't it be BETTER for people to throw their bottles away, or even just to toss them in their yard, in the park, or at the side of the road? This would save the fuel it takes to take the bottle either to the landfill or the recycling plant, not to mention saving some room in the landfill, even if only for a little while.

If that were the case, the state would have to rescind the bottle tax, thereby encouraging the disposal of bottles anywhere but in the trash.
Actually, the FAQs (http://www.biotaspringwater.com/bottle)about the bottle are quite interesting. Just having it lying in the sun won't make it decompose; it needs constant heat and temperatures of 120-140 degrees over a period of 75-80 days for it to decompose.

How does the BIOTA bottle composting process work?
BIOTA bottles need high heat, micro-organisms and high moisture levels to break down. A BIOTA PLA bottle will not degrade as rapidly in a home compost pile. When exposed to the necessary conditions, BIOTA bottles will break down into water, carbon dioxide and organic material.

How long does it take for a BIOTA bottle to disappear?
Given the right composting conditions including high heat, humidity and micro-organisms, a BIOTA bottle will disappear in 75 to 80 days...basically 12 weeks.

Will the bottle ever decompose on the shelf?
In order for a BIOTA bottle to degrade it must be opened, emptied and placed under the right conditions.

How is the BIOTA bottle made?
As part of its natural photosynthesis process, corn stores carbon from the air in the starchy portions of the plant. BIOTA bottles are made by developing a resin that begins with harvesting corn and breaking down the starches into natural plant sugars. The next step in this simple, yet patented process includes fermentation, separation and polymerization to make what is called plastic polylactide, or PLA.



Miulang

[scrivener]

it needs constant heat and temperatures of 120-140 degrees over a period of 75-80 days for it to decompose.
You know, that's just not my idea of biodegrading. If you have to put the item in some kind of artificial environment, controlled for a certain number of days, you're going to be expending resources. I don't know the exact definition of "biodegrade," but it seems to me that the PRACTICAL understanding of it is that under natural conditions, the item breaks down into components that are perhaps not too foreign to the environment in which they are left (say, a landfill). 120 to 140 isn't THAT high a temperature, but it must be reached artificially -- how much electricity must be spent over those 75 to 80 days, or what must be burned (and what are the by-products of that burning)?

My guess is that ALL bottles, when taken to the redemption center, will meet the same fate, whether they are these special bottles or not: If someone has to separate the special bottles for what MIGHT be a better process, you're talking about MORE resources being used just to separate them and ship them differently. Of course, if these bottles become the standard, then it could all work out nicely, if the actual "bio" degrading process is something feasible and not too wasteful.

[AlohaKine]

I don't buy bottled water in Hawaii. What's the point, the tap water tastes fine and it's not contaminated. Now if you're visiting a 3rd world country that's another story of course.

[infinitypro]

For your health, don't reuse those bottles for more than a couple of weeks. (1) Backwash from your mouth will put bacterial flora into the bottles; over time, they will multiply in the bottle to levels that can make you ill. Regular washing of the bottles can help, though you cannot generally get into all of the bottle to scrub it. (2) It has been suggested that harmful chemicals (specifically, bisphenol-A) can leach from degradation of the plastic over time into the water, again with potential harm to your health, but the research into this is inconclusive.

Thanks for the info, you know...they're advertising to put into the place the practice of reusing, by refilling in order to be "greener", but they don't let you know 'bout the "side effects." From now on, we'll regularly "rotate and recycle"!

***GOING TO BRUSH MY TEETH***:p

[Adri]

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/29/ap3963633.html

Aquafina is going to clarify that the "P.W.S." on its label stands for "public water source" and that although its label shows mountains and leads some people to believe the water is spring water, it's really from the same source as tap water (but purified before being sold).

[tutusue]

For your health, don't reuse those bottles for more than a couple of weeks. (1) Backwash from your mouth will put bacterial flora into the bottles; over time, they will multiply in the bottle to levels that can make you ill. Regular washing of the bottles can help, though you cannot generally get into all of the bottle to scrub it.[...]
I didn't realize until a few short years ago that lotsa people continue to use their water bottles without washing them. Blech!!! Mine gets washed at least every other day and I let it sit for awhile full of water and a couple of drops of bleach. Backwash has cooties! :D

[oceanpacific]

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/29/ap3963633.html

Aquafina is going to clarify that the "P.W.S." on its label stands for "public water source" and that although its label shows mountains and leads some people to believe the water is spring water, it's really from the same source as tap water (but purified before being sold).

And, EVIAN spelled backwards is NAIVE!!!!

[GeckoGeek]

120 to 140 isn't THAT high a temperature, but it must be reached artificially

Not really. Compost piles can get quite warm. A quick google says that 105 - 145F is the ideal composting temperature.

This method sounds a lot better then something that biodegrades in sunlight. About the only way that will happen is if it's thrown away on the roadside - maybe.

[GeckoGeek]

Bottled water study (http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/exesum.asp)

[Leo Lakio]

So how does this option sound?

Buy a couple Nalgene bottles, and refill them regularly with your own tap water, run through a Brita or PUR or similar filter.

Costs: the bottles (pretty cheap these days), the filtration system and replacement filters - over time, extremely low cost when compared to buying bottled water at stores

Benefits: very inexpensive, no issues with recycling bottles or chemical breakdown (as in PET bottles), uses regular source of tap water (which many people feel tastes mighty good where they are), environmentally "friendly"

Drawbacks: must wash bottles regularly, must develop habit of taking bottle with you (you can't always predict when you will wish you had water)

Feel free to add to/rip holes in that list. I'm not a big bottled water drinker, but I have a Nalgene bottle that I take when I exercise - if I'm out walking, I fill it from a Brita pitcher of cold tap water; if I'm at the gym, I fill it from the drinking fountain. I wash it monthly. Oh, and we recycle all the PET bottles we use, because it's very convenient for us to do so. That's always been a factor in getting people to recycle - how easy do you make it for them to do so?

[Kelly0040]

I use my old nalgene bottle (top is held together with duct tape, of course!) and a brita water filter. Sometimes, if the pitcher is low, I'll just my bottle with tap water and stick it in the fridge and it tastes fine. At Shirokiya, they have a big brita water cooler that uses 2 filters. Husband really wants one and I kinda do too because our pitcher takes up room in the fridge and I hate running out of cold water when I have to fill up more than 2 glasses.

We have cases of bottled water in our emergency stash and I'll buy a bottle if I forget my bottle at home.

[dyasu]

Anyone see the news about Aquafina water? It's just TAP WATER!!! Article below:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/27/ap3960953.html

[Leo Lakio]

Anyone see the news about Aquafina water? It's just TAP WATER!!! Article below:
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/27/ap3960953.html
See post #22 (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=156848&postcount=22), earlier in the thread.

[dyasu]

See post #22 (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=156848&postcount=22), earlier in the thread.
Oops my mistake. I missed that post.

[Leo Lakio]

A little follow-up (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326907_plastic09.html) on a topic that crops up here often. Still not conclusive.
Just a week after a group of 38 scientists concluded in a peer-reviewed journal that the chemical, called bisphenol A, poses a significant risk, a government-appointed panel Wednesday disagreed.

After reviewing hundreds of studies on bisphenol A, the panel expressed "some concern" that the chemical could cause behavioral and neurological problems in the developing fetus and young children.

The concern dropped to "minimal" when it came to the chemical harming the prostate of a developing fetus, or triggering early puberty when people are exposed to bisphenol A in the womb or as children. Links to other ailments -- including birth defects and fertility problems after adult exposures -- were deemed "negligible."

That contrasts with the group of scientists, chosen for their expertise on bisphenol A, who last week concluded that a wide range of health problems caused by small doses of the chemical in lab animals "is a great cause for concern with regard to the potential for similar adverse effects in humans."

[mel]

I stopped buying bottled water on November 1, 2004 because of the bottle tax that was levied against the bottles. Not that I bought the stuff regularly to begin with. I mean tap water is good enough for me and costs way, way less than bottled water.

How much does bottled water cost these days? I think it is more expensive than a gallon of gasoline.

[Karen]

Good thread!

Anybody know how long bottled water lasts when it gets absolutely no light to it? I am sure a lot longer, but what about the plastic, or something from the plastic getting into the water after a couple of years?

I realized that I have a few cases of water that came in cardboard packaging, and it's been in a closet in the spare room for...uh oh....going over two years, dang not sure how long.

[tutusue]

[...]Anybody know how long bottled water lasts when it gets absolutely no light to it? I am sure a lot longer, but what about the plastic, or something from the plastic getting into the water after a couple of years?[...]
Karen, the bottled water I have in my hurricane kit has an expiration date on it. My question is the same as yours, tho'. If it's been kept in the dark does the exp. date apply...or is the exp. based on the plastic?

[Honoruru]

I usually buy bottled water, drink it, and then fill the empty bottle with tap water or water from our office water cooler (fed from 50 pound bottles) and keep re-filling and re-filling it until my original plastic water bottle gets sort of gunky. Then I get rid of it, and do it all over again.

But a co-worker of mine has this metallic (or semi-metallic) water bottle (almost like a canteen) that he re-fills with water from our office water cooler (I'm sure at home he fills it with tap water). It looks like this bottle (or canteen) is easy to clean, easy to maintain, and lasts forever. Maybe this is the way to go!

[craigwatanabe]

I reuse my Poweraid bottles for drinking good old filtered tap water (rain catchment in my case). The PowerAid bottles have a wide mouth and is easy to grip so filling with water and adding a few ice cubes is easy. Plus the Power Aid is 99-cents at Home Depot for the large bottle (20-oz) and they're more durable than the bottled water bottles.

[acousticlady]

Geez, I must be the only one..... I use a glass. :p

[craigwatanabe]

Geez, I must be the only one..... I use a glass. :p

But is it in the form of a cup?:D

[mel]

I usually buy bottled water, drink it, and then fill the empty bottle with tap water ...

Yep, that's what I been doing with the one quart size or so plastic water bottle that I have saved and reused since Nov. 2004. I am not one to drink out of the bottle... I pour the water from the bottle into a cup. The bottle is really used to hold the water I get from the tap in the fridge to cool it down.

It's a great way to avoid added cost and taxes and still get water. Hawaii has the best water that comes out from a tap. Bottled water is just a luxury.

[GeckoGeek]

Geez, I must be the only one..... I use a glass. :p

I just use the fountain.

[Leo Lakio]

The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/12/fashion/12water.html?ref=style) weighs in.

[cynsaligia]

looks like there are concerns re the plastic used in the ubiquitous nalgene bottle, lexan. while widely regarded as urban myth (http://www.healthline.com/eatingwell/etw-the-big-gulp), i decided to go in search of a less questionable bottle carrier. thanks to a recent review on slate.com (http://www.slate.com/id/2172541/pagenum/all/#page_start) which tested several reusable bottles, i'll be purchasing a sigg bottle. the platypus one is kinda cool...but i want something more rigid, less floppy, esp for outings to the gym, etc. to fill with water that went thru a PUR filter at the sink.

[Mokihana]

I usually buy bottled water, drink it, and then fill the empty bottle with tap water or water from our office water cooler (fed from 50 pound bottles) and keep re-filling and re-filling it until my original plastic water bottle gets sort of gunky. Then I get rid of it, and do it all over again.


That's what I do. I use the Crystal Lite go-anywhere da kines and the bottles I get are exactly the size the CL is for. I use them till they are so buss up from the dishwasher that they're junk.

We have fabulous well water, so I fill up several bottles and keep them in the fridge to keep cold till I need them.

[cynsaligia]

I usually buy bottled water, drink it, and then fill the empty bottle with tap water or water from our office water cooler (fed from 50 pound bottles) and keep re-filling and re-filling it until my original plastic water bottle gets sort of gunky. Then I get rid of it, and do it all over again.

But a co-worker of mine has this metallic (or semi-metallic) water bottle (almost like a canteen) that he re-fills with water from our office water cooler (I'm sure at home he fills it with tap water). It looks like this bottle (or canteen) is easy to clean, easy to maintain, and lasts forever. Maybe this is the way to go!

Yep, that's what I been doing with the one quart size or so plastic water bottle that I have saved and reused since Nov. 2004. I am not one to drink out of the bottle... I pour the water from the bottle into a cup. The bottle is really used to hold the water I get from the tap in the fridge to cool it down.

It's a great way to avoid added cost and taxes and still get water. Hawaii has the best water that comes out from a tap. Bottled water is just a luxury.

That's what I do. I use the Crystal Lite go-anywhere da kines and the bottles I get are exactly the size the CL is for. I use them till they are so buss up from the dishwasher that they're junk.

We have fabulous well water, so I fill up several bottles and keep them in the fridge to keep cold till I need them.

as leo pointed out in a post earlier in this thread, you guys might want to rethink the whole "reuse the bottle til it's buss" practice.

a university of calgary study showed that many bottles being reused by elementary school kids had all kinds of bacteria in them, including fecal bacteria. if some of the water that had come out those bottles had come out of a tap, officials would have had to send out a "boil water" advisory.

and keeping the bottles clean doesn't guarantee safety, either. a university of idaho study showed that bottles made of PET plastic (typically used for bottled water and soft drinks) toxins--including a carcinogenic toxin--get released into the liquid over time. and reusing the bottles concentrates those toxins.

source (http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200302/ea20030213.html)

at the very least mel, just to be safe, you might want to get a new bottle of water. keeping the same one for three years is a bit excessive, no matter how frugal it may be.

[WindwardOahuRN]

I have a water filter in my fridge. Probably full of crap from eons of water filtration but the little green light tells me I'm good to go.
Makes great coffee. Kool-Aid and Crystal Light taste pretty damn good too, almost as good as my childhood memories of Kool-Aid, before Jim Jones made it all seem tainted.

[Honoruru]

as leo pointed out in a post earlier in this thread, you guys might want to rethink the whole "reuse the bottle til it's buss" practice.


I hear ya!

Actually, I've been thinking of replacing my store-bought "reused" water bottles with bottles specifically designed to be re-fillable. That's the reason for the second half of my post. The store-bought water bottle really isn't designed to be re-fillable; that's why it gets so gunky so fast.

It's just that I've been too lazy the last couple of months. Gotta snap outta this! Maybe it's the water.

[mel]

as leo pointed out in a post earlier in this thread, you guys might want to rethink the whole "reuse the bottle til it's buss" practice.

Hello? Besides the quart size bottle I have been using at our office since 2004, I have a plastic water pitcher at home that is 20+ years old that I have re-filled and re-used constantly over the years. Like my quart bottle, I fill the pitcher up with good ol' cheap tap water, refrigerate it and then drink the water out of the containers using a cup or a glass. Been doing it for 20+ years. Never die yet.

All this scientific stuff is just scare tactics used by the bottling industry to get you to buy more of their water. And in Hawaii (and probably elsewhere) we get whacked by a double tax (GET & bottle tax) every time water is purchased in a bottle. No thanks.

[cynsaligia]

Hello? Besides the quart size bottle I have been using at our office since 2004, I have a plastic water pitcher at home that is 20+ years old that I have re-filled and re-used constantly over the years. Like my quart bottle, I fill the pitcher up with good ol' cheap tap water, refrigerate it and then drink the water out of the containers using a cup or a glass. Been doing it for 20+ years. Never die yet.

All this scientific stuff is just scare tactics used by the bottling industry to get you to buy more of their water. And in Hawaii (and probably elsewhere) we get whacked by a double tax (GET & bottle tax) every time water is purchased in a bottle. No thanks.

*shrug*

not saying you're gonna die from using the same bottle for years. neither was i saying you have to buy another bottle of bottled water or whatever beverage. and i doubt that the bottled beverage industry got the univ of calgary or the univ of idaho to say what they said.

ultimately, you're right...you nevah make yet. ultimately, it's your choice what risks you take. i was just saying. you know, out of concern (which may or may not have been welcome). das' all. ;)

[Menehune Man]

I have a "Camel Back" style backpack, which has a (plastic) bladder that I fill up for hikes. That plastic is meant to be re-used,
hope it's cool. :(

When it comes to regular water bottles...
I'll re-use them a few times, then discard.
Just seems right, I guess. :confused:

[craigwatanabe]

One day they'll make totally consumable (edible) bottles. What I'd like to see is if plastic bottles leach harmful chemicals, why can't they make a bottle that leaches flavor or vitamins as well. I mean if you're gonna use the bottles and if they are gonna leach something, it may as well be vitamins.

Now days I use my plastic bottles as ice packs for my head when I got a headache. The green Sprite bottles have that contour that allows it to cradle your forehead.

[Leo Lakio]

Another take (http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20071015_110188_110188&source=srch) - the metal bottle.

[cynsaligia]

Another take (http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20071015_110188_110188&source=srch) - the metal bottle.

sheesh! thirty bucks? eric and i received our $19.99 metal sigg sports bottles (http://www.mysigg.com/index.asp?PageAction=COMPANY)in the mail within two weeks of our order. they're lightweight and durable and rather stylish, too.

SIGG, "The Original Swiss Bottle", is recognized world-wide for Swiss quality and craftsmanship that comes with nearly 100 years of heritage and experience. Produced from a single component that is seamless and has no comparable weak points, SIGG bottles are tremendously durable and virtually unbreakable. In June 2006, Backpacker magazine conducted a relentless field test of leading water bottles brands. With the services of a 100 pound cannon packed with golf balls, they were able to destroy all of the targeted bottles – except one! Following the bottle barrage, they dubbed SIGG "The World's Toughest Water Bottle."

As tough as they are on the outside, it's the inside of SIGG bottles that make them so special. Due to SIGG's special, proprietary internal coating, these high-tech bottles are resistant to fruit juice acids, energy drinks, alcohol and virtually any consumable beverage. Because the liners are taste and scent neutral, you can enjoy any beverage you'd like – without any lingering smell or taste of the last beverage you drank. The composition of the liner also reduces the chances of bacteria build-up. And because the liner is virtually baked into the inner walls of the bottle, it will not flake or chip even if dented on the outside.