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The Danger of Not Cleaning Water Bottles

Because water bottles are reusable, they can be kept indefinitely. This makes them cost-effective. According to Plasticsinfo.org, "Most convenience-size beverage bottles sold in the United States are made from polyethylene terephthalate" -- or PET. Glass, stainless steel and aluminum water bottles are also available to consumers. However, reusing water bottles poses several health threats.

  1. Contamination

    • Reusing unwashed water bottles provides a breeding ground for bacteria. In a 2003 study conducted at the University of Calgary in which water samples were collected from 76 schoolchildren, "one third of the samples contained bacterial contamination severe enough that, had the water come from a tap, health officials would have issued a 'boil water' advisory." Some of the samples even included fecal matter. Researchers say this underscores problems associated with using dirty water bottles.

    Plastic Bottles

    • The National Institute for Environmental Health says that Bisphenol A or BPA, a chemical produced in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, can trickle into food and liquids from "consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles, and baby bottles." Because BPA is a byproduct of the actual water bottle, disinfecting does little to offset its effects and can accelerate its growth.

    Glass, Stainless Steel, and Aluminum Bottles

    • When thoroughly sanitized, glass, stainless steel and aluminum water bottles appear to be better than plastic bottles in the war against bacterial multiplication because they provide a less favorable breeding ground. A 2009 study conducted at Goethe University in Germany revealed "snails reproduced more heartily when they were placed in water-filled plastic bottles as opposed to glass ones."

    Conclusion

    • Regularly cleaning water bottles reduces the risk of bacterial infection. Dishes, coffee mugs and glassware are normally washed after each use, and water bottles should be sanitized just as frequently. However, cleaning doesn't counteract the dangers posed by absorbing the chemicals used in the manufacture of plastic bottles. Utilizing glass, stainless steel or aluminum bottles appears to be the only way to avoid the sanitary and toxic dangers associated with water bottles.

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