Walking around campus, it’s not uncommon to see students with plastic bottles in hand. With just four minutes to get to and from classes and the occasional trek to the gym for lunch and chapel, bottled drinks are by far the most convenient method to carry anything without causing a mess.
However, what’s considered convenient now can be a major inconvenience in the long run. Many people think of bottled water as the purest form of water you can drink, when in reality, water that’s been sitting in a plastic bottles can be detrimental to not just the environment, but also personal health.
Often times, people think that by reusing their water bottles, they are doing a good deed for the environment by eliminating waste, but this theory is just slightly shy of the truth. Scientists have found that by refilling plastic water bottles, people are also risking their health, and studies show that continually using the same bottle without washing it can lead to bacteria growth that is problematic to health.
At the same time, washing or refilling plastic bottles causes acceleration in the leeching process, and numerous harmful chemicals can be released. It is also for this reason that people ill advise drinking from a plastic bottle that has been left in the hot sun or frozen then thawed out.
As for the outlook of the environment, it was estimated that in 2001, “roughly 1.5 million tons of plastic are expended in the bottling of 89 billion liters of water each year”, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature.
It’s no secret that the production of plastic bottles requires an abundance of fossil fuels, but many people often don’t take into account the amount energy and fuel it takes to transport all of these bottles around the world. This could easily been seen as wasteful to many people considering the fact that many American households have access to tap water or water filters.
Of all the overbearing negative effects of bottled water, there are ways to bring water wherever you go and still be protective of yourself and the planet. Recycling the plastic bottle is far better than just throwing it in the trash or worse, on the ground, but there are alternatives that can last several years if taken care of.
Among these are Camelbak’s “Better Bottle”. At around $15 for a liter-sized bottle, this bottle is one of the highest-ranking water bottles in terms of being eco-friendly and is also spill-proof thanks to its “flip, bite-n-sip” design. Sold in a conservative neutral blue color and dishwasher friendly, this BPA-free bottle is perfect for athletes on the go as well as the average student.