Problems with Reusing a Drinking Water Bottle
Drinking water, especially if you are an active person, is a great habit to get into. Staying hydrated keeps you healthier by flushing toxins from your system, and makes many of your body's necessary processes more efficient, which makes you feel more energetic.
One obstacle to drinking the recommended amount of water is that most of us are not next to a water fountain all day. Also, many people prefer to drink distilled or purified water. Although drinking water is very healthy, there are a few things to watch out for, especially if you consistently use a drinking water bottle. The problem with using a drinking water bottle is that most of the bottles that people use are not meant to be used more than once. Because of this, reusing bottles can produce a few unwanted side-effects that you want to be aware of.
Hazards
If you have reused a drinking water bottle before, you may have looked in the bottle and noticed something white floating around on the bottom. These white particles could be any number of things, including bacteria. Bacteria can grow and reproduce in a drinking water bottle very easily because of the unique environment it provides. Each time you take a drink from your drinking water bottle, bacteria from your mouth are deposited on the rim of the bottle, as well as in the water itself. Typically these bacteria are only killed or removed by washing the bottle. If you go for several days without washing your bottle, particularly if the water sits out for long periods or is allowed to get warm, the bacteria are given an optimal place to multiply. While these bacteria typically exist in your system, your body is able to regulate them at a reasonable level. If they are allowed to multiply in your drinking water bottle you may get more then your body can handle, causing you to get sick.
Those white particles in your drinking water bottle could also be plastic that has leached into the water. Because some drinking water bottles are not meant for repeated usage, the plastic on the inside of the bottle tends to break down over time and ends up in your drinking water bottle. Needless to say, drinking plastic is not good for your body. Although water is the healthiest thing you can drink, if you are repeatedly using a drinking water bottle that is not mean to be reused, you may be opening yourself up for a host of problems. If you drink a lot of water and are a person on the go, you may want to grab a fresh bottle every time, or invest in a drinking water bottle that is meant to be washed and reused.
