Reusing water bottles
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Reusing water bottles typically refers to the practice of refilling plastic water bottles designed for one use with tap water for multiple uses. It is, somewhat surprisingly, a controversial practice.
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Proponents
Those advocating the re-use of water bottles argue that it is safe to re-fill water bottles designed for a single use as long as they are periodically washed out with warm soapy water. Some suggest occasionally washing these bottles out with a dilute bleach solution to kill bacteria. In addition, refillers claim that washing and re-using bottles could help to cut down on waste and landfill, ameliorating the environment. Reuse is better than recycling, proponents will say, as recycling requires far greater resources.
Opponents
Opponents, including the International Bottled Water Association, claim that one-use bottles can turn into breeding grounds for bacteria if re-used. Additionally, re-use of bottles adds detergents to the water supply. Re-use can also keep the plastic bottles from being recycled.
Research
In 2003, a study by researcher Cathy Ryan, a University of Calgary professor, appeared in the Canadian Journal of Public Health. The study was conducted on the contents of the water bottles of students at Calgary elementary school in Canada
One third of the sample taken contained bacteria and many had fecal coliforms. Officials would have issued boil water advisories had the same water come from the tap. The Canadian Bottled Water Association advises against re-using containers at all.
DEHA and Diethylhydroxylamine
In 2003, a chain email claimed leaching of chemicals from plastic bottles from repeated washing, rinsing or heating. The email mentioned the chemical DEHA, which is also known as di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, however the email incorrectly named it diethylhydroxylamine.
When asked by Choice (magazine), both the Australasian Bottled Water Institute and Australian Soft Drinks Association say DEHA isn't used in PET bottles in Australia, nor is diethylhydroxylamine. Food Standards Australia New Zealand issued a statement stating the claims of the email are incorrect.
Note: PET or PETE refers only to bottles with a "1" plastic recycling code.
Resources
- http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/2178.html
- http://www.encorp.ca/cfm/index.cfm?It=909&Id=9
- Risk in Reusing Water Bottles (http://outreach.missouri.edu/cmregion/thriving/2003%20May/Risks%20of%20ReUsing%20Water%20Bottles.html)
- Snopes on the water bottle issue (http://www.snopes.com/toxins/bottles.asp)
- Discussion on reusing water bottles (http://www.planetmars.co.za/forums/index.php?s=23ebfbcfa86677c0ab81ee90b58ad6a7&showtopic=7774)