SOURCE: CDC/ Amanda Mills acquired from Public Health Image Library (Website)

    We all know we should drink plenty of water. That’s easy if we are at home, but if we are running around all day, we will have to buy it or carry it. We can buy it, but it may not be good quality. Plastic bottles can shed microplastics into the water, and they are not always recycled.

    A refillable bottle is the best answer, both for quality and for the environment. But do we remember to clean them? And are they hosting bacteria? Some scientists decided to investigate.

    They set up a research station in a university, stopping passersby to see if they were willing to participate. If they were, while they filled out a survey about their habits with their water bottle, the investigators collected samples for various tests from the bottle.

    The study was small, so the authors did not always have enough data to make definite conclusions. Also, the participants may not have remembered how they cared for their bottles. They may have dissembled about their routine because they did not want to seem like slobs.

    Having said all that, some information can be gleaned from the final publication. Most did not regularly clean their bottles, and the bottles were contaminated with bacteria. Glass bottles were cleaner than plastic or metal, perhaps because it is easier to recognize when glass is dirty and decide to clean it. Reusable bottles that had held coffee, tea, or juice were dirtier.

SOURCE: https://www.pxfuel.com/en/free-photo-exppk

    What to do with this information? Clean your water bottle regularly; the first article I saw about this suggested once a week at a minimum. Reserve the bottle for water only.

    And glass might be best, but it’s not clear from the results. Stronger recommendations about what type of bottle is best to avoid bacterial contamination would require a more rigorous study. In the meantime, common sense tells me glass or stainless steel is best.