Time to Dispose of the Disposable Water Bottle

Time to Dispose of the Disposable Water Bottle:

The Bobble Mini is one of several bottles we tested with an integrated carbon filter. Photo by Ariel Zambelich/Wired

We live in one of the countries where easy access to clean, safe drinking water has long been the norm. Compared to some parts of the world, we’re spoiled silly. And yet, for some reason, we still buy a whole lot of bottled water.

According to data from the Beverage Marketing Corporation released in September 2011, Americans drank 8.75 billion gallons of bottled water in 2010. That’s roughly 28 gallons per American, and a 3.6 percent rise over 2009. Of course, the vast majority of it comes in single-use plastic bottles. These are a waste — they cost a dollar or two each, the contents have to be transported long distances, and the bottles themselves aren’t always recycled properly.

The Environmental Protection Agency developed new guidelines in 2010 for drinking water that made it safer and better-tasting. But many Americans just can’t swallow the facts, insisting their tap water lies beyond the threshold of drinkability.

Several companies are making affordable reusable bottles with active carbon filters inside. For $10 or $15, you can buy a bottle that can remove chlorine and other contaminants from tap water, improving the taste while reducing the fiscal and environmental burden associated with single-use disposables.

How do we wean these nay-sayers off the cursed disposable plastic bottle? Try giving them a bottle with an integrated filter.

Several companies are making very affordable reusable bottles with active carbon filters inside. For $10 or $15, you can buy a bottle that can remove chlorine and other contaminants from tap water, improving the taste while reducing the fiscal and environmental burden associated with single-use disposables. Replacement filters are as cheap as $2 or $3 each.

I had the opportunity to review four filter-enabled water bottles that are made for use with tap water. Mind you, these aren’t designed to purify water from a lake, stream or other natural source that’s potentially contaminated with Giardia or some other nasty bug, so keep your inner outdoorsman at bay.

My first specimen was the Bobble Mini, which looks like a baby bottle. It comes in three sizes — 34 ounces ($13), 18.5 ounces ($10), and 13 ounces ($9) — and the smallest one, which I tested, certainly feels like a baby bottle. The plastic body is soft, so much so that Bobble warns against squeezing it too hard. But the body’s hourglass design looks modern, and it’s easy to grip. The filter and pop-up cap come in an array of vibrant colors, too.

Before you drink from it, you have to fill it up once and squeeze the water out to remove the carbon dust from the filter. This initial rinse is standard practice with carbon filters. After that, the water tasted great, although getting enough of it with each squeeze was difficult. I found myself having to suck on the Bobble’s cap with a little extra force to get the amount of water I wanted each time. Not exactly problematic, but it felt like more effort than should be necessary with a water bottle. Bobble says each filter is good for 40 gallons, or about two months.

Next, I tried the CamelBak Groove, which comes in 20 and 25-ounce versions ($25 and $27). It sports a beautiful, rigid plastic body you can buy in a variety of muted colors. There are also stainless-steel versions ($35 to $37) which would be right at home on a hiking or camping trip. All the CamelBak Grooves come with an integrated loop handle so you can carry it with a finger or attach it to a pack.