Why You Should Never Refill A Plastic Water Bottle

Bottled water is a huge industry. In the United States alone, people guzzle down about 50 billion bottles of water every year. And they’re not the only ones – people all over the world are buying into the bottled water craze.

The convenience cannot be understated. It’s easy to grab a bottle of water and go. And in many places, it’s the only safe option for drinking water. And what’s also convenient is being able to refill it when it’s empty.

We’ve all done it. We’re out and about, we finish our bottle of water, and so we find a water fountain and refill it. This saves us money and is better for the environment, after all. No harm done, right?

Wrong!

Plastic water bottles are designed to be single-use only. When you reuse them, you’re opening yourself up to all sorts of health problems. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the downsides to refilling your water bottle.

4 reasons why you shouldn’t refill your plastic water bottle

1. They’re designed for single use only

As we mentioned, plastic water bottles are designed to be used once and then thrown away. They’re not made to withstand being reused over and over again.

When you refill your water bottle, you’re exposing yourself to all sorts of bacteria that can make you sick. This is because the plastic gets scratched or damaged each time you use it, providing the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and other nasty things.

2. The chemicals in the plastic can leach into the water

Plastic water bottles are made of a material called polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is made by combining two toxic chemicals: antimony and bisphenol A (BPA).

Antimony is a silvery white poison that can cause gastrointestinal issues, heart problems, and lung cancer. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that has been linked to reproductive issues, obesity, and cancer.

Each time you refill your bottle, as previously mentioned, the plastic gets slightly damaged, which increases the chance that the chemicals in the plastic will leach into the water.

3. The bottle can start to degrade

You’re probably already aware of how much degradation occurs upon each use. Just think about how gross a water bottle looks after you’ve used it a couple of times. It becomes discolored and misshapen, and this is only after a few uses.

Now imagine what happens when you refill that bottle dozens of times. The degradation process accelerates and, as we already said, once this happens, it’s releasing all sorts of chemicals into the water that you’re drinking, which isn’t good for your health.

4. The water will taste funny

After a while, your water will start to taste funny. This is because of all the bacteria and chemicals that have leached into it. The water might even take on a plastic-y taste.

Alternatives to refilling plastic bottles

So, now that we’ve talked about all the reasons why you shouldn’t refill your plastic water bottle, what are some alternatives?

The best option is to simply switch to a reusable water bottle made of stainless steel or glass. These materials are much safer and won’t leach chemicals into your water. Plus, they’re sturdier and won’t degrade as quickly.

Check out the selection of reusable bottles we’ve put together for you below. You can buy them on Amazon.

Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle

HYDRO CELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle

VEEGOAL Borosilicate Glass Water Bottles