Although reusable water bottles are marketed as environmentally benign substitutes for single-use plastic bottles, a recent investigation by WaterFilterGuru found that they may be hiding dangerously high levels of bacteria. According to the study, reusable water bottles have up to 40,000 times more bacteria than the typical toilet seat. Gram-negative rods and bacillus were the two types of bacteria that the research team discovered after collecting samples from several kinds of reusable water bottles. These bacteria can result in gastrointestinal illnesses and are antibiotic-resistant.
Reusable water bottles carry twice as many germs as common home items and four times as much as a computer mouse, according to a study that compared their germ load to that of common goods. Associate Professor Keong Yap pointed out that such bottles are everyday items that people depend on, similar to the toys kids use to reduce anxiety and likely to contain bacteria.
While the bacteria in reusable water bottles are present in vast numbers, they are not detrimental to human health, according to Dr. Simon Clarke, a microbiologist at the University of Reading. He continued by saying that no one has ever complained of getting sick after using a water bottle and those faucets do not provide a similar risk. The study suggested sterilising water bottles once a week and washing them every day in hot, soapy water. Also, it was discovered that squeeze-top bottles typically had cleaner interiors than those with screw-top or straw-fitted lids.
