sports style water bottles

[paulz]

I was sent the slightly worrying link

http://www.realage.com/news_features/tip.aspx?cid=
14358
about re-using plastic 'sports style' water bottles. If you don't wash them out properly then germs/bacteria and all sorts build up them. If you do wash them out & refil [from either a tap or dispenser etc] then after a few uses chemicals from the bottle itself are leached into the water. It says it only refers to PET bottles, are they the clear evian type? or is it are all plastic bottles PET [ie non see thru - like fruit shoots etc. Only asking as daughter's school only allows the clear ones. Apparently [according to the link] bottles should be re-cycled after one or two refils & kept no longer than a week. Or is this a plot to get us to buy more bottles?

[chijiki]

It is possible that you have misread the article that you have referred to. Plastic bottles that you buy from the shop containing water are only meant for single use. For many years there has been warnings about constant reuse of these because the plastic quickly degrades. Advice seems to suggest that 4 or 5 refillings is ok, but even so I would suggest that there is a bit of scaremongering about this.
Why not buy a water bottle that is designed for the purpose from a sport or camping shop ? These will last for years and usually stand up to any amount of hammer from kids.
You should also remember that, as with any other food or drink container, that it will need cleaning thoroughly periodically.

[mikewall01]

PET is a type of plastic used these days for, amongst other things, most plastic drinks containers. It's properties include flexibility and strength. The bottles are only designed to be used once and then recycled. Drinks manufacturers have no interest in providing you with a bottle that will be of long term use; it's a cost factor. I suggest that there isn't a short term problem in reusing a bottle as long as you clean it, but you should also consider that the bottle will quickly weaken when washed in hot water and reused because it's not designed for that. The previous answer suggests using a proper water bottle. A good idea because that will solve all your doubts and any possible problems.

[paulz]

Chijiki & Mike - Thanks for your frank replies. I wasn't trying to say that the Bottling companies should provide us with a bottle for life. I was just suprised that there is such a risk involved. The snag is the bottles can only be clear plastic [otherwise the little darlings will smuggle coke - or probably Voddy & coke in]. It's certainly the first I've heard of the risks involved. Obviously we make sure the bottles we/daughter uses are washed well & equally importantly dried thoroughly before re-use. Unfortunatley the children aren't allowed to use something simple like plastic cups [spillage] and the old style drinking fountains are probably outlawed due to germs. I would've thought the solution [for schools anyway] would be the American style paper cones that hold about a mouthful of water & are then binned. I have luckily saved our school - for the moment - from buying the wrong type [we were going to bulk buy and re-sell to parents]. We'll obviously have to look for suitable replacements a lot more carefully.