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H2O to go

Here's some advice for making that decision

BY KAREN SHIDELER

The Wichita Eagle

Which water bottle is the right one for you?

It used to be easy to drink water: You turned on the tap and filled a glass.

Now, we balance the convenience of portable water with the environmental impact of disposable bottles and the health impact of sturdier ones.

What to do?

Depends on what your concerns are.

Alex Johnson, a sophomore at Wichita State University, buys bottled water and doesn't worry about its impact. "I have a bottle of water with me at all times," she says. It's usually Aquafina "because that's what they sell on campus."

She sometimes refills the bottle at the water fountain and doesn't recycle the empties: "There's some inherent laziness in there, I'm sure."

Jelana Petrovic, a graduate student at WSU, also buys bottled water, mostly because of convenience _ it's available everywhere, it fits in a backpack, "and if I lose it, I don't worry."

She sometimes uses a hard plastic water bottle, the kind that can leach bisphenol A, a chemical. "I honestly don't have any concerns," she says. "I've been doing this for a very long time."

Amy Maxton, another WSU grad student, likes her Nalgene bottle for its durability. "I only wanted to have to buy it one time, and Nalgene has a good reputation," she says.

She has read about bisphenol A but isn't concerned. "I'm not disputing the validity of those studies, but the bottom line is that no matter what you put your water in," there's a downside. "You just have to pick something you can live with."

There are lots to choose from, and none seems perfect. Here's a look at four types of water bottles, with some pros and cons for each.

Bottled water

Pros: Widely available. Bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (identified with a number 1 in a triangle on the bottom of the bottle), which generally is considered safe for single use. Widely accepted for recycling.

Cons: Most aren't recycled, so they end up in landfills. Their production requires an estimated 17 million barrels of crude oil annually. If they are reused, they can leach chemicals into the water. Because the plastic is porous, reused bottles may absorb bacteria and flavors.

Approximate cost: $1 to $2

Polycarbonate bottles

Pros: Reusable hard plastic Nalgene and similar polycarbonate bottles, marked with a 7 on the bottom, are durable and designed for multiple uses. (The number 7 is used for some other plastics as well; not all are made of polycarbonate.)

Cons: If they're not cleaned thoroughly, bacteria can grow in them. Wide-mouthed bottles can be difficult to drink from. Polycarbonate contains bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been linked to health problems in animals. The federal National Toxicology Program has said a possible effect in humans "cannot be dismissed." (Nalgene is phasing out its BPA-containing bottles but still considers them safe.)

Approximate cost: About $10

Metal water bottles

Pros: Aluminum and stainless steel bottles are durable and reusable. They're nontoxic and resistant to leaching. Can be recycled.

Cons: Aluminum has to be lined with something. Some cheaper aluminum bottles have been recalled because they violated the lead paint standard. They may give a metallic taste to the water. They must be cleaned properly to avoid bacteria growth. They can be difficult to find locally (they're widely available online).

Approximate cost: About $20 and up

Sports bottles

Pros: Reusable, widely available and relatively inexpensive. Bottles range from squeezable "bike bottles" to non-BPA products offered by Nalgene, Camelbak and other companies. Some are recyclable. Some are plant-based, made of corn or another starch that's been converted to polylactide (PLA) plastic. Those aren't recyclable but can be composted.

Cons: May make the beverage taste like plastic. May absorb odors or tastes. Must be cleaned properly. Check the number in the triangle on the bottom: A 2, 4 or 5 is considered healthiest.

Approximate cost: Up to about $10.

Reach Karen Shideler at 316-268-6674 or kshideler@wichitaeagle.com.