While it’s always important to stay hydrated, it becomes even more crucial to take in more fluids as the weather gets warmer. Here’s why you should opt for a reusable water bottle instead of single-use plastic bottles:
- Especially in Rochester, tap water is very clean and can often be of higher quality than what you would get from a bottled water company.
- Avoid the possible dangers of plastic water bottles, like the recent E. coli recall.
- Save money in the long run. It is a one-time purchase and doesn’t have to be very expensive. You can find a high quality water bottle for under $15 (mine was only $5). It pays for itself in weeks and you can fill up almost anywhere for free.
- A high-quality bottle can last you years if you keep track of it and care for it properly.
- It is a cool way to show off your style. There are plenty of sizes, shapes, colors, designs and materials to choose from; pick one that reflects you.
- A reusable water bottle is a sustainable option. It is an energy-efficient alternative to the 60 million plastic bottles that end up in landfills and incinerators every day. Switching to reusable will reduce the pollution that you cause and the water that is used to create your bottles.
So make the switch! You won’t regret it and the environment will be better off because of it.
Photo Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Multi-use_water_bottle.JPG
Written by Mariah Greico, Class of 2018
Hi, Bonnie. This is a great idea, just as we have maps of our outdoor recycling receptacles available at: http://www.rochester.edu/sustainability/recycling/outdoor.html
While not all units are filtered, the nicer Elkay models that display the # of water bottles spared are. New refill stations are added periodically and are a standard for new buildings. If you have a certain area you’d like for one to be added, please let us know and we will evaluate. Thanks!
I’m wondering if someone can make a directory of places on campus (in medical center and main campus) that have water-bottle filling stations and whether they are filtered. I always assume they are, but may not be filtered, I suppose. Also, using one of the filling stations is a huge improvement to using a drinking fountain to fill ones’ bottle in terms of logistics and perhaps they could be added to more areas around campus.