Warning to anyone who drinks from a reusable water bottle

Reusable water bottles are very useful, not only do they cut down on single-use plastic but they can save you a sum of money when you don't have to keep buying individual bottles of water. Water bottles can cause health issues if not looked after properly. Earlier this year, a study conducted by US water filtration company WaterFilterGuru showed that if you do not wash your water bottle appropriately and regularly, it can lead to a build up of moulds and bacteria on the bottles surface and interior.

If swallowed, both mould and bacteria can be harmful. It can lead to gastro illnesses, urine infections or even pneumonia. In a disgusting discovery, they found that reusable water bottles contain an average of 20.



8m colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, which is 40,000 times more than the microbes on a toilet seat . As the NHS recommends drinking 6–8 glasses of water a day, it is likely people fill their water bottles up often. Waterfilterguru recommends cleaning the reusable water bottle you drink from every day a part of your daily routine.

Natalie Byrne from GO Outdoors previously told the ECHO : "When looked after properly, reusable water bottles can last for years, especially ones made of materials such as stainless steel. Stainless steel water bottles usually only need replacing due to wear and tear, meaning that with proper care they can last for years. "Glass water bottles should be replaced every two to three years and plastic bottles replaced every year.

Cleaning your reusable water bottle may not appear to be an urgent task, but with studies finding there is more bacteria in a water bottle than in a dog's water bowl, not taking care of the cleanliness of your bottle could potentially have devastating impacts on your health. "Water bottles should be washed as often as drinking glasses are washed; after every use. Many water bottles are dishwasher-safe, but it is important to clean smaller parts with a toothbrush or bottle brush.

"This is especially important for bottles with built-in straws. If not washed properly, bacteria such as E.Coli can grow inside water bottles and lead to gastroenteritis.

Mould can also grow in your bottle if not cleaned properly.".