Preventing Dirty Bottled Water

Many people purchase large bottles of water for their home or office, because it is better to drink. Often the bottle may be dirty on the outside, possibly contaminating the water. Slime may also grow in the reservoir. Also, sometimes the water is not the quality you would expect.

Questions you may have include:

• How can the outside of the bottle contaminate your drinking water?
• Where does slime come from?
• What are problems with water quality?

The following material answers those questions. There is a mini-quiz at the end of this lesson.

Dirty bottle

Although the insides of the large plastic bottles used to supply bottled water to you are assumed to be thoroughly cleaned, there are no requirements on cleaning the outside of the bottle–especially the top that comes in contact with your drinking water.

Dirt dissolves into water

When the bottle is tipped on its end over the reservoir, about 10 square inches of the bottle top surface is in contact with your water. Any dirt on the top will fall or dissolve into your drinking water.

Wash top of bottle

Take a wet paper towel and wipe off the top area of a typical bottle, and you will see the amazing amount of dirt that has collected on the surface. When the bottle is put on your reservoir, that dirt will go into your drinking water.

If a service puts the bottle on for you, you might still check to see how clean the top area is and perhaps ask to clean them off before the service man puts the bottle on the reservoir.

Slime in reservoir

Bottled water is not chlorinated, so it does not kill tiny organisms that may grow in water. Even if you start off with a very clean reservoir, after several months green slime may collect on the insides. It isn’t a bad idea to occasionally check the insides when the water is almost gone.

Clean insides

Don’t use soap to clean the inside of your reservoir. Soap is for cutting grease, and that is not the problem. Also, the residue will linger for a while until it is all flushed out.

Rather, empty the reservoir and scrape of any slime with a clean paper or cloth towel. You can use a very dilute bleach solution, if you then rinse it out thoroughly.

Quality water

Some bottled water companies have simply provided tap water in their bottles. Others claim to purify the water themselves. It is good to make sure you are getting the quality of water for which you are paying.

We use distilled water, primarily so Mr. Coffee won’t get plugged up with deposits. Regular bottled water has some minerals in it, which enhances the taste, but we found the minerals collected in the coffee-maker, clogging up the works.

In conclusion

The top of a bottle of water may be quite dirty and should be cleaned before using. The reservoir should be occasionally cleaned of any slime growing on the surfaces. Make sure you get the quality of water you are paying for.

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Mini-quiz to check your understanding

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QUIZ

Self-check your understanding

1. Why bother with the outside of the bottle?

   Some of it comes in direct contact with your drinking waterThat is correct. You look like a healthy Champion. A dirty outside proves the inside is dirty, tooSorry, not correct. Try another button. Dirty can pass through the plastic bottleNot even close. Try another answer.

2. How can you tell if there is slime in the reservoir?

   You can see it moving in the bottleSorry, not correct. Try another button. People throw up after drinking the waterOops! Wrong answer. Re-read the question and try again. Remove the bottle and look in the reservoir, when the water level is lowCorrect. You are improving.

3. Is the water always as pure as advertised?

   Companies never lieNot even close. Try another answer. Sometimes it isn'tThat is correct. You look like a healthy Champion. You can't trust big corporationsOops! Wrong answer. Re-read the question and try again.

Pick an answer to see instant feedback. Re-read the lesson if you miss one.

If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a champion in being healthy. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.

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