Are you tired of that chemical taste when you drink from a plastic water bottle? You’re not alone. Did you know that bottled water can have an expiration date? This date indicates when chemicals from the bottle might start affecting the water’s taste, but it doesn’t necessarily mean the water is unsafe to drink.

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Bottled water can have varying shelf lives depending on the brand, and it’s legal in the US to sell expired water. In fact, the FDA says that bottled water can last indefinitely if stored correctly. However, improper storage can lead to water that tastes off or even becomes toxic over time.

So why does bottled water sometimes taste like chemicals? It’s because plastic bottles can deteriorate over time, releasing microscopic chemicals into the water. The amount of chemicals depends on the type of bottle, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles releasing the most antimony, a chemical that can cause stomach and intestinal damage. Glass bottles, on the other hand, release fewer chemicals.

Storage conditions also matter. Plastic containers are slightly permeable, meaning air molecules can travel in and out of the bottle. If stored near household solvents, vapors can enter the bottle and alter the water’s flavor. To avoid this, store your bottled water in a cool, dark place.

In rare cases, the unpleasant taste in expired water could come from microbial contamination. Although bottled water companies use strict sanitation processes, accidents can happen. Contaminated water might taste musty, moldy, marshy, sour, or rancid, and it could make you sick depending on the microbes present.

So, what can you do with expired bottled water? Using an activated charcoal filter can remove many contaminants while boiling the water for one minute can kill off most pathogens. But remember, even if your bottle is fresh, experts don’t recommend reusing it, as germs from your fingers and mouth can colonize the container.

Don’t let expired bottled water get you down! Use this knowledge to make better choices for your health and the environment. Invest in a reusable water bottle, and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Globally, we produce 300 million tons of plastic every year, 78 percent of which is NOT reclaimed or recycled. Around 8.8 million tons of plastic get dumped into the oceans every year! 700 marine animals are faced with extinction due to the threat that plastic poses to them in the form of entanglement, Pollution, and ingestion. 50 percent of sea turtles have plastic in their stomachs. By 2050, 99 percent of all seabird species will have ingested plastic waste. According to a study by the World Economic Forum, there will be one tonne of plastic for every three tonnes of fish by 2025, and if things go on business as usual, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050.

Read more about how companies like Facebook, Tupperware, Google, Dove,  Budweiser, Carlsberg, and FIJI Water are working towards reducing plastic Pollution. Places around the world like Tel Aviv, California, Baltimore, Scotland and many more are banning various single-use plastics and others that are coming up with creative ways to recycle and use plastic waste.

There are products you may be using or habits you may have that contribute to plastic Pollution. Learn more about how the use of Teabags, Cotton Swabs, Laundry, Contact Lenses, Glitter and Sheet Masks pollute our oceans so you can make more informed decisions going forward. There are also numerous simple actions and switches that can help cut plastic out of our lives including, making your own cosmetics, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, household cleaners, using  mason jars, reusable bags/bottles/straws, and avoiding microbeads!

To learn more about the impact of plastic waste, please read the articles below: 

• Marine Animals that are Dying because of our Plastic Habit
• Where Plastic Really Goes When You Throw it Out
• 5 Documentaries to make you Rethink Single-Use Plastics
• 6 Million Tons of Single-Use Plastics Get Thrown Out Every Year!

Related content:

• Venice Encourages Tourists to Ditch Plastic Water Bottles and Use Public Drinking Fountains Instead
• How Americans Have Been Brainwashed into Spending So Much on Bottled Water
• Bottled Water Giant Admits to Lying About Recycling and Sustainability
• 15 Reusable Water Bottles for Eco-Friendly Hydration!
• Zoogoer Throws Water Bottle at Captive Chimpanzee and the Animal Strikes Back

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
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• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!