HOT HOME PRODUCTS
Reusable water bottles tap into faucets
February 19, 2010
Vicky Sanderson
SPECIAL TO THE STAR
A swelling wave of concern over the sustainability of the bottled water industry has led to the rise of a whole new category of consumer products for the home – reusable bottles and carafes to be used with tap water, some of which come with filters.
One of the most interesting new items is a glass bottle from Toronto designer and tap water proponent Racquel Youtzy. Called a "tap water" bottle, it's shaped like old-fashioned pop bottle, has a hinged stopper and features the words "tap water," along with a message about the benefits of municipal water in white print on the body.
Youtzy chose glass for her design because she believes it's the healthiest and most environmentally friendly material for storing water, and because it's completely recyclable. Faced with the inevitable questions about the safety of carrying glass around in a knapsack or purse, Youtzy says that the glass, while not unbreakable, is sturdier than you might imagine. While I did not have the nerve to test my sample bottle on a hardwood or tile floor, I dropped it a few times from a height of about one metre on a linoleum floor with no ill effect.
In terms of drinking, very dainty types may find the bottle lip a tad thick, but those who remember with pleasure the feeling of slurping icy soda from a bottle that had some heft to it will probably enjoy it.
This dishwasher-safe bottle is available online and at several locations in Toronto. To order, or for a list of retailers, go to www.tapwater-bottle.com. A 250-millilitre bottle retails for $10 and a 500-millilitre version for $12 (although this size is out of stock online until March).
While the bottle is designed for water, I've used it for everything from homemade salad dressing to carrying wine for a picnic. Both, however, may result in residue in the bottom of the bottle. To deal with such messes in slim-necked glass bottles, I'm now using a very effective bottle-washing kit ($21.50 from Lee Valley Tools, www.leevalleytools.com). It works like this: you fill the vessel about one-third full of water, insert the funnel into the neck (which must be greater than 5/8-inch), and then pull out a filtering plug, which releases a few hundred tiny stainless-steel ball bearings. Swish the water and the ball bearings scour the glass clean without scratching.
New from Quirky, a virtual community that encourages consumers to participate in the design of new products – some of which are then produced and sold online – is the "Petal Drop," a flower-shaped funnel that collects rain water in any standard bottle. Made out of recycled high-density polyethylene, the Petal Drop ($4.50 U.S.) screws onto the neck of the bottle, making it a mini version of a rainwater barrel, so it can sit on window ledge, patio or balcony to capture rainwater for watering plants or filling an animal bowl. For more information about the product and to learn about this venture, go to www.quirky.com.
Another entry into the reusable bottle category is the SmartBottle. While it looks and feels like a single-use, throwaway bottle, it's made from food-grade polypropylene, which is BPA free. Its makers say these bottles should last for about a year with regular use. They can be washed in the dishwasher, which means they can be sanitized between uses. The SmartBottle is only available online at www.smartbottle.ca.
For other new water-related consumer products, go to my blog at www.thestar.blogs.com/onthehouse.
Evidence the trend toward tap water is growing can be seen in toney restaurants, some of which are now offering it as an eco-chic alternative to designer water shipped from halfway across the planet. Still, some find the taste or smell of tap water offensive and prefer to filter it, while some coffee and tea connoisseurs insist on only filtered water for brewing purposes.
There's also the egg-shaped, eco-friendly (and gorgeous) Ovopur www.aquaovo.com unit, which has a reusable filter cartridge (recyclable glass filters that cost $59 each must be changed three times a year). Beauty, however, has a price – Ovopur sells for about $700, although its makers say it will save bottled water buyers money in the long run. To see one, visit BonaVista LeisureScapes at 812 Eglinton Ave. E..
Vicky Sanderson's Hot Home Products runs Saturdays in New in Homes & Condos. vswriter@sympatico.ca.
Toronto Star