Plastic Water Containers

Plastic water containers are a symptom of the world of today, in which increasingly larger amounts of items are being made out of artificial products. Containers of all kinds are now being made out of various products, one of which is plastic. The plastic used in containers is usually one of two kinds: thermosetting polymers or thermoplastics such as polystyrene. The latter kind is a less rigid plastic, less hardy and more fragile. It is slightly better for the environment in that it biodegrades a little faster than the former.

Probably the most common type of plastic water containers is the ordinary plastic bottle. Most bottled water these days comes in plastic bottles rather than glass ones. Why? Plastic is cheaper to make and, for the consumer, the bottles are much lighter to carry. Just imagine having to carry a 5-liter glass bottle of water! They are also safer as they are less likely to break. Most water bottles are made from a clear, tough plastic known as PET (polyethylene terephthalate). All plastic bottles are marked, usually on the bottom, with a recycling symbol showing a number surrounded by arrows. This number indicates which of the types of plastic has been used in the manufacture of the bottle and consequently, how it can be recycled. PET is indicated by the number 1.

Past research has proven that PET is safe for making plastic water containers, although recent studies are now disputing this. A lot of us use plastic bottles over and over again, especially the small ones. We use these to take out with us every day and refill them many times from bigger bottles. Current thinking is that this may be dangerous as certain compounds in the PET, such as DEHA, can cause reproductive and liver problems.  Some other types of plastic used in plastic bottle-making contain a compound called BPA (bisphenol A), which can leak out of the plastic over time. BPA is thought to be able to imitate the effects of estrogen, increasing the risk of conditions such as prostate cancer and low sperm count in men, and breast cancer or uterine fibroids in women. Bottles made from this type of plastic will normally have the number 7 on them, and were often used for baby bottles, although there are now an increasing amount of non-BPA baby bottles available.

Water bottles can also be used for other storage purposes, such as gels or liquids used around the house. Nowadays, a lot of people are buying products in economy size containers (a small price for a large amount). It is easier to use these products if you decant them into a smaller bottle than trying to manhandle a large container all the time.

Of course, water bottles are only one type in a list of plastic water containers. Water storage tanks for indoor, outdoor, or underground use can be bought in varying sizes. There are also plastic water drums, storage barrels, or plastic rain barrels in all shapes and sizes.