Reusable Water Bottles

Seattle University is the first college campus in Washington and the sixth nationwide to ban the sale of all bottled water. The ban is part of a “think outside the bottle” campaign, which promotes ways to be sustainable on campus. Beginning Sept. 1, 2010, the sale of bottled water was removed from sporting events, vending machines, on-campus restaurants and the bookstore.

The Spectator, Seattle University’s student-run newspaper, reports the school has received zero complaints about the ban thus far. Despite this, many students continue to be seen walking around campus or attending classes with a plastic water bottle in hand. Perhaps they are hesitant to go along with the campus’ new policy.

Chalesa Hanser, a sophomore at SU, now buys plastic water bottles off campus to bring with her to class, which is permitted. When asked why she prefers bottled water she said, “It’s just a habit I guess. I find I drink more water when it’s conveniently packaged for me and I can grab it on-the-go.”

Other students who tend to use reusable water bottles cite various reasons for their preference. Drinking tap water as opposed to bottled water reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, refusing to purchase bottled water enforces water as a human right rather than a commodity. Using reusable bottles for drinking water is a more sustainable and economical option for many students.

The following video highlights the differences between drinking bottled water and using reusable bottles:
Bottled water vs. tap water

The vast selection of reusable water bottles can make it difficult to know which brand to purchase and where to go. Klean Kanteen is popular around campus and features stainless-steel, 100% recyclable bottles that retail at a price range of $15-$30. These bottles are more expensive than those sold on campus, but some students may think the extra few dollars are worth it.

One student brings the gold model of the Klean Kanteen to class with her every day. “It’s sleek, easy to fill and keeps me hydrated,” she said when asked how she made her choice.

The Klean Kanteen reusable water bottles can be purchased at a variety of retail locations, including REI and Whole Foods. The Klean Kanteen website provides further information about the brand and where to purchase bottles locally.

Another popular bottle is made by Nalgene. While it was once considered the bottle of choice for college students, many refused to buy Nalgene products after sources revealed their plastic bottles contained BPA. Since then, the company has switched to a line of stainless steel and copolyester bottles that are all BPA-free.

The Nalgene brand may be a good option for students on a budget because it has a retail price range of $9-$20. Nalgene’s website also has a section that helps individuals pick which bottle will work best for them. Since the brand offers 100 different models of reusable bottles, potential customers may find it helpful to check out the website before making a decision. The SU bookstore sells two models of the Nalgene reusable bottle: classic wide mouth and narrow mouth, both priced at $10.95.

With so many brands and models of reusable bottles available at convenient locations, one may question how sales on Seattle University’s campus are doing.

A student who works as a cashier at the SU bookstore said he sold quite a few reusable water bottles at the beginning of the school year, but it seems that sales have recently been declining.

A Seattle University senior, Victoria, gave her opinion on why the school's sales may soon be hurting: “I think once you own one reusable bottle, there’s really no need to shop around for more. People who use reusable bottles probably already have one and don’t need or want to go to the bookstore to buy another.”

Chalesa Hanser’s habits are in support of Victoria’s speculation. “Even though I typically bring bottled water to campus, I own a reusable bottle too. It’s a Nalgene that I got last year for Christmas, so if I did switch from drinking bottled water I wouldn’t need to buy anything,” she said.

Although Seattle University is offering reusable water bottles at competitive prices, it seems many students have already received their personal, eco-friendly container from an off-campus source.

If readers would like to show support for Seattle University’s ban on bottled water and wish to purchase their own reusable bottle, they can visit the SU bookstore. There are four different models available, with an affordable price range of $9.99-$12.95.

To learn more about different kinds of reusable water bottles available, readers can visit the following two blogs:

Urban Canteen Blog

Plant Forward Blog

Readers are invited to share their thoughts on Seattle University’s ban and on reusable water bottles.