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Environment

Bobble bottles offer instant filtered water, on the go

By Ben Coxworth
April 25, 2010
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The bobble reusable water bottle features an activated carbon filter
The bobble reusable water bottle features an activated carbon filter
The bobble reusable water bottle features an activated carbon filter

Bottled water might seem like a very innocuous, ecologically-friendly beverage, but it does have its dark side – it has been estimated that 1.5 million barrels of oil are used annually for the production of one-use water bottles. About 38 million of those get tossed out each year. True, many of them go to recycling facilities, but those facilities aren’t exactly carbon footprint-free themselves. Then of course, there’s also the whole matter of wondering if you’re a sucker for paying to drink what is likely just filtered tap water. That’s where the bobble water bottle comes in. You just fill it from the faucet, and it filters the water as you drink.

The bobble has a simple activated carbon filter built into the bottom of its drinking spout. As water passes through the carbon, chlorine and various organic contaminants are removed. The filter is good for at least 300 bottlefuls, which should work out to about two months. After that, the filter can be returned to the company for recycling – how many people would actually bother doing so is anyone’s guess. The bottle and filter are made from recycled PET plastic, and are free of BPA, phthalates and PVC. The bottle is 100% recyclable.

If you’re thinking of buying a bobble and taking it backcountry trekking in India… well, don’t. It is not recommended for use in areas where the water is not microbiologically safe. For under $US10, though, you shouldn’t expect it to be. If you want to shell out for a truly hardcore filtering water bottle, you might want to check out the Lifesaver.

Bobbles are available in various snazzy colors, via the company website.

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EnvironmentWaterBottleFilterWater Bottle
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Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.
5 comments
Dr.A.Jagadeesh
Excellent system. It will be very useful in providing safe drinking water and will be popular worldwide.
Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
Facebook User
The Bobble filter bottle, on the surface, seems like a great idea. I decided to do some calculations to see if it truly was the best way to go. We pay $3.99 for 24 bottles of bottled water. Not counting the original $9.95 each purchase of a Bobble bottle for myself and my wife, each replacement filter will be $6.95, or $13.90 every 2 months. So, $13.90 times 6 would be $83.40 we would spend in one year. We go through a case of bottled water in about 1 week. So, if we bought 54 cases in one year, at $3.99 per case, we would be spending $215.46. Thus, buying the Bobble bottles and filters would save us about $132.00 per year. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.
Jonathan Carcopo
Your bottle filtered water is carbon filtered to remove VOCs (chlorine, et al); then Reverse-Osmosis - removes 99% total dissolved solids (the latest R/O filters remove cysts/spores too); then UV treatment is typically used before &/or after water is filtered to kill everything and prevent spores or cysts to colonize the R/O membranes (occurs when back pressure forces some small organisms to eventually permeate the membranes); a final carbon filtration is used to finish the water and makes it more palatable. Further filtration can be used to de-ionize the water, but you wouldn\'t want to drink it.
Alternately,you can carbon filter water to remove VOCS and then distill it to reach the same cleanliness of water; albeit at higher cost (high electricity, distillers ain\'t cheap & break often, most are Chinese junk, may not effectively remove VOCS properly, then take a long time to make water)
In any case I would invest in a good kitchen 4 stage R/O system (MERLIN is very good) and fill any bottle with that water. That filter bottle leaves plenty of trash in your drinking water and will reduce only VOCS and few other nasties, but will leave you with water no where near as filtered as 4 stage R/O system with UV.
Brit T
Isn\'t water safety week approaching too? Red Cross will have their hands full no matter how many new technologies we\'re able to develop.
Speaking of the Lifesaver Bottle, this video explained it pretty well, and gave me a few laughs too: http://www.scienceinseconds.com/video.php?vId=121&tId=
Jeroboam Pustule
I realize the author may not be an expert on the subject, but these bottles are NOT \"phthalate free\". Do you know what PET stands for? \"Polyethylene Terephthalate\".
I think you mean they do not emit or release phthalates. There is a difference. But it\'s true, they don\'t.
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