Could your water bottle be making you ill?

According to a recent study, the average refilled plastic water contains over 300,000 colony forming units of bacteria per square centimeter, more than an average home toilet seat.
When water collects on the spout of the bottle, it becomes the breeding ground for bacteria. Try the sniff test, if the rim smells bad, that will be caused by gases leaching out from multiplying germs. Even rinsing your bottle out makes things worse. Microbes are stuck to the surface, so fresh water will encourage them to grow. Washing it with soap and hot water should keep them at bay.
The first main type of bad bacteria found on water bottles are called gram-negative rods, such as E. coli. There’s also bacteria from the gram-positive cocci family, which can lead to infections including strep sore throats. Think about buying a stainless-steel one. It attracts fewer germs, though you still need to wash it every day.