Summer is approaching, and whether you're at school, at work, playing sports, hiking, or just strolling through town, you're bound to get thirsty at some point. Ideally, you'll have a bottle of water handy.

One problem with carrying water around is the weight. A large bottle can easily weigh a kilo or more, and it often doesn't fit well in your bag. That's why small, half-liter plastic bottles are becoming increasingly popular. But these disposable bottles are not very sustainable. A good solution would be to take a small reusable bottle with you and simply refill it as needed.

There is now a wide range of drinking bottles available. In its April 2019 issue, Ökotest tested twelve bottles from sports and outdoor stores. These are all break-proof models that are well suited for carrying around. The bottles tested are made of plastic (Tritan), stainless steel, or aluminum. For the test, the bottles were not only checked for harmful substances, but also dropped from a height of 80 cm. In addition, the lids were opened 1,000 times and then examined.

As a result, eleven drinking bottles in the test were rated at least "good." Only one bottle failed completely due to its leaky lid. The cheapest bottle in the test costs just €2.99, while the most expensive costs €24.95. Since the bottles and lid shapes vary greatly, we believe that personal preferences when drinking are the deciding factor. There is certainly enough choice. You can view the complete Öko-Test at the link below. There you will also find a link to the Utopia test, which describes glass drinking bottles, among other things.

The material used is more a matter of taste, as all common designs have advantages and disadvantages. First and foremost, we expect a water bottle to be durable and leak-proof. The cap should be easy to close and open and, if possible, operable with one hand. The aspect of "easy to clean" is also a good argument for purchasing. Even if a bottle is only ever filled with water, it can become contaminated with germs over time. In addition, foreign tastes or odors are perceived as unpleasant. It is therefore important that the bottle does not absorb them. The longer the drinking bottle is used, the better its ecological balance will be, of course.

So far, so good. But where can I refill my bottle when it's empty?

That's easy to do at 36 locations in the Mainz city area. The volunteer project Refill is also available here. The concept is simple and straightforward. Stores with the Refill sticker on their window or door fill water bottles brought in by customers with tap water free of charge. You can find out where these stores are located by clicking on the link below.

Incidentally, at the beginning of March 2019, the EU foreign ministers also agreed to make drinking water in Europe better and more readily available. This prompted the city of Mainz to take up the issue and campaign for more water dispensers and drinking fountains in the city. Currently, there is only one drinking fountain, which is located in a very central location on Rebstockplatz. More public drinking water stations are to follow.

Is it safe to drink our tap water?

The quality of drinking water is very good in all districts of Mainz. The analysis values are well below the legally required limits; it is only classified as medium to hard. Hard water is generally only bad for dishwashers and washing machines; as drinking water, it is actually better suited because it has a high content of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. If you would like more information on the current water values, please use our links.