How long should you keep an opened plastic water bottle ? The time is very short

Water, this health ally, can It can be the cause of various pathologies if it is poorly preserved. And the consumption times are often very short…

Dehydration, fever, headaches, vomiting… These symptoms may be signs of a “waterborne illness”, in other words, linked to hydration. Enteric viruses (like gastroenteritis to put it simply) do not only appear after drinking non-potable water, they are sometimes due to a proliferation of bacteria in areas of stagnant water.

Whether in the corners or in the folds of the bottle, these microorganisms can infiltrate anywhere. There are several types of waterborne diseases, but the ones that interest us come from non-targeted bacteria, present only in drinking water.

For plastic containers, the risk is double. Few people know that after opening a bottle, you must not exceed a certain time limit for two reasons: bacteria and microplastics. In both cases, the shelf life after opening is an essential factor.

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First of all, before consumption, water contained in a plastic bottle does not expire. It is only after coming into contact with microorganisms, which the oral cavity is particularly rich in with its 100,000 million bacteria per milliliter of saliva, that the expiry process begins. The more it is in contact with the outside world and the more time bacteria are allowed to proliferate, the greater the risk of getting sick from drinking water.

Then, microplastics come into play. According to the American journal “PNAS”, plastic bottles contain up to 100 times more tiny plastic particles than previously estimated. In 2022, Nestlé Waters was at the centre of a report claiming that 78% of bottles sold by the brand were contaminated with microplastics.

And on this point too, the shelf life after opening must be reduced. In September, on RTL, general practitioner Jimmy Mohammed warned about this point: “When you open a bottle of water, well after 24 hours, if you haven't drunk it, it has to go in the trash.” In comparison, water bottles provide an advantage both environmental and health… As long as they are not made of plastic and washed at least once a day.

Bottled water must therefore be consumed within a few days of opening, or even within 24 to 48 hours depending on the source. It must also be stored in a dark, cool place. In the event of extreme heat or frost, the risk is increased. Chemicals may leak from the container and contaminate it.