Water bottles are a great way to stay hydrated on the go, but if you’ve ever noticed bubbles in your water bottle, you may have wondered why and consequently asked, “Why are there bubbles in my water bottle?” Before we answer that question, you want to keep in mind that bubbles in a bottle of water are not uncommon. As such, there’s no reason to be alarmed because there are many harmless reasons why this could be happening.
It could be anything from the gases contained in the water, to the fact that the bottle was shaken. Either way, let us get into the nitty gritty of why there are bubbles in your bottle.
Reasons why your Water Bottle has Bubbles
Water Composition
The first reason why your water bottle may be having bubbles is because of its chemical composition. You see, water comprises two main components; hydrogen and oxygen. Together, these two form what is known as H2O.
Sometimes, there are other substances in the water and when they react with the hydrogen bonds, the most likely outcome is the formation of bubbles.
Temperature
Water temperature has a direct effect on the pressure inside the bottle, causing it to expand when heated or contract when cooled. For example, if you leave your bottle on a hot day, it may become more expanded than usual — this is because water molecules expand when exposed to heat.
If you leave your bottle on cold days, it may become less expanded, because cooling causes liquids to contract.
Simply put, when cold water is exposed to room temperature, it loses its ability to dissolve gases from the atmosphere hence causing tiny bubbles.
Pressure
Another reason bubbles appear in your bottle is because there is pressure inside it. If you are holding a bottle upright and tip it upside down so that the liquid inside it flows from one side to another then some of the air will escape under pressure and create bubbles.
This also happens when you are transferring water from a source like a tap. Now, the intensity and speed with which the water comes out is what will determine the amount of bubbles created. This is because lower pressure absorbs less gases from the atmosphere and vice versa.
Gas
As water is inside pipes, it is often high-pressure. However, when it gets outside, it loses that pressure. Now, while it is under high pressure inside the pipes, it dissolves gases like oxygen, chlorine, and carbon dioxide.
If you decide to transfer high-pressure water that contains the said gases to a bottle, the gases tend to escape to the air because they start to lose their solubility. You will realize that this is the case when the water initially appears cloudy but turns clear soon after. This happens because the gases escape into the air.
You see, chlorine and carbon dioxide will evaporate from the water once it is no longer under high pressure. This is the reason why the cloudy fresh water in your bottle isn’t long-lasting. If you close the water bottle before the water is clear, you will notice more bubbles.
What can you do to Avoid Bubbles in your Water Bottle?
Generally, bubbles in your water bottle are harmless, but there are some people who would want to avoid them altogether. This is easy to do, but you probably don’t know how.
Here’s what you need to do.
Keep your Water Bottle Clean
The first thing you can do to prevent bubbles from forming in your water bottle is to keep it clean. Dirty bottles are a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, which creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow quickly. In case you didn’t know, there’s a relationship between bacteria and the formation of bubbles in water. When this happens, it’s time to clean out your bottle and start over again.
Avoid Putting Carbonated Drinks in Your Bottle
Carbonated beverages are one of the main causes of bubbles in your water bottle. The carbonation forces air into the liquid, which is then trapped when you close the cap. If you use a straw, this can cause even more bubbles.
So if you want to avoid bubbles in your water bottle, don’t have carbonated beverages like cola, ginger ale, or lemonade in it.
Why does your Tap Water have Bubbles?
As previously mentioned, water is usually under high pressure while it is in the pipes. If you realize that there’s air in your pipes, chances are that the water inside is highly-pressurized. With that high pressure, the air in in the atmosphere dissolves in the water and what happens is that bubbles form and cause the water to appear cloudy.
Is Bubbled Water Safe for Drinking?
Generally, it is. However, sometimes bubbles could be a sign of contamination. When you see bubbles in your water bottle, it could mean that your water has been contaminated by something like bacteria or chemicals.
However, if you want to know whether bubbled water is safe to drink or not, you should first find out why the water has bubbles in the first place. If there is no gas or bacteria present in the water, it can be consumed without any further worries.
Unopened Water Bottles and Bubbles
One of the most important factors that can cause bubbles to form in your water unopened bottle is bacteria growing on the surface of the glass or plastic container. However, you should keep in mind that this is common. This type of bacteria thrives on oxygen, so when it starts to grow, it releases gas into the air inside your bottle which then bubbles up through tiny holes in the rim and cap.
Another reason why an unopened water bottle may have bubbles is that there are temperature changes surrounding it. Usually, this is not an indication that the water is bad, but if there’s a bad smell and taste accompanying the bubbles, you will be better off disposing of it.