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Do you have questions about your private drinking water supply?  How about wellhead protection including the management of your private sewage treatment system?  Send your questions using the Ask An Expert feature on this web site.  University of Nebraska - Lincoln Extension Water Quality Educator Sharon Skipton will address your questions.

Q: With warmer weather, we will be walking outdoors and will want to take bottled water with us. Are plastic reusable water bottles safe to use?


Refilling water bottle with tap waterA: Reusable water bottles come in a variety of materials including plastic. Questions had been raised about the safety of reusable plastic water bottles containing the chemical Bisphenol A (BPA.) Research suggested there was negligible concern for impact on adults, but some concern for impact on fetuses, infants, and children from typical use of containers containing BPA. Scientists concluded that additional research was necessary to definitively answer health risk questions. As a result, most manufacturers eliminated containers containing BPA from their line of plastic containers. BPA-free plastic water bottles are readily available in today’s market and are safe to use.