Behold, The Bobble.  It is a water bottle with a built in filter that you can fill over and over again from the tap.  Genius.  Right?  Maybe.  I mean, the US has some of the cleanest drinking water around.  Plus, you’ve still got this filter to deal with.  Of course, in DC the problem may not be with the water per se but with the Civil War-era pipes.  Although, really… WASA doesn’t really do a whole lot to inspire confidence (large chlorine dumps, anyone?)

I bought one, as you know I adore gimmicks.  However, part of me wonders if this is the worst kind of greenwashing.  While the item itself hits all the right points, do I really need something to filter my perfectly safe US water?  That said, the Bobble is made in the USA, BPA-free, and recyclable.  Even the filters are recyclable– which is more than I can say for Pur.  You can either mail it back to them (and pay the postage) or drop it in curbside recycling since it’s a plastic “1.”  I can’t remember if I posted about this before, when the “Take Back the Filter” campaign was in full swing.  We switched from Brita to Pur since Pur is a slightly better filter– as far as I can tell, you cannot recycle a Pur filter.

image via Luxist

If nothing else, I’ll use this at work.  Although I carry a reusable water bottle, I typically drink from the water cooler at work.  Switching to the tap won’t make my office stop getting gallons of water delivered, but at least I’ll be drinking tap water and wont have my belief in the lameness of bottled water take a break just because we have a water cooler at the office.

Oh, and I picked this one up at a local shop, Home Rule, for under $10.  I love this shop.  They carry all sorts of fun and brightly colored kitchen, bath, and bar supplies.  Sure, you can’t outfit your whole kitchen here, but you can get some awesome, awesome gadgets and conversation pieces.

Note: I’m in no way affiliated with Bobble Water, just someone interested in cutting down my plastic use and carrying nicely designed things.