I travelled with a Water-To-Go bottle back in 2016 when I went on a solo travelling trip to Nepal. I knew the water situation was going to be tough up in the Himalayas and the tour provider had advised us to get some purifier tablets. I wasn't all that environmentally conscious back in 2016, but for some reason that I can't remember, I chose to go with a Water-To-Go bottle. With a built-in filter that removes 99.9% of all microbiological contaminants, I remember watching videos of travellers filling up bottles in streams and the water coming out crystal clear.
I decided to give it a go. I was able to fill my bottle up in the mountains without the taste of chlorine like all other travellers who had used purifying tablets.
I would be lying if I said there wasn't a small doubt in me that was worried I would get sick- but I didn't, my water 2 go bottle worked! Unfortunately on the last day of my trip in Nepal I left my bottle in the cafe in Kathmandu just before heading to the airport. (Admittedly a pretty stupid thing to do!)
I travelled then for the next few years with an ordinary water bottle- I lived in New Zealand and Australia for the most part and tap water is perfectly safe. I started to become a person who cared about the planet, protecting life on Earth as we know it and being more conscious with my choices*. When I worked on a project in Indonesia and travelled through Southeast Asia I downloaded the Refill app and I don't remember ever having to purchase water from a grocery store. Most of the water refill stations were in dive centres in Bali and it was relatively easy to find one of these along the coast. In Ubud I remember visiting a shop that had one.
*We were also travelling on a very tight budget.
It's safe to say my water bottle has seen parts of the world that many people have not!
I returned home from this big travelling adventure in 2020 a changed person. I of course didn't leave the UK for quite some time because of Covid. The trips I did were a little more “normal” than my backpacking adventure and so drinking water was always readily available.
Then along came The Gambian Project- and my trip was getting close. This time this trip had a purpose, I needed to make a difference. I didn't want to be another privileged tourist who contributes to climate injustice. I was going over to work with children on climate issues, gather information and report back on how climate change is affecting Gambia. At the very least, I could take a reusable water bottle. The project I was travelling alongside had a responsibility to keep their guests safe and so they provided plastic bottled water. I just couldn't do this. I remembered my trusty Water-To-Go bottle from my Nepalese adventure and vowed I wouldn't use a single plastic water bottle while I was there. I also didn't want my trip to be a waste because I got sick so I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little anxious even though I had done this all before. The organisers of this collaborative project that have spent years working in Gambia were really adamant on the plastic water bottles but I wanted to take the risk. I thought if i can do this with this filtration bottle maybe I can prove to visitors and organisations working in The Gambia to think about this small change we can make to lower our impact and not contribute to Gambias already growing waste problem.
Anyway- I survived (again!) whilst all of the guests in my hotel were buying and using bottled water, I would fill mine up from the tap.
I did it, I saved an estimated 30 plastic bottles from being dumped in Gambia and now how many more can I save on future trips there.
My bottle has travelled to festivals with me this summer, and I wouldn't go back. Clean, filtered and fresh water with no weird taste. It’s a game changer!
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