Hyderabad: In a warm city for most of the year, carrying a water bottle is no longer just a necessity, but a way of life. From school corridors to office compartments, this humble bottle is adopting a new personality.
“You can tell a lot of people through Aquarius these days,” quipped Shravanthi Rao, a teacher at a private school in Himayatnagar. “Kids walk in with bottles that light up, sing or feature their favorite comics. Parents believe this is how they remember to drink water.”
Among young elementary school students, there are variegated bottles and characters like chhota bheem or barbie dolls, often matching their lunch boxes. “We have to go through three bottles a year,” said Kukatpally’s parent, Supriya Narayan. “They want new colors, new comics. But I made sure it doesn’t contain BPA,” she said.
For professionals, functions outweigh talent. “I used a 1.8-liter bottle with water level and time slots,” said Akshay Verma, who works at Gachibowli. “It tells me when I’m behind hydration. It may not look pretty, but it puts me in charge.”
Fitness enthusiasts benefit the durability and thermal insulation of stainless steel and copper bottles. “It keeps my water-cooling for several hours without leaching chemicals,” said personal trainer Maya Parasa. Some prefer bottles with removable fruit infusion chambers – lemon, cucumber, mint and tarsia are common options.
There is also a significant change in environmental awareness. Reusable glass and metal bottles are becoming more and more popular. “I was holding a glass bottle wrapped around jute sleeves,” said fashion consultant R. Shilpa. She told Deccan Chronicle: “It was clean, sustainable and honest, it looked great and started having a conversation about sustainability.”
Local suppliers of Begum Bazaar and General Stores in Dilsukhnagar say water bottle sales soar every summer, but bottle types have become more niche. “College students will choose stylish colors, while seniors will ask for leaky, easy-to-grip colors,” said Feroze, owner of Koti. “Now, we also store the built-in storage box for tablets or keys.”
Interestingly, affordability still plays a major role. “Delivery workers and car drivers usually pick up basic plastic bottles at 70,” said Ramesh, who manages roadside stalls near Secunderabad station. “They are easily replaced if lost or broken.”
Then, there are ubiquitous pet bottles that are constantly reused. and the semi-utilization water bottle that customers pay at the hotel and take it away.
Whether it’s health, heat or habitual reasons, Hyderabadis proves one thing: Aquarius is no longer just a boat. They are companions, reminders, and sometimes quiet statements about who you are.
