$1.50 for a quart of filtered local tap water in a plastic bottle. 50 cents for a quart of gas from Kuwait. The jarring difference in cost of these two vital liquids, one from a local source, the other from the other side of the planet three miles below its surface, has long struck me as a little, uh, odd.

$1.50 a quart for something that is in essence relatively plentiful, free and local? Move over plastic water bottles, with aquaovo‘s new THERM-O I can take my own filtered, or unfiltered, tap water with me.

THERM-O is an Ecothermal water bottle made with double wall glass that will keep the water inside hot or cold. A strainer for tea in the lid assembly provides for flavor (and oft needed caffeine) and an added layer of insulation and protection is provided by an included neoprene carry/ cover made by Built.

Take it with you. THERM-O isn’t the only reusable, inert (chemically non-reactive) water bottle, in the last couple of years we’ve seen the introduction of a number of glass and steel bottles. Some of my favorites include the glass bottles in the shape of plastic ones from Crate and Barrel, their Glass Beverage Bottles have clear silicone stoppers for a 100% “crystal clear” experience. Then there’s the more conventional Sesen glass bottle with a hinged stopper and a clever protective bottle bag made of recycled water bottles. And for something a little more robust, Sigg makes the Black Retro Oval Bottle, a stainless steel flask originally designed for the Swiss Army.