Breaking the Bottled Water Habit
-Photo from andersonwater.com
If there is one behavior you change, let it be breaking the bottled water habit. Please.
If there is one behavior you change, let it be breaking the bottled water habit. Please.
According to Earth Policy Institute, bottled water “can cost up to 10,000 times more than tap water. At as much as $2.50 per liter ($10 per gallon), bottled water costs more than gasoline.” How is that beneficial to the planet? Here’s some more un-sustainable statistics about bottled water from Food and Water Watch:
Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year.
That plastic requires up to 47 million gallons of oil per year to produce.
Over 80 percent of plastic bottles are simply thrown away (not recycled.)
The other major bummer of Big Bottled Water business is it diverts public attention away from our local water systems which rely on communities to support funding measures for their maintenance and upgrades. Bottled water companies will surely be happy to step in to fill in the gap of neglected public water systems but at a cost to communities.
Now, ready for the great part of the bottled water problem? It doesn’t have to be. It might seem like a very small step but imagine if 30 to 40% of American households adopted the No Bottled Water Pledge? That’s a large impact by choosing this one sustainable habit that is super easy and inexpensive to start. Here’s how you can become part of the solution:
Tap water in most municipalities is very good. If you have questions or concerns about the tap water in your particular locale, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has this useful map which posts annual consumer confidence and drinking water quality reports from your municipal water supplier. Basically, it tells where your water comes from and what’s in it.
If you don’t like the flavor of your tap water, buy a filter for the tap. These are not only inexpensive, but they eliminate up to 98% of “impurities” such as sediment and chlorine, that might be affecting the water’s taste. You can also opt for a pitcher with a filter instead that you keep in the refrigerator for icy-cold drinking water.
Fill reusable bottles and make a habit to take them with you – from Klean Kanteen to Nalgene to Sigg, there are many sizes, styles, and price points to fit your lifestyle. The color is up to you but I do recommend choosing a BPA-free model.
I promise, you won’t miss bottled water at all once you’ve tried how delicious and convenient tap water can be. Another bonus, your weekly grocery bill should shrink a little as well!
