I have had a long-time dislike of bottled water, because it is wasteful, expensive, and is an industry that causes more pollution than needed. Paying for this convenience is terribly expensive, in more ways than the cost of the bottle at $2.00.
Your tap water is monitored, regulated and checked. Bottled water frequently has less regulation, but then a good portion of bottled water comes from the tap, anyway.
Do you know where your bottled water comes from? Do you realize where your plastic bottles end up? Do you know what it costs to make the bottles, fill the bottles, transport the bottles, advertise the product, etc? Watch this video if you have been thinking about any of this.
I am a quilter - a retired widow living in the Nebraska Panhandle. I am surrounded by beautiful semi-arid ranch country, and treeless hills and fields under incredibly wide blue skies, located far from the upheaval found often in large towns or cities. I am blessed to have delicious time to quilt and to appreciate my peaceful moments in an unpeaceful world.
Very effective video. I'm trying to remember my water "bottle" (it's metal; should I call it a water can?), but sometimes I forget. That $2 price tag really galls me. Soda would probably be cheaper, but I don't drink sodas. I have to keep up the rehydration or I'll get leg cramps. Just gotta remember that bottl/can! %-p
ReplyDeleteTerrific video, thanks for sharing it. The allure of bottled water has always eluded me but I've been fortunate enough to have good well water. I think "manufactured demand" is going to get a key spot in my list of blow-my-head-up phrases, along with "It is what it is" and my current favorite, "scripted reality" (?!?).
ReplyDeleteI've always thought bottled water is the biggest waste of money there is. The only thing going for it is that it isn't full of sugar like pop. But that's not saying much, is it?
ReplyDeleteI drink tap water. It tastes better than the bottled water. My bottle of choice is my Camelbak bottle: refillable from the tap.
ReplyDeleteIf you lived where I do you would understand why bottled water is so good. I live in Georgia and I have to tell you it would be risking your health to drink the water from the local water system. Sometimes it is cloudy and has stuff floating in it. But yet the government says it is safe. Well let them drink it and I'll stick to my bottled water. Thank God we still have the freedom of choice in this country. At least for now.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, some people's tap water just tastes better than other people's tap water... But I do try to keep refilling the bottles (or better yet, Nalgene bottles) over and over instead of buying more.
ReplyDeleteI drink tap water at home because we are on a well. I drink bottled water everywhere else because I am allergic to chlorine. I am grateful that I can find it easily when I am away from home.
ReplyDeleteWe use and love the Filtrete Water Station by 3M. It is like a water filter pitcher except the water goes into 4 reuseable (dishwasher safe) 16 oz bottles. Never have to buy bottled water again!
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting this out there! It is something people really should be aware of!
ReplyDeleteHere in Norway we have some of the cleanest tap water in the world, but unfortunately the bottled water industry is still huge! Which is totally unnecessary!
One thing on the plus side though! We have a system of "pawn'ing" bottles, i.e. you pay a certain amount when you take a bottle/can (water, soda, beer, some juice bottles) out of a supermarket/kiosk, and then you get that amount back when you hand in your bottle once it's empty (most places do this so you don't have to remember where you got it). The bottles are then sterilized and re-used, and a stamp at the bottom of the bottle shows how many times it has gone through the system. When we were kids we used to have fun counting the stamps and see who had the most vintage bottle ;o)
Back to tap water - our communal water company have had an ongoing campaign to get people to drink tap water by handing out plastic bottles filled with just that - tap water - and I know many like me who just love their little blue bottle! Mine goes everywere with me, 3 dl bottle is a perfect fit for any size hand bag or rucksack and when it's empty - just fill it from the tap :o)
I have had a Brita pitcher for a LONG TIME! I fill my own drink containers. On retreat I fill all I own and keep them in a cooler...my own home water so no Montezeuma's Revenge. HA!
ReplyDeleteWow! Very very interesting!! I'm passing this on to some of my friends! And I'll think twice about buying water.
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