I'm sure you've all heard some of the various reasons there are not to drink bottled water, but I've found recently that seeing the facts all in one place really made me think about what I was doing to my body, my wallet, and the environment.
The most disturbing thing about bottled water might be the plastic containers it comes it. BPA is a harmful chemical found in some types of plastic that is known to be an endocrine disruptor. This chemical leeches into food and water over time, especially when heated (anyone ever leave a bottle of water in a hot car?).
Furthermore, bottled water is regulated by the FDA, while tap water is regulated by the EPA. The EPA has much stricter standards about which harmful chemicals are allowed in water. Your tap water is tested several times a day for harmful microbial, but bottled water factories are only tested once a week. And although it may put your mind at ease, your wallet might not like the fact that 25% of bottled water is just tap water anyway. The same tap water you have free and easy access to in your home!
Not only is buying bottled water a waste of money, it is very harmful to the environment. Billions of barrels of oil are used to produce bottled water every year and thousands of tons of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere due to the transportation of these bottles. These plastic bottles take centuries to decompose, and billions of them are sent to landfills every year.
Admittedly, bottled water is convenient and for some of us it is an easy way to make sure we drink enough (I cannot overstate how important it is to stay hydrated!) but with a little effort on our part we can feel good about ourselves while taking better care of our bodies and our families.
-Try buying aluminum or glass water bottles. These are reusable and safe.
-Drink tap water! Depending on which brand you buy, it might be the same stuff you're drinking anyway.
-If the idea of drinking tap water isn't something you can get over, buy a water filter for your tap or a water filer pitcher. They even make BPA free water bottles with built in filters.
The most disturbing thing about bottled water might be the plastic containers it comes it. BPA is a harmful chemical found in some types of plastic that is known to be an endocrine disruptor. This chemical leeches into food and water over time, especially when heated (anyone ever leave a bottle of water in a hot car?).
Furthermore, bottled water is regulated by the FDA, while tap water is regulated by the EPA. The EPA has much stricter standards about which harmful chemicals are allowed in water. Your tap water is tested several times a day for harmful microbial, but bottled water factories are only tested once a week. And although it may put your mind at ease, your wallet might not like the fact that 25% of bottled water is just tap water anyway. The same tap water you have free and easy access to in your home!
Not only is buying bottled water a waste of money, it is very harmful to the environment. Billions of barrels of oil are used to produce bottled water every year and thousands of tons of CO2 are emitted into the atmosphere due to the transportation of these bottles. These plastic bottles take centuries to decompose, and billions of them are sent to landfills every year.
Admittedly, bottled water is convenient and for some of us it is an easy way to make sure we drink enough (I cannot overstate how important it is to stay hydrated!) but with a little effort on our part we can feel good about ourselves while taking better care of our bodies and our families.
-Try buying aluminum or glass water bottles. These are reusable and safe.
-Drink tap water! Depending on which brand you buy, it might be the same stuff you're drinking anyway.
-If the idea of drinking tap water isn't something you can get over, buy a water filter for your tap or a water filer pitcher. They even make BPA free water bottles with built in filters.