USA Water Filter Blog

Will Rogers had it right when he quipped, “Advertising is the art of convincing people to spend money they don’t have for something they don’t need.”

Such is the case with bottled water.

True, it has become harder to find public water fountains today, even in schools, theaters, and parks. Where they do exist, they are often not properly maintained. However, in our homes we have good tap water available and it often tests to a higher standard than some bottled waters according to Peter Glick’s research.

I appreciated reading Peter Gleick’s book, “Bottled & Sold.” He clearly sounded an alarm: that bottled water sometimes exacts heavy dues to our natural ecosystems and wetlands, especially. The recyclable water bottles often end up on the roadside or in a trash can. Those of us who routinely participate in road cleanups can attest to that.

NAPCOR (National PET Container Resources) reported in 2007 that under 25 percent of bottled water containers were actually recycled. In the East, we still have that 75 percent of water bottles thrown away, adding to our landfills at a time when we could be using the money we spend on bottled water to pay for healthier food choices.

There’ll always be a need to have some bottled water but we’ve gone overboard. Practically every gathering, either personal or professional, now has cases of bottled water instead of pitchers of tap water.

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101101/GJCOMMUNITY02/711019889/-1/CITNEWS

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The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday to ban the purchase of bottled water with county funds.

County Commissioner Barbara Willer, who sponsored the resolution, called it both a cost-saving and environmental protection measure.

“We are saying ‘no’ to the expense, waste and pollution that come with bottled water, and embracing tap water, a sustainable choice,” Willer said.

The resolution prohibits the use of county-purchased bottled water at county events and facilities. There are exceptions for situations where safe drinking water is not available.

County commissioners said they were trying to encourage the use of tap water instead, noting that most of the drinking water in the county comes from the pristine Bull Run watershed in Mount Hood National Forest. Bull Run tap water costs about one penny for three gallons, miniscule compared to the cost of bottled water, which often costs more than milk or gasoline, gallon for gallon.

Many plastic water bottles contain chemicals like biphenyl A – or BPA – and phthalates, which can leach into water and cause health problems. Canada just designated BPA as a toxic substance. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has called for further study of BPA, along with efforts to reduce its presence in the food supply.

Producing and transporting bottled water also consumes far more energy than producing tap water.

http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=128711643613207600

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Why Ban the Bottle?

The ban was part of an effort led by Commissioner Barbara Willer to reduce the county’s spending and their environmental impact.

By now, it’s pretty clear that bottled water is not so hot for the environment. Between the shipping, the plastic bottle, and the means that many large companies use to get that water, it’s bad for the planet and the people.

Not only is bottled water a waste of resources, it’s a waste of money. As Commissioner Willer points out, “Buying bottled water is more expensive than buying gas.” The county stands to save between $20,000 and $30,000 each year.

There are two key things that I think will make this ban effective. First, they’re not looking to ban bottled water sales in the county. While I’m not crazy about bottled water, restricting commerce in this way would only have further polarized folks, and we need to do less of that and more educating.

Second, they’re recommitting themselves to making sure Multnomah’s water is safe and to educating consumers about tap water. As Oregon Live points out:

http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2010/10/19/bottled-water-ban-multnomah-county-oregon/

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Water. I have nothing against it. There are seas and lakes of it. It flows in rivers, brooks and streams. Sometimes it falls from the sky – great news for plants but not if you’ve just put the washing out.

Without it, we wouldn’t have lovely cups of tea, or chicken soup, showers, baths or – if you are Japanese – a shower and then a bath. And when you’re thirsty, there is nothing more refreshing than a glass of it.

But drinking a glass every now and then is rather different from having to drink two litres a day, which is what we should all be drinking, if you believe them: the Water Fascists.

Water Fascists. I have everything against them.

They are everywhere, preaching about the need for two litres a day and its umpteen health benefits. It’s the best thing for your skin. It’s the bestthing for your liver. It’s the best thing for your kidneys. Water is “the forgotten nutrient”. Without it, your legs will drop off and your pelvis will explode at a time that might not necessarily be the most convenient for you (while you’re in Sainsbury’s, for example).

I approached a department store’s cosmetics counter the other day to buy an exorbitantly priced skin cream. It probably wouldn’t live up to a single one of its promises but, what the heck, I was going to buy it anyway.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-water-myth-debunking-the-dilution-solution-2121712.html

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