The Bottled Water Fallacy
Bottled Water: Pure Drink or Pure Hype?
We want to provide clean and healthy water to our families, and in fact experts advise us to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day as part of a healthy diet. However, grabbing a bottle of water with every meal does more harm than good in terms of energy efficiency. The manufacturing, filling, and transportation of bottled water contribute megatons of CO2 to our atmosphere annually. So why are we buying it?
Typically, consumers buy bottled water for two reasons: because it tastes better and because it is considered safer than tap water. However, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):
- Because it tastes better.
- Because it is safer than tap water.
"Sales of bottled water in this country have exploded in recent years, largely as a result of a public perception of purity driven by advertisements and packaging labels featuring pristine glaciers and crystal-clear mountain springs. But bottled water sold in the United States is not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water, according to a four-year scientific study recently made public by NRDC."
Therefore, our two main reasons for purchasing bottled water are found mute. Fortunately, there are alternatives that provide safe, good-tasting, and eco-friendly water to us and our families. We have three recommendations:
- Purchase a portable sports bottle with a replaceable filter (Brita’s Fill and Go Bottle)
- Purchase a filtering water container (such as Brita) that you can store in your fridge for those who like their water cold
- Install a faucet filter and get filtered water right out the tap.