Turn On That Faucet!

My husband likes the convenience of bottled water. He runs every day and started taking a bottle with him. Anything that gets him to drink water is AOK with me. But, think about this - If the water we use at home cost what bottled water costs, our monthly water bills would be a whopping $9,000. And, according to the latest studies "It's no better for us than tap water". In fact, the brands, Dasani and Aquafina take municipal tap water, run it through a filter, place it in a bottle and sell it!

According to Fast Company, "thirty years ago bottled water barely existed as a business in the US. Last year Americans spent 15 billion and it's expected to be 16 billion this year. Americans spend 2, 3, 4 times the cost of gasoline on a product they've always gotten and can still get for virtually free, from taps in their homes."

Is the convenience worth it? It isn't healthier than tap water. In fact, Nick Reeves, Executive Director of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management in Great Britain stated that "the perception that the bottled product is purer than tap water is unfounded. For example, the high mineral content of some bottled waters, makes them unsuitable for feeding babies and young children."

In addition according to Wikapedia, "the FDA does not define guidelines for which regulations may be considered applicable for bottled water. Also, bottled water suppliers are not required to provide details of the water source on their labels and are permitted to sell contaminated water if their labeling notes the water contains "excessive bacteria." Unbelievable!

In the US, tap water is regulated by the stringent United States Environmental Protection Agency. However, bottled water is regulated under a similar, but, significantly less strict set of regulations, from the United States Food and Drug Administration.

So, let's turn on that faucet and drink up everyone! Tap water is cheaper, safer, and another plus is that it doesn't add plastic debris to our environment. Lyn

"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook," William James (1842 - 1910)