Empty Bottles

Empty Bottles

If you drink bottled water, you're a loser: Bottled water facts

Got your attention now? Very good, because the naked bottled water facts should make you feel a bit foolish if you often buy bottled water.

I know I'm being a bit harsh but if you purchase bottled water and do a comparison of bottled water vs. tap water vs. filtered water you're likely to feel like the fool who was sold the foot-long hot dog with 8 inches missing in the center

So, just ask yourself this question. Why are you buying bottled water?

Here are your likely answers:

1) It's safer and better for you than faucet water

When comparing bottled water vs. tap water, well, that's just one of the fairy tales taken as a fact about bottled water.

Here's what the Food and Drug Administration in the USA declared about the safety of bottled water:

Companies that market bottled water as being safer than kitchen water are defrauding the American public.

In point of fact, there are no governmental standards for bottled water that require it be safer than tap water. Governmental regs for home water are in place and usually assure a degree of quality in the available faucet water.

So, when deciding upon purchasing bottled water vs. tap water, choosing the former may be the better choice.

2) Oh, I drink bottled water that's been filtered

Most bottled water is not purified. In contrast, city tap water is purified and disinfected.

But if you happen to be chugging bottled water that is filtered, good for you. If it's the stuff I sometimes go for, I bet the price is even steeper than the cheaper bottled water.

But there's still a problem. Filtration is not all equal. Very good filters get rid of the live, very life-threatening contaminants, the inert, super toxic metals, extremely tiny pollutants and the sediment that affects taste and quality of the water.

There are cheaper water purifiers that essentially get rid of bigger sedimentary particles that slightly discolor water but really do little else. Most commercially filtered water tends to filter on the cheap.

3) Since it's a food product, there are governmental standards that guarantee its quality

Nah, not really. In fact, a strategy employed by bottled water companies is to sell its water inside the state that it's bottled in so that federal laws do not apply.

In fact, between 2/3 to 3/4 of the bottled water sold is in the state it's bottled in. Chances are you are drinking water with no associated federal regulations to maintain its safety.

4) It's better than the usual drinks available at the store

Well, that's a tricky one. Its better than the really bad stuff. You know the colas, mile-high iced teas and fake fruit drinks that are in plenty of kid's lunch packs.

But, if you went to a health food store, you can probably buy some fresh fruit/veggie juice, or a sprout-based beverage, really healthy water and so on. I will admit, that it might cost an arm and a leg but what's your good health worth to you?

5) It's pretty inexpensive

Compared to what? Some trendy drink, maybe. Not when comparing bottled water vs. tap water that is filtered ($1 - $2 vs. 9 cents) But it's about the same price as the soft drinks that litter store shelves.

To me, this is one of the most confusing aspects of the bottled water market.

We are gleeful that we are being offered what is essentially free tap water for a dollar or so per bottle. Think of it. If you bought a bottle on most days and two bottles or larger ones on days that you need more, you would be spending between $300 - $700 a year on water that is less safe than tap water.

6) It's convenient

Oh, please. I've done the figures on this because, like you, my time is very precious.

It takes me a minute to fill up my water bottle with filtered water from my tap. I can even make a sandwich in just a few minutes. That is much easier and faster than the time needed to sprint to the deli, maybe wait on a noon lunch line, order and/or pay for my water and/or lunch.

7) I have no better alternative to bottled water

Again, if you are likely to chug cola, yes. But you don't have to have the bottled water from the store when you could just bottle your own filtered water in a reusable bottle.

8)Hey, at least it forces me to drink the needed amount of water I should drink every day

Finally, I agree with you, for the most part. Hey, if it's a choice between drinking nothing and suffering from dehydration or downing expensive, land polluting, minimally safe bottled water, maybe you should go ahead and get a container of water.

This should only happen occasionally. For example, if I'm exercising in hot and humid weather and there's no water fountain nearby, I'll just go and get a bottle of water from wherever.

Hey, it's either that or endure the more serious consequences of dehydration in warm weather. That could lead to all types of physical crises that must be avoided at all costs.

And, I'll give you credit because at least you didn't say that it's "Green." That, I'm certain, never crossed your mind. Right?

9) It's green, right?

Ah, no and this is one of the bottled water facts we haven't delved into that you should know about. Drinking bottled water causes an unbelievable amount of pollution.

In fact, as upwards of a a million plastic bottles are disposed of daily, it is one of the major culprits when it comes to pollution.

Imagine, what almost a hundred million empty plastic water bottles looks like, going straight straight for the landfill. You know, generally the fill that is not recycle-ready since many water bottles are disposed of in all-purpose wastebaskets along with non-recyclables.

So, if for no other reason, the pollution that follows from this mega consumption of drinking bottled water should lead us to other alternatives.

Ok, so maybe those of you buying bottled water from the deli aren't really losers but I truly hope this article encourages you to act on the real bottled water facts and stop buying bottled water which has serious drawbacks and few virtues.

Click here for more on the benefits of water and water filter reviews

About the Author

Salvator Giustra is a health researcher & information technologist. Also the creator of Healthy World Online, Inc. which includes Healthy Exercise World
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