Plastic water bottles seem to be everywhere. Convenience stores, vending machines, most likely in your fridge. It's completely normal to drop a few dollars for a Dasani on the way to work, or buy a ten pack for a long road trip. Recently, however, more and more people are swearing off bottled water, and I'm one of those people. Here's why:
If you really think about it, it seems a bit ridiculous that we buy plastic water bottles when the same stuff flows from the tap in our own homes. Bottled water can be up to 2,000 times more expensive than tap water, and one bottle won't even last you a day! Many claim that bottled water is more sanitary than city water, however tests have shown that even the priciest bottled water can be of lower quality than tap. There is no actual reason to assume that bottled water is safer or better for you in any way. It's even been discovered that in blind taste tests, people prefer tap water to any other kind.
So, if the water out of your sink is more affordable and tastes better, why is it still so common to drink from plastic water bottles? Some might say convenience. Being able to grab a water and go makes life so much easier, right? However, in the grand scheme of things, those two extra seconds it takes to fill up a reusable bottle are nothing compared to the impact a plastic bottle can have on the environment.
Last year, Americans alone used 50 billion plastic water bottles. Imagine what a stack of 50 billion bottles would look like! Multiply that by the number of years bottled water has been around, and the result is overwhelming. Although plastic can be recycled, only about one third of Americans recycle their water bottles, which leaves the rest to sit in landfills or pollute Earth's land and water. This just isn't sustainable.
So what is the answer? Reusable water bottles! There are plenty of different kinds out there; stainless steel, glass and BPA-free plastic, and some brands are guaranteed to last decades. If you're still concerned about the cleanliness of your water, a filter pitcher is a great option to keep in the fridge.
If you're looking for an easy way to make an impact, this is something you can do for the Earth and your wallet. Ditch the trend of plastic water bottles and go reusable!
