Bottled Water Is Not The Answer

Most people who drink bottled water do so mainly for convenience, but there are those who believe that bottled water is healthy.  What they may not know is that the bottled water industry is NOT regulated by the federal government because it is classified as a “food” and falls under the standards of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

So while tap water from our faucet is regulated by the stricter Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the FDA’s water regulations are not as strict – and they regulate the bottled water industry.  So while you could have bottled water that is unacceptable by the EPA, it could be just fine for the FDA and your local water bottling company.

Amazingly, bottled water is not tested for Cryptosporidium (a parasite) even though a 1999 study by the NRDC stated that 1 out of 5 (20%) bottled water tests contained higher than acceptable bacterial counts.

But, even with the FDA’s low standards, most corporations don’t comply with the FDA’s regulations concerning bottled water.  In fact, 60 – 70% of these corporations avoid any federal regulation at all, simply by bottling and distributing their water within the same state.  As long as they don’t cross state lines, they are exempt from all federal regulations.

As a child, when we heard that in the future water would be sold in little containers and cost more than gasoline, we thought that was beyond ridiculous!   Yet, here we are, 40 years later, paying over a dollar for 16 ounces of water in a plastic bottle (There are eight 16 ounce servings in one gallon x $1 each  = $8 per gallon).

And that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the true cost of bottled water.  If you’re an environmentally conscious person, then you may already be aware that Americans are throwing out 2.5 million bottles per hour!  Please read that again – 2.5 million bottles per HOUR!

So, it is doubtful that we have reduced the size of the Pacific Garbage Patch which was twice the size of Texas when it was first discovered over 10 years ago.

Keep in mind that the Pacific Garbage Patch is only ONE of EIGHT of these floating landfills found around the world.  In 1975, a study showed that we were throwing 8 million pounds of plastic into our oceans annually.  Again, it is doubtful that this has been reduced in the last 35 years.

So, where does it all end?  How can we stop this madness?  Well, you can eliminate the use and disposal of plastic water bottles from YOUR own home entirely and provide your family with the healthy, purified water they deserve with a home water filtration system.

NOTE: Try out a glass water bottle, like the free one you will get when you order your water filter system from Aquasana.

Water bottles have a number stamped on the bottom of them inside a triangle.  Most water bottles come with the #1, which means it’s made from polyethylene terephthalate.  Phthalates  are plasticizers can leach out of the plastic and into your water.

These compounds are called “xenoestrogens” and they mimic estrogen causing the body to become more dominant in estrogen. Estrogen dominance can cause conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and infertility.

Phthalates are cancer-causing after long term use, most specifically with reproductive organs.    Usually, the harder the plastic, the higher the number on the bottom and the safer the plastic. The plastic used for bottled water is the least safest of all plastic containers.

So, how would you like your water served today?