Water Filter Vs. Bottled Water
Many people wonder if there really is a difference between bottled water and filtered water. Both bottled water companies and water filtration companies claim to provide the healthiest water.
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Plastic Waste
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It is estimated that every day in the United States some 60 million plastic water bottles are disposed of. On the other hand, water from a filtered tap is often drunk from a reusable glass or water canteen.
Wasted Fuel
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According to the Earth Policy Institute, the United States uses roughly 1.5 million barrels of oil each year in the production of plastic water bottles. This amount of oil is enough to run 100,000 cars for an entire year.
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Carbon Emissions
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Bottled water from the popular water company, FIJI, would have traveled nearly 8,000 miles to reach customers in New York.
Misconceptions
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It is perfectly legal for bottled water companies to use treated tap water, even if it is sold under a name which implies the water comes from a natural source.
Safety Concerns
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According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, tap water must undergo stringent FDA mandated testing for chemicals and bacteria. Adding a filter only further purifies this water. The FDA exempts bottled water companies from many of these tests.
Cost
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When the ecological and environmental costs are considered along with the material costs of buying bottled water (often between $1 and $4 per gallon), filtered water is the clear winner. One water filter (often less than $30) will filter hundreds of gallons of tap water.
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