Bottled water - is it really better than tap water?

There is a real controversy going on about bottled water today. Is it really better than tap water? “The Story of Bottled Water” was released on YouTube in honor of World Water Day. This is an innovative narration on the problem with the bottled water we like to buy today. Almost immediately the “International Bottled Water Association” stated this video as sensational. Then it brought out its short film stating the practices of sustainability, which their members participate with including brands such as Nestle.

The bottled-water story though stated that the companies that bring out bottled water are frightening consumers into believing their tap water is contaminated and dirty, when at the same time they use tap water in their bottling process. Two of the companies that do this that were mentioned in the video were Coke’s Dasani and Pepsi’s Aquafina. Annie Leonard is doing the narration for this video.

The video points out landfills get about 80 percent of the used plastic bottles or they get burned up. Of course the “International Bottled Water Association” states that things are different that 30.9 percent of the water bottles are actually recycled.

Tom Lauria, the VP of communications for the association, states “Consumers are really quite thoughtful in selecting and enjoying a safe, healthy, convenient, calorie-free beverage that’s delicious, refreshing and a very smart drink choice. That’s the real story of bottled water.”

It is pointed out by the association that the world has a need for bottled water in cases of emergencies such as tsunamis, earthquakes and floods. This water cannot be provided if there is not industry to make it.

But according to the United Nations, bottled water happens not to be a sustainable industry. In the United States alone the water produced takes oil to produce at the rate of 17 million barrels each year. At last resort IBWA’s video had only received 250 hits, while “The Story of Bottled Water” received 120,000 hits.

Today, we do need to be more careful about how many of the plastic bottles windup in landfills. If you must use bottled water reuse the bottles instead of trashing them. Even if you make a vase with them a stick a single flower in them. You alone can decide which side of the bottled water story you want to believe.

More and more people are turning to re-useable bottles and filling them with just plain tap water though in place of buying water. This way no plastic bottles have to be purchase at all to wind up in landfills later. If you are afraid your water is not totally safe to drink from the tap there are filters you can get to run your water through before you drink it.

So think about both sides of this story and see where you opinions lie. Conserve water and energy though to help lessen your carbon footprint. If you need to eliminate some of the bottled water you buy to accomplish this along with re-using or recycling any of the plastic bottles you do use.

The savings you have in water consumption are well worth the price of a collection tank

Rainwater is precious simply because it is water. You can use it for a variety of purposes from watering the plants to washing the clothes and even taking a bath. It is clean, clear and free. Still, not so many homes have rainwater tanks because of the misconception that these containers are ugly additions to the house. This is not true nowadays because of the availability of rainwater tanks in various shapes, sizes, colors and materials to suit every style preference and water need.

Plastic Tanks
We have been around plastic products for so long that there is bound to be one in every category. This is true of rainwater tanks made out of food grade plastic, which is also called polyethylene. The advantages of plastic tanks are that it is relatively light, durable and affordable. You only need to place it on a sand base to start usage, which can last anywhere from 15 to 25 years. You can purchase them at bargain basement prices especially from online sites.

Unfortunately, plastic tanks are made from petrochemicals. As any eco-friendly consumer knows, petrochemicals are not exactly the friendliest of materials to work with where Mother Nature is concerned. But if you can have it recycled, your conscience can be assuaged.

You may also have issues with the taste of the water especially under the hot sun, which many have described as, well, plastic-y. We suggest not drinking the water in this case just to be on the safe side.

Steel Tanks
Galvanized tanks have been with our society for at least 150 years. You will discover that these are often the most affordable water tank although durability may be a minus factor. Most of steel tanks will last for a maximum of 5 years before rust sets in.

The 5-year life expectancy does not apply to all galvanized tanks. You will find top-of-the-line steel tanks that will last for 10-15 years like Zincalume. Colorbond claims a 20-year life soan but it can be substantially shortened by deep paint scratches leading to faster corrosion.

Concrete Tanks
You can install concrete water tanks either above or below the ground, either of which has its merits. For example, if you install the tank below the ground, you can save space but if you can install it above the ground, you will be able to save time on cleaning the tank.

No matter the location of the water tank, you must place a polyethylene liner all around the interior of the concrete material. This way, lime will not leach and you will not end up with alkaline water. Plus, you may have problems with corrosion of the steel framework without the liner.

Fiberglass Tanks
Fiberglass is very durable materials for rainwater tanks in addition to being unaffected by chemicals. You may also install them above or below the ground. However, fiberglass tanks are more prone to algae growth and tend to crack easily. These issues are usually solved by painting the tank and making regular inspections, respectively.

Ultimately, your choice in the materials for the rainwater tank will depend on your budget as well as your sense of environmentalism. No matter which tank you choose, however, it cannot be denied that the savings you have in water consumption are well worth the price of the tank.

Many people don’t trust the water that comes out of their taps, so they decide it will be safer if they only drink bottled water instead. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that bottled water is not that great for the environment, and may not be healthy for you either. Sure, plastic can be recycled, but within that plastic is a little chemical called bisphenol A (BPA), that leaches out if the bottle becomes hot (as, for example, if you’re going out biking in 90 degree weather for a significant length of time).

And, the ironic thing of course is that the water in most of these bottles doesn’t come from fresh mountain streams, but from the same water supply you’re drinking from. (Of course, it probably isn’t being siphoned through decades-old pipes and picking up contaminants that way, which is what bottled water drinkers are worried about when it comes to their tap water.)

The solution is to simply install a purifier on your tap, or your refrigerator, should it have that function. And, fridges that have receptacles for getting cold water and ice without having to open the fridge door are incredible energy savers!

But my question is this. Do you know, personally, from where your tap water comes? Where is your local reservoir, and how old are the pipes that serve it? Where is the aquifer (underground water) from which that reservoir water comes.

As the population of the United States increases, both by birth here and immigration from abroad, more and more of our water supplier is being used up, faster than it is replenished by natural forces, such as rainy days.

What is the definition of an aquifer? Louisiana’s Office of Conservation page has a thorough definition:

“An aquifer is a geologic formation that can store and transmit water to wells, springs and some streams. An aquifer is more like a sponge than an underground river: geologic materials have connected pores that allow water to move from one space to another, but unless the rock is fractured, water does not move through large, hollow tunnels at rapid rates.”

But let’s say you have a well, so you don’t even have to worry about city water at all?

Well, here’s what the definition of an aquifer has to say about wells:

“Wells can be drilled into aquifers and water can be pumped out. Precipitation adds water (this is recharge) into the porous rock of the aquifer. The rate of recharge is not the same for all aquifers, though, and that must be considered when pumping water from a well. Pumping too much water too fast draws down the water in the aquifer and might eventually cause a well to yield less water or run dry. Pumping your well too fast or too often might also cause your neighbor’s well to run dry if you both are pumping from the same aquifer. Aquifers can be quite extensive, possibly stretching for tens of miles, feeding hundreds of ground water wells and streams. This is why usage of your well can influence other people miles away.”

Bottom line, keep up-to-date on how water is managed in your locality.