Over the past 20 years, Americans have adopted Bottled water as the preferred drink at home over Sodas and Juices. The growing usage has been driven by those who are skeptical about the safety and quality of tap water. For some, they simply don’t like the taste of faucet water and for other’s is the healthier alternative. Whatever the reason, more people are choosing to drink bottled water, which unfortunately does not always equate to better.
The Dangers of Bottled Water
# 1: Plastic bottles release chemicals
You’ve probably noticed that plastic water bottles soften after being left in a car on a hot day. If there is enough heat, plastic can completely melt.
According to the NPR, when heated, chemicals in plastic products can leech into the container’s contents and contaminate it. The biggest culprit is BPA, an industrial chemical found in plastics that is carcinogenic and can inflame tumors, impact a baby’s brain development and more.
It’s even been cited that plastics labeled BPA-free often test positive for other dangerous compounds too. If you’ve ever noticed your water tasting like plastic, you now know why.
# 2: Bottle production is harming the Environment
For the first time in 2019, a study administered by the prestigious magazine Science, found more than 8 million tons of plastic bottles end up in the sea each year and it is estimated that in the year 2050 there will be more plastic than fishes in the sea.
According to the Pacific Institute, every year bottled water production uses more than 17 million barrels of oil to produce and distribute plastic bottles.
As our habits drive us to consumer more water, we are negatively impacting our world.
# 3: Landfills are full of water bottles
Not only is the production of Bottled water negatively impacting our planet, but so is our process of disposal.
The Water Project estimates that more than 2 million tons of PET plastic water bottles are dumped into landfills in the US. For reference, PET is a nickname for the plastic used in thin, transparent plastic bottles that most of us are familiar with.
Fortunately, PET bottles can be recycled, but only one in five bottles ends up recycled. The rest takes up space and pollutes our precious planet taking up to 450 years for a plastic bottle to decompose
Studies have also demonstrated that toxins from decomposing bottles leach into our environment and can cause health problems from reproductive issues to cancer. About 80 percent of all plastic water bottles end up in landfills leaking harmful chemicals into our environment.
# 4: Bottled water is expensive
Tap water isn’t technically free, but it’s pretty close, especially when compared to expensive bottles. Look at it like this. You have to spend money on your water bill every month, no matter what. When you drink tap water, it costs you a small fraction of your water bill. Bottled water costs a lot more. Food & Water Watch explains that bottled water can cost anywhere from 89 cents to $ 8.26 a gallon. A gallon of tap water now costs less than a penny. This means that bottled water is thousands of times more expensive than tap water.
# 5: bottled water may not be as safe as Tap water
The Bottled water industry is an unregulated industry meaning there are no standards to follow when filling Bottled water. The lack of a controlling body over seeing how water is bottled can make it less safe and more likely to contain harmful materials than tap water. Certain studies have even concluded the some bottlers are using tap water when their label says Spring Water.
So in reality, you may never know if bottled water is better than tap.
What can we do?
Due to the plastic particles light density, there are concerns that the plastics will not be removed when processed by a Water Treatment facility. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to use a Reverse Osmosis Filtration in your home.
Aqua Chill New Jersey filters are scientifically proven to remove plastic particles as small as 0.0001 microns from drinking water. Reverse Osmosis also removes many other contaminants like Lead, Chlorine and Bacteria giving you complete peace of mind about the quality of water your family is drinking.
Additionally, you can support the environment and reduce plastic waste by using reusable stainless steel or glass water bottles filled with Reverse Osmosis water. Ultimately, every little action helps reduce plastic pollution. Don’t take any risks to your family’s health and use an Aqua Chill New Jersey water filter to ensure the best quality clean drinking water straight from your tap.
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