Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Ban Bottled Water
Today the Los Angeles Times wrote that it is "So cool to hate bottled water". While I appreciate the sentiment, the article advocated purchasing a Brita water filter and was also pushing particular reusable water bottles. I would like to point out that tap water is tested frequently and in the vast majority of cases is perfectly safe to drink without filtering. Buying devices such as a filter which one does not actually need contributes to the problem of overconsumption. I was particularly frustrated by the idea that Americans will never "give up the convenience of the throwaway bottle". So walking up to one's sink, turning on the faucet, and filling up a reusable bottle is too inconvenient for most Americans? If this is true, then I am ashamed at the extent of the laziness, not to mention selfishness and apathy. Even though the single use water bottle is so damaging to the environment, many Americans are unwilling to make even the simplest of changes. In light of recent revelations that both the source of both Dasani and Aquafina bottled water is tap water, it makes good sense to ban the production and sale of bottled water.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
As much as I’d like to say I am willing to take any steps necessary to aid the movement in bettering our earth, I am not. Unfortunately, I am too dependent to the plastic bottle. I have accustomed myself to drinking 3-4 of Aquafina’s 1.5 Liter bottled water. The bottled water helps me measure my intake. Without the bottle I won’t even drink the recommended 8 glasses a day. Yes, maybe I am being a little selfish but I believe that in order to help anyone/thing I must first be healthy myself. Besides, I reuse the 4 bottles for a whole week . . . which I don’t believe is too sanitary, but it saves 20-24 bottles a week… but I feel I must also add that the water I refill them with is also delivered- in plastic __:o/__
However, I have given up plastic bags at the grocery store and anywhere possible. Yet, you would be amazed to see how many retailers don’t offer anything other than plastic bags. Most “lower end” retailers find it too expensive to produce a few paper bags for those who are willing to help make a difference. I believe that most people would actually prefer paper over plastic. I don’t see what plastic bags can do that paper bags cannot. This is another example of the greed the majority of American companies’ hold; they want your money and that’s all they care about. However, I must single out the larger department stores such as Bloomingdales, Neiman and Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, (unlike Macys, Sears, and Mervyn’s) for the most part, with the usual exception being their cafes, only offer paper bags. (Nordstrom may be added to the first list but keep in mind they have outlet stores which offer no paper whatsoever!)
Aquafina may be derived from ordinary tap water but there’s no doubt that most bottled water have a cleaner taste to them. From a bottled water lover, differences are even noticeable in the different brands. My personal favorites are Voss and Fiji, however given that I get my water while at school; I usually have no choice but to settle for lower quality water. I also read in a magazine, which I believe was Redbook that if you are to purchase bottled water it is best to find those brands with fluoride; which would add and strengthen the point made that tap water is many times better than bottled water.
The campaign "Think Outside the Bottle" has done thousands of blind taste tests, and found that it is a myth that people can distinguish between tap and bottled water. It would be interesting to try that on ourselves, and to see if we can tell the difference. I believe in drinking lots of water to stay healthy, like Stacy. However, I use a resuable sports bottle and fill it up with tap water. That works for me!
Regarding the bag issue, not only have I kicked my plastic bag issue but also paper bags. I bring reusable bags with me when I go grocery shopping. For disposing my trash at home,I no longer use paper bags but instead I place the trash in a plastic waste bin and dump the contents of the container into our large trash can. If the waste basket becomes dirty, I rinse it out with a little water. It is very easy once one is open to changing one's habits.
Post a Comment