(Let the hate mail unleash! Haha… )
Seriously though, I can’t get enough of it. And everyone tells me that I’m wasting away money and harming the environment, but if it weren’t for bottled water I honestly wouldn’t drink any water at all! And that’s just a fact – I won’t do it. I WISH I could do it, and I WISH I didn’t have a drinking problem (bah-dum-ching), but if the last 10 years has taught me anything, it’s that I will only hydrate myself if you put bottles of water around me.
(Actually, that’s kinda a lie. I WILL drink water if you add iced tea mix to it or any other combination of awesomely flavored substance, but never in it’s pure form. Unless (yikes, another lie!) I’m playing sports and sweating as if we were in the Sahara. I don’t care what substance you put in front of me then, I will drink anything.)
My personal choice is just not tap. I don’t like it. And I know some of you are betting that if I were to take a taste test I wouldn’t know the difference, but no matter what your outcome would be I still wouldn’t drink it. (Not that I believe I would fail, unless you put it next to Deer Park – bleh. I challenge any of you to a duel with Dasani! That ish is laced with something illegally good! Haha…) Cuz the fact is, I live in perceptions :)
It’s just like that article we had here on every dollar being just as valuable as another — we just don’t act rationally some times. A $5 bill given to me by my grandma is MUCH more highly regarded than a $5 bill I find in the streets. Or $5.00 that gets added to my Mastercard in cash-back rewards. That’s the way it is sometimes whether it makes sense or not. And I’m okay with that. It’s just that the Water Police isn’t! (Are you a part of them? If so, I wanna hear your thoughts! :))
I get the environmental aspect of it all though. More plastic = bad for our Earth. I do feel bad about that part. I know recycling isn’t *as* good as just never buying it in the first place, but I do always place them in their separated blue bins:) Which actually reminds me of another pro about bottled water, incidentally enough. You can throw them away no matter where you are!! The one major point anti-bottlers have, besides it all “tasting the same,” is that you can still put tap into containers and enjoy it just the same as you can in packaged bottles. While that’s technically true, you still have to CARRY it around everywhere with you! And how fun is that? I like my water like I like my beer – Light and tasty, and then easily discarded. You don’t see people going after beer drinkers for throwing their bottles away do you? ;)
And then there’s the financial part. Which is good because I was starting to wonder why I was blogging about it again here, haha… But yes — it’s more expensive. If you’re good you can snag the killer deals when they come out and get all extreme couponing up in there, but ultimately it does add more to your budget. I’d guestimate we spend about $30 a month more due to this watery habit of mine. Not the biggest amount ever added, but definitely noticeable. That’s why you prioritize and consciously choose whether it’s worth it or not to your family. Just like everything else.
And to me, I consider it to be money well spent. I’m keeping hydrated, and my body is feeling pretty damn happy about it :) It still has to deal w/ my beers and my wines for substitutes every now and again, but for the first time since I was a kid I’m back to drinking good ol’ American water again. And environmentally friendly or not, I’d take a lot of water over ZERO water any day.
——-
What are your thoughts on this? Are you passionate one way or the other? I really would like to hear it, I promise I won’t get mad ;)
PS: Maybe I’ll start drinking this kind instead? A happy medium :) Boxed Water is Better (nice find salemonz!)
UPDATE: Some of you will be happy to know that I no longer drink a million water bottles :) This one trick here worked for me massively (https://budgetsaresexy.com/physical-triggers/), as well as moving to a city with much better tasting water. Body and environment on point now!
(Photo by sskennel)
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Oh, J. Money. Just when I thought we could be friends! :)
I love me some tap water. Two quick things to *maybe* change your mind?
1) Municipal tap water is tested constantly. Depending on the municipality, it will be tested anywhere from once every couple of hours to once every five or ten minutes. Bottled water, according to the FDA, is classified as a food, which means it only gets checked as often as that requires — sometimes once a year or less!
2) Bottled water, at its absolute cheapest, might cost about a dollar a litre. A litre of tap water costs anywhere from one tenth to one one hundredth of a cent. That is some serious savings!!
But also, Dasani? That’s the worst of the bottled water! Go for Aquafina or something. Also, I’m sure you have, but have you tried drinking ice cold tap water, that’s been left in the fridge a while (not just with ice cubes added). It really changes the taste. I used to live in a smaller town where the tap water had a definite distinct taste to it, and if I just left a jug of it in the fridge for a few hours, it honestly tasted like bottled.
Dude go to Sams Club or Costco. $3 to $4 for a case of water. I stock up on water and try to keep 4 cases on hand at all times because: 1. I like drinking water bottles too and, 2. for disaster preparedness….mainly for hurricanes but just in case for the possibility of complete economic disaster and zombie apocalypse
I hate municipal tap water. We use a brita filter, and the water tastes great, and is cold from being in the fridge.
Its not just about the garbage. The companies that produce bottled water (at upwards of 1,000 times the cost of tap water) are actively hurting the access of some communities to clean water. The companies privatize water sources at a time when almost a billion people on earth don’t have access to clean water (access to water is defined by the UN as a 1 gallon of water per person per day that is only a mile away).
Really? We don’t live in Chennai, you know. Water is fine here. And 30 years ago you would not have had this “problem” not being able to drink tap water as there would not have been any other choice really. And you would have been fine with that.
Seriously – this is a first world affectation. Plus it’s a complete waste of money.
I’m not one to trash another person’s taste preferences, but I’m with Melissa. If I was to buy any bottled water I’d go all the way and get Fiji. It just tastes so much better than anything else else out there, but then again, I don’t have much experience in this area, as I just use the filtered water from my fridge. Plus, I just hate how these companies make it seem like their water is special and can do more than the next company’s product. If it’s pure water, it’s all the same–since there is literally no nutritional value–except for the taste.
Do you drink bottle water even at home as well or only when you go out?
I have one of those stainless steel bottle with a carabiner clip so I can clip it to everything.
If you want light and travel friendly you can try one of these and roll it up and put in your pocket when you are done. If you really have to drink bottle water regardless of the cost, maybe look for a company that sells it in corn based biodegradable plastic (the least you can do for the environment).
To really see the impact of your choices – watch the documentary “Tapped”. It may just bring new light to your water ‘habit’. There are consequences for all of our choices, financial and environmental. You will be shocked to see the discrepancies in tap water vs. bottled and realize you can protect yourself and others by simply buying an inexpensive filter and reusable water bottles.
At what point did Americans become adult sized toddlers who must have their bottle with them at all times and then just throw them down whenever they are done? Add a nipple and a bonnet to the scenario and you can see exactly how ridiculous this habit is. We’ve become a nation of must-have-it-now-consequence-be-damned and it is catching up to us. We need to grow up, lose the pacifier and be responsible adults.
I hate to admit it (being an economics minor grad), but I can fully understand you. First, in Poland, where I live, drinking unboiled tap water may lead to Pharaoh’s Curse.
And I _like_ the taste of bottled water (maybe because we do have some really fine mountain springs here :) ), which is also better balanced (minerals!) than any tap water.
Also, for me it’s the only way to drink water regularly – even when at home. I tried to buy it in bigger bottles, which is cheaper, but then.. I’m probably to lazy to go to the kitchen every time I want a drink, so it didn’t work.
Bottled water for the win!
It’s funny to think that there are hundreds of millions of people on the planet that would give up a limb to have access to running tap water like we do. Americans take it for granted and even go so far as to say it’s not ‘good enough’? That’s the part I can’t get past in your argument. Is switching to tap water going to give a bunch of people in third-world countries access to water? Maybe not, but to say that you can’t drink it because you don’t like the taste or you don’t like to carry a bottle around (huh?), I mean talk about missing the bigger picture.
I can understand why some people drink bottled.
But living in Yorkshire in the UK I have the best tap water in the world! FACT.
I still buy bottled when travelling and for convenience on the move but for the most part tap water is cheap and delicious -you should come over to the UK, J$!
@Stephanie and all the other “filtered” water lovers
Brita filters have a double action:
1. The activated carbon filter eliminates bad odor and the taste of halogen compounds that chlorine makes when present in tap water.[citation needed]
2. The exchange ion resin lowers the concentration of calcium carbonates, accordingly softening tap water.[citation needed]
3. Brita products do not in any way alter the contents of tap water. Through both of the processes listed above they merely neutralize odor and taste. Realistically speaking, Brita filters should not be called filters. Millions of people use these systems daily, though the majority do not understand what they really are.
Do what you need to do man. I’m not really sure how this is really related to personal finance though. I get the whole spend on what you love and that you’re relating costs and stuff, but really?
Sorry to sound harsh … I am a big fan of your blog and personal finance posts though :)
Bottled water is a huge scam. I remember an expose from a few years ago that showed that many bottled water companies were simply filling their bottles from the tap. And Dasani IS one of them. Coca-Cola admitted it. And, as Melissa pointed out, refrigerating water for 24 hours will kill most of the things that affect the flavor of water, such as fluoride.
The plastic isn’t even the main environmental concern of bottled water. It’s transportation. Water is heavy. 1 gallon weighs 8 pounds. A pallet of 16oz bottles of water weights over a ton! That’s why some cleaning supplies companies are offering concentrated versions of their product that you mix with your own tap water. Same amount of plastic is used (a little more, actually, because of the refills), but a fraction of the shipping weight means less carbon emissions.
Meanwhile, the average semi gets about 8 miles per gallon. If the bottling plant is 800 miles away (probably conservative), then it took 100 gallons of diesel fuel to get that bottle of water into your hand.
The only time I really drink bottled water (and I prefer Smart Water when it is “on sale” at Costco) is when I am participating in the most awesome sport in the world (hurling… not curling, but hurling, look it up!). It is mostly convenience at that point. Otherwise I just use my Brita filter and an old water bottle.
I had to laugh at a friend in town when he purchased some Nestle water from Wal-Mart and it said the source was the Greenwood, IN public water supply. Greenwood is only 20 minutes south of us. He has since converted to a Brita.
J-I gotta agree w/you…if I’m going to drink water, it’s either gonna be bottled, or a Brita. Honestly, considering budget, $20-$30 bucks for a couple of cases of bottled water at Costco isn’t going to break my bank and water is healthy. I try to avoid all the propaganda that’s out there, (because there’s propaganda ABOUT EVERYTHING!) and make the best decision for my family and I. If drinking bottled water is going to make me drink more and make it fun for my 4 yr old, then game on! :)
LLF: thanks for that link. I don’t like to by water, but if I am thirsty and out and about, I buy water. And while I carry my tervis tumbler with water or tea in my car all the time, I don’t walk the mall with it. This I could keep in my purse and fill at a water fountain.
I live in the country and have a well and my water is perfect. As several people have pointed out, many bottled waters come from somebodies water plant, the same you can get from your tap.
But, I am a firm believer that everyone has to make their own decisions and choices. Just make sure it is an educated decision.
“Flow” is another good doc about water for profit, etc.
I *have* lived in small towns where the tap water was disgusting. Take a shower and you can smell the chlorine. But we keep a pitcher in the fridge bc I hate room temperature water. If I’m out, on a road trip or at work I’ll buy a bottle. Not for home though!
And I agree, really?! Dasani? It reminds me of some of the bad tap water I’ve had! Haha
I’m going to let all the other commentators give you the stats and alternatives to bottles. All I’m going to say is that you are wrong. Very, very wrong.
Dasani is bottled tap water that’s not tested or regulated. It would be less expensive and less wasteful to bring your own cup, or simply drink from the tap as you go. Plastic bottles also scare me (see BPA). There’s just something weird about drinking out of plastic.
Your purchases do have an impact beyond the bottom line, and the environment-see Johnathon’s comments and the doc recommended above.
I hope now that you’re ‘come out’ about this, you’ll take some time to learn more. /soapbox ;)
Ahhh J, I know where you are. I was once there, but I have changed. Now, we have an aquasana filter on our tap and a filter in our fridge. So if I want cold water I get it out of the fridge and lukewarm comes from the tap. Our tap water tastes terrible but the filter makes it really tasty and filters out all the bad junk. I don’t like to use that much plastic so I drink out of glass glasses at home. I hear ya when you’re on the go though! That can be a pain to carry around water bottles. So why not just use the plastic ones when you’re out and about and then drink from the tap at home? check out aquasana, they’re awesome!
I agree with Money Beagle’s comment. Every time I turn on the tap I do realize how lucky I am that the water is right there in front of me, clean enough to drink. I’ve been drinking tap water my whole life and I’m still here. NOW, having said that, I don’t mind a convenient bottle here and there, but I save the bottles and reuse them.
AAARAARGH. I’m an environmental engineer in the water industry. Yeah, so my JOB is to help make the purest, cleanest, best tasting municipal tap water possible. I used to be like you, despite my job. I loved the portability of bottled water and the taste. Then I bought a fridge with a built in water filter, and I found some awesome, lightweight reusable bottles in pretty colors and designs for super cheap at Target. They are the same size as your average water bottle, so I fill up a bunch of them and stick them in the fridge and now I can grab them and go anytime. I feel soooo much better and less like the big giant hypocrite I used to be. You know as well as anyone it’s just a habit and it’s just a matter of changing that habit.
Oh and Dasani IS tap water. It’s not some magical spring water. Just refiltered, and not even tested the way tap water is.
Just STOP it, Watch that movie Tapped…I think you can get it on Netflix instant.
I say just keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t worry what anyone else thinks, especially people who hide behind a screen name while throwing out judgments, since I’m sure everyone one of them does something that can be considered “wrong”, “immoral”, “wasteful”, etc. in someone else’s eyes!
Yea, living in Colorado, there is no reason to not drink the tap water… it is great! Of course bottled water is convenient, and necessary at times, but for the most part it’s strictly tap water for me. Drinking out of plastic bottles won’t hurt you at first, but it is the continual reuse where the bottle starts to break down and get into your water. If you want a lighthearted debate on the topic look up Penn & Teller’s “Bullsh**” episode on bottled water.
I am a passionate anti-waterbottler! My main problems with bottled water are the plastic waste, the energy costs to bottle and transport it, and the cost compared to tap water. But that’s with a few caveats. Where I live, tap water tastes just fine without any additional treatment (I don’t even use a Brita anymore). However, I know what tastes bad in other cities. I don’t like the taste of D.C. water. I actually think that bottled water usually tastes better than tap water (less chlorine taste).
I understand your desire to drink water, and I think if that’s the only way you’ll drink it, that’s okay. But I’d encourage you to seek out ways to cut back on the bottled water wherever possible. Maybe you can find a filter you like for when you’re at home?
I’m lucky because I can access a free, natural water supply, which is good because tap water tastes horrible here! We refill 8 litre bottles every month or so and then decant them as we need into glass bottles or flasks to take out with us. I don’t like the thought of buying individual bottles all the time, too expensive.
I used to think that it was stupid to buy water. Then the drug store gave me a free case of Crystal Geyser water while I was shopping. That changed the game entirely. Our tap water, when it isn’t brown from some kind of pipe problem in the neighborhood, tastes terrible and is sometimes cloudy. When the empty swimming pool had an ordinary hose running water in it, the water was green. However, I paid no attention until I drank that bottled water. I have bought it ever since. I still make coffee and cook things with tap water, and I feel sure it is not good for my health. For awhile I used bottled water even for those things and for the dog, but personal finance won out on that one. I do think it is ridiculous to be paying for water, but I know that I don’t like what comes out of the tap.
Living in Mpls, our city water is the great Mississippi River, which tastes pretty wonderful straight out of the tap! I probably go through 2 full trays of cubes every day or so, carry a bottle to the gym, out working in the garden, and when I head out in the car for a trip.
Once in a while I’ll pick up a throwaway bottle, but not often. For me it’s about both the cost and the environmental impact. I’ve always been a good water drinker, and I’m trying to chuck pop for good (!), so it feels even more important for me to be intentional about how I drink my water.
I’m a first-time reader, having found you through a Wise Bread link on Facebook this morning leading me here. I’m not against drinking bottled water at all (I recycle), but I do feel it’s important to research and read about the source of water found in bottled waters, how the water is treated/purified or not…, and to know what the water quality report says about the brand of water being consumed.
For those reasons and others I won’t get into here, I would highly recommend checking out the very detailed investigative-type research done by the Environmental Working Group pertaining to bottled water brands/companies, and how each are rated and why. I am not at all affiliated with EWG in any way.
Consumers deserve transparency from companies we purchase products from, and that include bottled water companies, and it’s shocking that many of the most popular/bought bottled waters do not tell consumers most of the basic information about the water bottled, not even the source. Your image above of the Poland Spring bottled water received a “D” from the EWG.
I hope you won’t mind sharing this link to the Environmental Working Group’s information about bottled water companies, sources, transparency, water quality reports (or the lack thereof), etc. The PDF report on the site is extremely informative.
http://www.ewg.org/ourwater/bottled-water
I use filtered water and I have a bottle that I purcahsed and pour it in there for outings and going to the gym. I do this for three reasons
1. Saves money (I spend nothing except replacing the filters)
2. Less waste, better for the environment (less trips to the trash section in my bldg)
3. Fewer regulations for bottled water than for tap water
My parents drink bottled water and I gave them this link, so they could at least see how their bottle water stacked up.
http://shine.yahoo.com/event/green/best-and-worst-bottled-water-brands-2436818
Filtered tap water received an A grade if you change the filter.
This is just a blog by another person who would rather put their own PREFERENCE OF LUXURIES above the GREATER GOOD OF MANKIND.
I hate tap. But I use a bobble (http://waterbobble.com/). I drink WAY more. I do not have to carry a case of water around. I can refill whenever/wherever I want.
Do yourself and the environment a favour by getting a bobble.
P.S. Most bottled water is filtered tap. Why not filter it yourself with a bobble?
If you are gonna use a filter for your water at least get a REAL filter and not that Brita crap. I use the Berkey water filters and they work great.
http://www.berkeyfilters.com/
@Johnnyatthespot
…to me it’s all about the taste… the “filter” definitely neutralizes the chlorine taste of public water, and that’s why I was suggesting it could be a good alternative if the reason you drink bottled water is simply due to taste preference. I don’t care what it does… as long as my water doesn’t taste like a swimming pool anymore!!!! :D
Sorry… I got your name wrong… @Johnnyonthespot!
You seem to have addresses all the main complaints about bottled water, but for me the main thing is that drinking bottled water makes me feel like a chump.
I like to imagine the board room meeting at Coca Cola where the guy proposed that they could just leave out all the ingredients except water and still charge the same price. They must laugh their butts off every single day.
I absolutely hate tap water, and people who say there’s no difference in taste don’t live in California I can tell you that haha. When hubby and I moved in together, I saw that bottled water was going to be a big expense for us, so I got us a Brita water filter pitcher. It’s came in handy and saved us money for sure. We both drink between 24-48 oz a day, and the pitcher lasts us about 2-3 months. Just get a filter J; there’s coupons for it too!
I have to add my 2 cents in case no one has mentioned it. What hubby and I do is go to one of those health food stores and use the Culligan dispenser and fill up two 5-gallons containers. Then, we just live off of that for the week or so. It’s really affordable, and is not using up additional plastic. The taste is good, too.
Also, as a compromise, have you considered buying the 2.5-gallon jugs and just refilling your disposable bottles? It’d be cheaper, use less packaging and still give you the flexibility of disposables. Also, if you keep the jug in your refrigerator, it would run more efficiently because of the thermal mass (maybe I’m reaching with that one).
Drink what you want! I’m hooked on diet coke and would love to instead be hooked on water bottles….at least you are hooked on something that is good for you!
It’s all perspective baby and it’s all about what YOU need.
And if you need some justification, there are some stats out that about how much water you WASTE when you have to rewash your water bottles to refill them. Just sayin….
I agree that tap water in some places does not taste good at all. I refuse to drink our tap water because it is gross. We still drink bottled water occasionally if we are traveling but have tried to cut down on it due to environmental and health concerns. I agree with other posters and would challenge you to watch the documentary Tapped or any of the others mentioned and see if it changes your thinking a bit.
Hope it’s okay for me to share this – http://stupidevilbastard.com/2011/07/if-you-buy-organic-water-youre-a-fucking-idiot/ – Les cracks me up, and his note under the picture along with the title gave me the giggles.
J. Not cool!!!!
That’s actually exactly how I was up to 6 months ago, so I feel you. But this year, my friends from Hawaii came to visit bringing me a super awesome reusable metal water bottle. I actually WANTED to use it (because it looked sick…duh!). But we also have Brita filters at my house, so every morning I just fill my water bottle up (nice, chilled water for hot California summer days). It really does save money AND the environment! And, I hate the taste of tap water too, but the Brita filters really do make it taste clean and fresh.
Challenge: Try using a reusable water bottle for 2 weeks. Just try it! Pleaseeeee for all our sakes (not to mention for the sake of posterity). If you’ve never tried it, you can’t say that it doesn’t work for you; just that you’re too lazy to try to change.
I’m pretty passionately pro-tap water. We filter it, but I just fill up my reuseable bottle every morning (holds 18 oz) and bring it to work with me, and wash it when I get home. We spend between $50 -100 a year on filters, which is WAY cheaper than buying disposable bottles.
Also, regarding you beer bottle argument – we do recycle some beer bottles. But we also save a lot of them because my husband makes beer. Which will soon involve hops that we’re growing in our back yard.
And we shop at farmers markets and use canvas grocery bags. I’ve been debating making my own laundry detergent (cheaper and environmentally friendly!).
For our fifth anniversary this year (traditional gift: wood) my husband had a tree planted in a national forest in my honor.
Have I mentioned we got married on Earth Day? We didn’t realize it was Earth Day until well after we set the date, but our lifestyle has gotten markedly “crunchier” in the 5 years we’ve been married.
Moral of the story: Getting married on Earth Day turns you into a dirty hippie. ;-)
First off – THANK YOU for sharing, everyone! This is exactly what I love about blogging — everyone can speak their mind and no one’s regulating it (unless you say something derogatory). While some of you aren’t so pleased w/ the topic at hand today, it def. makes for a good overall snapshot of opinions and information that we can all learn from — Esp me! :)
So thank you. Now time to respond to some of y’all:
@Melissa – Awww, well I’m not perfect you know ;) All good nuggets of info though. I don’t drink my water cold (I like it room temperature) but it is kinda scary about the regulated part. Not sure it changes my mind, but it def. gives me something to think about.
@Matt – OOOh, good points!!! Forgot about disaster stuff – thought I guess you can still fill up tap water in jugs and stuff? We don’t have a Costco around us, but even if we did the membership would offset any savings since I’d only buy water there ;) Good idea for those who shop there already though!
@Jonathan – Yeah, I obviously no nothing about this kinda stuff, so I’m glad you all are chiming in with good info :) Thanks!
@Diane – So I’m not allowed to enjoy bottle water because back in the day we were fine with out it? I guess I can’t use laptops or computers either then (also bad for environment if I had to guess).
@Eric J. Nisall – Funny you should mention that — I literally just tried Fiji the other day! I spent $4.00 on this small a$$ bottle thinking it was gonna be the best type ever (based on everyone’s high opinions of them) and I was severely let down :( Maybe I got a “bad” one or expectations were too high, but it def. wasn’t worth it for me.
@LLF – Ah, very cool! Yeah, I’d be up for trying new ways to consume my water – as long as it tastes good to me:) So far this has been the only way for me to keep doing it (it’s no joke – I used to RARELY drink water which is def. not good for the body).
@Darla – Haha, interesting way to put it ;) I’ll totally watch that movie! Big fan of documentaries and then trying to apply what I learned afterward. I once watched SuperSize me and gave up McDonalds for 3 entire years after (i’d normally go 2-3 times a week before that). I ended up switching to other fast food joints, but the movie has stuck with me ever since.
@Osk – Haha, nice. Hope you’re ready to be in the minority here ;)
@Money Beagle – Oh yeah, if drinking tap gave water to the poorer nations I’d totally do it! Obviously I’m not opposed to helping out the less-fortunate (visit Love Drop if you have doubts), but I don’t see why I’m not allowed to have options? Isn’t that a benefit of living in America? That we have freedom and choices? I fully acknowledge others have it worse off than us, but to not appreciate our options we do here is WORSE in my opinion. By me excercising my right to choose bottle over tap IS appreciating how fortunate we have it here. I don’t think ruling out the perks of living in the U.S. should make you feel ashamed. People don’t have laptops and internet aroudn the world and yet we’re all here leaving comments ;) (by the way, i totally respect your opinion, I just don’t agree with it – you know I still love ya)
@JohnnyOnTheSpot – Thanks for the info :)
@Brian – Not harsh, you’re all good :) I originally wanted to talk about the financials behind it, since I drink so much water all the time, but then I figured I’d throw in more of the personal stuff too. And obviously it got WAY personal as you can see by the discussion, haha…
@Edward Antrobus – All good info, brotha – appreciate you sharing :) I don’t know the first thing about whether it’s safer or anyything like that, just that for the first time of my adult life I’m drinking more water now. And that’s due to bottles. So for me, personally, it’s not a scam since I get out of it what I want to get out of it :)
@Brian – Haha, that’s awesome. They have “hurling” in track & field, yes?
@Trinnie – Yup, that’s really my whole reason for doing it — it keeps me healthy! Glad it helps your family too :)
@rainbowfish – I’m def. getting more educated now ;) Though it still doesn’t change the fact I like bottled water. I’m gonna try out some new methods though and see how it affects me.
@joscelyn – Haha, we all have different taste buds! The one place I would NEVER drink tap out of is D.C. WOW. You can def. smell that stuff too, not good…
@Alyssa – Yup, everyone making very valid points. Not sure what areas you believe I’m wrong in, but I’m all for listening :)
@Kelly – I’ve never denied it’s bad for environment or I’m not willing to learn (obviously, or I wouldn’t have asked! Haha…), but I am concerned that if I stop drinking bottle and try other ways – which I will – that I’ll stop drinking it all together. And that’s my main arguement for why I drink bottle water, other than I just think it tastes good. If it makes me a bad person keeping myself healthy that way, then I guess I’m on the naughty list ;)
@stacy – Yup, I can def. look into it! I’ve tried Britta before and it didn’t stick (I have it brand new boxed up in my basement), but I’m up for other options too… as long as it remains luke warm — I don’t like cold water for some reason :)
@Peliroo – I think that’s great!! I appreciate that we have that option too :)
@MainlineMom aka Sarah – Haha, I will watch it! :) And as true as that may be for Dasani, it still doesn’t change the fact I like it! Whether it’s in my head or not ;)
@Eric J. Nisall – Thanks man :) I don’t take any of it personally, I just like hearing everyone’s views and find them interesting. It’s such a heated topic!
@robin.g – Haha, okay will try and find it – thanks :)
@Jeffrey Trull – Yup, I think that’s my next step forward – trying out new ways to consume it that doesn’t hurt environment as much… if I find I stop drinking it I’ll have to go back, but I’m never opposed to trying something new :)
@Yana – I use tap for everything like coffee and tea and all too for sure. Cuz the taste changes :)
@Lin – Hey, thanks for stopping by! I don’t mind at all you leaving a link for more info and sharing your thoughts – that’s perfect! I enjoy learning so I’ll def. check it out, thanks :)
@bleu – Thanks! Will check that link out too :)
@David L. Clark – I’ll def. check out, thanks :) But to clear things up a bit, I do it because it keeps me healthy and hydrated. Ofcourse I like the taste and the convenience, but if it’s bottled water vs. nothing, I’m taking the bottled water every time.
@Kelly – Haha, that’s one way to look at it. Though you can say that about a thousand products that people use every single day ;)
@20 and Engaged – I’ve tried!!!! Though only with Brita which I don’t like. I can always try again as long as it can fit on my faucet :)
@Serena – That’s a good idea! It doesn’t help w/ the portability of it all, but I can dig that.
@Kelly – Haha, no I haven’t tried that route yet – but good idea :)
@Den – Thank you!!! And I *used to be* addicted to Diet Coke!! and everyone said I was gonna die from all the stuff they put in diet drinks ;) Def. glad I switched, but I stil drink it whenever it comes across my path ;)
@Sarah – I have tried that! And it didn’t stick, so I stopped drinking water… until I started buying bottles from the store ;)
@Stephanie – That’s cute :) You guys are awesome!!
I hope I’m not repeating what someone else already suggested but have you seen the collapsable water bottles? They would take up much less space, perhaps even fit in your pocket, and you wouldn’t be annoyed by having to carry it around.
Maybe for lent next year it could be what you give up, since you choose something major every year. I really, truly believe that after you did it and it became a habit that you would physically ache over all the bottles you’ve wasted up until now.
Good Luck with whatever you decide!
WHen it comes to water I do it all, I use water bottles once and toss/recycle them, or I’ll refill a water bottle from the tap, or from the 5 gallon water bottles at work, I use a brita filter pitcher, or the filter straight from my fridge, I’ll drink tap straight, or with ice, I have 2 reusable bottles that I’ll refill from time to time. For me, it is all about convenience. If I’m out walking around DC and haven’t brought my own bottle, I’ll shell out the $2 bucks to get a bottle somewhere. If I’m at work, I’ll usually fill up a bottle from our 5 gallon water cooler (we have no running water out here, just the water cooler) at home, I’ll do any and all of the above.
I’m not much of a bottled water snob, but I’m with you J$, stay away from the deer park! (But I do go for Smart Water or Acqua Panna if I can find it, Oh how my trip to Italy spoiled me!)
Why are you wrong? It’s expensive and wasteful, two things that are fought in order to establish a foundation for good personal finance. I understand the occasional bottled water purchase, but regular purchases are extremely wasteful. It’s akin to just buying new underwear every day and throwing them away. Have you tried using a Brita filter? Ignorance is one thing, but I fail to see how any reasonable person, knowing the consequences of regular bottled water use, would still purchase them all the time. It seems pure laziness to me.
For the cost issue, check out G.E’s post on bottled water: http://20somethingfinance.com/bottled-water-versus-tap-water/
I appreciate your bravery in “coming out” to all your readers. It takes big cajones. But I also hope by reading all our comments you’ll think twice about the purchases and take measures to reduce the consumption.
Wow, I didn’t know a small bottle was that much. I used to get the tall bottles (1.5 liter I think) for $1.87 at the Chevron station near my parents’ house. Haven’t bought it in a couple years so maybe I’m just out of the loop. It could have been all of the hype that made your expectations unrealistic. Imagine what San Pellegrino should taste like with the cost that’s attached to it!
I think I should say something here that may not have come across well in my post. I am ALL for drinking water more responsibly – I just haven’t found a way that works for me more than bottled water. Right now it comes down to two things – bottled water or no water, and so I choose bottle (because everything else I’ve tried up to this point doesn’t stick.) Will I check out and try new ideas that you all have brought up? Most certainly – that would be fun :) I just haven’t experienced anything that truly works as well yet.
Also curious: How do you guys feel about soda and beer? That are all packaged in cans and bottles? Is that more “okay” because you can’t get it dripping out of a faucet?
More comments back:
@Eva – That’s an excellent thing to try and give up for Lent! Love it! :) And no, I haven’t heard about collapsible water bottles so I can certainly look into that too. Thanks!
@Mercedes – I need to try Smart Water still, I keep hearing good things about it :) Just hope I don’t expect too much like I did w/ Fiji, haha…
@Alyssa – I’m all about learning and trying new things – that’s one of the reasons I posted about this :) I’ve tried Brita and it doesn’t get me to drink water, so I chose not to do it anymore. Same thing with a lot of other options, which is how I came to the conclusion that bottled water keeps me hydrated (but yup – I’m totally going to consider all these comments and nuggets of information, I’d love it it I can keep healthy but help the environment more! I’m not against it :))
As for finances and it being a waste, that all comes down to personal opinion – it can’t be a fact. We all spend our money according to what’s important to us in life (or at least we should), so two people will always find something that costs money wasteful as well as valuable. You may not spend money on water, but you may in other areas that I’d never spend a penny on :) But I agree it does cost more money than tap does, no question about it.
@Eric J. Nisall – I LOVE San Pellegrino!! Sparkle though, mineral is okay :) When I’m at a restaurant and don’t want to drink soda/beer/wine, I go w/ sparkle water.
J$…have you seen Sigg bottles?
I bought one and fill it with my tap water – because it’s so pretty, my Sigg bottle goes EVERYWHERE with me, and I drink more water.
Here’s a link to check them out: http://mysigg.com/
I’m NOT affiliated, just a happy customer. Yes, they are a little pricey, but they are sooooo durable (nearly indestructible) AND they don’t have weird chemicals in the lining. I figure I’ve more than paid for my Sigg bottle in not buying bottled water or splurging on latte or juice drinks when I’m doing errands.
Regarding the economic and environmental impacts of using bottled water, have you seen “The Story of Bottled Water” yet? I found it at Food & Water Watch (link: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/bottled/)
It’s about 8 minutes long, here’s the link:
http://youtu.be/Se12y9hSOM0
Everytime my manfriend reaches for Fiji Water I want to punch him in the face. I will never forget when my brother was little (6 or so) and I was a 10 in the early 90’s and he said “Next thing you know people will pay for bottles of water!” and he started laughing. This is how dumb Americans are. We are willing to pay for something that is practically FREE (and is actually free at many public water fountains). The consumerism of this country is really embarrassing. I went to Germany for over a week and we stayed with a friend. They recycle EVERYthing that is recyclable and we filled up a half of a trashcan (a teeny bathroom sized one) the entire time we were there. 3 people, 1 week – tiny trashcan. I fill up at least1 (and sometimes 2) 30 gallon trashbags a week at my house and it’s only 2 of us (granted we have 18 animals) because we don’t recycle (I have to pay for trash pick-up which we don’t do – we just take our trash to my manfriend’s employer) which I CONSTANTLY feel guilty about. This post has made me realize that I have to work on this issue.
To stop drinking bottled water, I got this: http://www.blueq.com/shop/item/114-productId.125845381_114-catId.117440729.html (It is my favorite thing). I use it for water and iced coffee.
Disclaimer: we recycle carbonated cans/bottles because we live in Michigan and there is a deposit. To recycle anything else we would have to pay. God I miss living in Maryland.
*At least one kudo – you recycle :)
@J about: How do you guys feel about soda and beer? That are all packaged in cans and bottles? Is that more “okay” because you can’t get it dripping out of a faucet?
I buy my beer and soda exclusively out of cans so it can be effectively recycled. They aren’t as heavy as glass and I keep them seperate and take them in once a week. Every little bit helps. I’m no tree hugger – but watching documentaries like Tapped and Food Inc. has helped me change for the better.
I mentioned in my post above that we save a lot of our beer bottles for reuse since my husband makes beer. More often than not, the only thing we toss is the cap, which is metal and can be recycled. Also, I generally don’t drink soda. Maybe once or twice a month at the most.
And Darla brought up a great point – metal is much more effectively recycled than plastic. I haven’t personally done much research on the matter, but my husband has and apparently metal is the only thing really worth recycling. I’m not sure where exactly glass stands as far as recycling goes, but I’m pretty sure it’s at least marginally better than plastic. (Anybody know for sure about this???)
J. — Checkout these bottled water : http://amzn.com/B004GN6QV4. It’s refillable, with filter. You get to ‘save the environment’ and have the convenient of bottled water, too
WOW! It’s crazy how 1 thing you can do that’s not good for the environment can totally discard all the good things you do. Maybe you shouldn’t recycle the bottles anymore, since that’s not going to help. Sorry, it’s just so crazy.
While it’s great that so many people are trying to do things good for the environment, nobody can be perfect. Almost everything is bad for the environment is some way or another, even doing just a couple things should be something. There are people out there who do absolutely nothing and don’t care. I think it’s great that you recycle your water bottles. :-)
I too am a bottled water drinker and have tried many things to stop. Nope, not happening anytime soon; it’s all about the flavor and portability. Yep, I tried filtering and filling plastic and metal bottles (not for me). Like you, I also recycle my bottles as well as many other things. It’s just a personal preference.
PF side- You should be able to decide where your money goes, you work hard for it and your spending should reflect your values/desires. If that’s what it takes to get you to drink water, then I say go 4 it.
*I’m surprised nobody brought up your hair products. ;-)
I started reading this as I was drinking out of my bottled water lol.
We always have bottled water in our house. I keep a shelf full of it in the fridge & a case of it in the pantry to restock the fridge. It is convenient and it really is the only way my husband drinks water too. I usually bring a reusable bottle with me to work every day but truthfully when I’m in a rush I just grab a bottle out of the fridge.
I guess people get pretty worked up about bottled water vs. tap water. I really don’t understand why people are attacking you over this. Crazy if you ask me!
@Christine Hansen – Cool! That Paul Frank one is dope. The only thing about these is that they’re not very portable :( I won’t take one outside on walks and around town, that’s the problem I have with things I can’t throw away. It becomes a “chore” and then I just end up not drinking anything. Though I will check out that link you sent – sounds interesting :)
@Erin – HAH!!! I love that bottle, haha… that is awesome!! Funny about “Next thing you know people will pay for bottles of water!” – so true. Though I don’t think it’s because Americans are dumb, no one pays for anything unless they really want it ;) (except for bills,etc – but even those we want). Some people pay for air too – it’s a choice.
@Darla – That’s pretty good though :) I always try to recycle when I can (which is like 95% of the time).
@Stephanie – Sounds like it would be true, but yeah I don’t know about this stuff either (obviously, haha…)
@Mila – I like them, but I won’t carry them around with me ;) But maybe at home I can start trying them out? I guess that’s the one area I don’t have to worry about it being portable.
@Jen @ Master the Art of Saving – It is funny isn’t it? I’m now gonna be known as “that guy” even though I do so much to help others in the grand scheme of things ;) No worries though – we all have our pet peeves. (actually, that’s one of mine – I hate that saying! haha… just so perfect for what it means though).
@Corie – That’s the beauty of blogging though, we all get to share our voice :) Which I find extremely interesting or I wouldn’t be a blogger! It’s only the people who personally attack others that I don’t respect, but those are easily deleted ;)
http://Www.kraftfoods.com/mio/ Try these! I drink tap water incessantly now! The blueberry pomegranate is my favorite and they last forever!!!!!
J, On your point about soda and beer. First of all, I don’t drink much of either. When I do, it’s usually while out and then it’s almost always coming off the tap (and usually into a glass or a plastic cup that I reuse). Fort Collins is a major brewery town, so there are some great beers on tap no matter where you go.
When I drink soda at home, it’s always in a cup poured from a 2 liter bottle. My wife is a big fan of diet cola, so we do always have it around. Once we get our own house, I want to buy one of those mini-soda machines because it will be more economical for the amount of soda she drinks.
As far as beer, I generally only drink it at home if someone brings it over. I don’t have any choices then, but pretty much everyone here buys O’dell’s or New Belgium which are brewed right here in town so there’s minimal environmental impact from bottling.
But on the challenge of converting you to reusable bottle, what are your water drinking habits? Personally, I drink most of my water (avg 2+ qts daily…got to stay hydrated in mile high country!) at work from an aluminum water bottle, or at home from a used Subway 40oz cup. At work, I’m always mobile, but based out of a golf cart where the bottle is always handy (they also don’t sell bottled water there, its bring a bottle, or use a Styrofoam coffee cup).
If you have any sort of “base of operations” that you would be doing most of your water drinking from, then a reusable bottle isn’t going to be any sort of issue. If you find yourself on foot a lot, then maybe it’s time to think about getting a satchel or backpack.
Babu Bhatt: You bad man! J$, You very very bad man!
Really J$?!?
I’m a anti-plastic bottler (and single use coffee cupper too for that matter). It’s a simple habit changer, go out, get yourself a nice Nalgene bottle and coffee travel cup. Get some cool stickers to decorate with and then carry them around with you. Since you work at home it should be that hard.
And tap water – it’s good for your immune system.
Make the change be part of the solution not the problem.
I had a hard time getting in enough water each day until, I got an Intak by Thermos water bottle from Target. It has a ring around the neck that has #s on it. You move the ticker up a number each time you refill the bottle. I have no excuses for not getting enough water. I take it with me everywhere. If I haven’t filled and drained it at least 3 times by the end of the day, I drink more water then. I’ve even had some days where I challenge myself to try to see just how much water I can get in.
Now this post is making me thirsty! I have already emptied my watter bottle (less than a foot away from me to my left), so I’m going to go fill it now!
Totally feel you, J$. But I got a stylish (metal, permanent) water bottle recently (company swag) and like it better. I fill it from the office cooler or at home (tap – sorry). It holds more and keeps it colder longer. For me, it doesn’t replace bottle water completely. But it has cut it down by about 80%. And I don’t miss throwing 24-packs into the shopping cart (then the trunk, then the fridge) every grocery trip.
I say do your own thing.
My husband doesn’t drink tap water (his nutritionist told him not to). I do think it’s a little silly, but we’re not going to go broke buying water.
I probably just missed this, but do you ever use the gallon-sized bottles? The hubs buys a gallon and drinks out of a glass at home. He drinks Crystal Geyser. He also has small portable bottles to take to work.
Yeah, it’s not the cheapest thing. And it’s not the best for the environment. But nobody is perfect. Keep drinkin’, J$.
Here’s a thought for you. A recent study by the ADA shows that incidences of tooth decay have dramatically risen over the last decade and one reason for it is because people are drinking bottled water that doesn’t have the fluoride in it that our municipal water does.
I firmly believe this is true based on my own experiences. I had PERFECT teeth up until I was 41 – never had a cavity or filling in my life. So what changed? I still brushed my teeth 2x a day, I still flossed about 3x a week. The big thing that changed is that I went from drinking tap water, to drinking bottled water almost 100% of the time. I was probably about 38 when I started drinking more bottled water than tap water. At 41, I got my first cavity. At 42 I had my first root canal.
Anecdotal? Yes. Do I believe it accurately reflects the studies that the ADA has completed. Yes.
If you’re going to drink bottled water, be sure and take some kind of fluoride supplement for the good of your teeth.
If you watch Tapped – would you please let your readers know how you feel about the subject afterwards? Either on this thread – or with a new post? I am curious to hear your thoughts after you’ve viewed the movie. I was surprised at what I didn’t know I didn’t know.
I would like to appeal to your sense of style. Dude, reusable water bottles are accessories…DBF and I have half a cabinet full of bottles of different sizes, shapes, colors, patterns, and materials. I’d suggest checking out Kleen Kanteen (http://www.kleankanteen.com/index.php) and Sigg (http://mysigg.com/) because they have some of the nicest bottles that I’ve seen. DBF and I both get our water from the water cooler at our respective employers and he uses the Brita in the fridge at home but I’m OK with tap.
As to beer and soda…I make my own and reuse the bottles. I am, however, not OK with straight tap when I brew. I made a batch of beer with tap water when I first moved to my current residence and it was disgusting. You could taste the chlorine and…it went straight down the drain. So I run my water through the Brita or I lug one of my 5-gallon glass carboys up to the organic market and fill up at their filtered water kiosk.
I let the tap water running for about 20-30 seconds before I fill the glass and then the taste is diferent than when I fill the glass right away.
I habve some nice glass bottles from previous VOSS water and I keep reusing them. I fill them and carry them with me. I have 6 bottles that I keep reusing for about 4 years now. The same water if you drink it from a glass tastes much better than teh one from the plastic bottle.
Also if the plastic bottle is left in the car and it warms up, it can create cancer.
I’m a big fan (if you can find a “bulk” water source that tastes to your likes) the camelbak water bottle is great. It’s just really easy to drink out of. They even say that ppl that drink out of the camel bak water bottle drink 24% more water than other types of bottles. At work, I use the water cooler (which you can easily do at home too, eliminating bottle waste-because they reuse the big 5-galloners) and still allowing you to drink out of a bottle.
There’s also some kind of water bottles with filters built in, which may work?
I vote for water with the awesome restaurant ice! The little round ice chunks everyone loves to chew on. I have the pleasure of an awesome ice machine at work, and could care less about bottled or tap. Just as long as it is cold. :)
Are you seriously comparing soda and beer to water? That’s lame. We don’t need soda or beer, and I don’t drink either. They are luxuries and optional. Fine if you want them, but no one requires them to live. And as far as I know the USA doesn’t regularly test and monitor beer. Water is a necessity of life and it is available almost for free in the USA.
If you like to buy a ridiculously over-priced, unnecessary thing that you can actually get for almost no cost, fine. But don’t try to rationalize it. I think you are a sap who has been conditioned by media and his peers to think he has to buy this stuff. And it’s the same damn thing. Dasani IS tap water. So many many of the other bottled water brands.
You could do what they do in India to purify the taste of water and leave it in a metal container overnight, which sweetens it. Or just filter it and put it in the fridge overnight as others have mentioned. Instead, you choose to buy tap water that some marketer has bottled for you. I totally do not get that.
@Chrys – The link didn’t work :( That sounds fabulous though!
@Edward Antrobus – Haha, I’d wear one of those water backpacks! That would be hilarious as I blog every day :) Good point though – I do 1/2 my drinking at home, and 1/2 on my walks and around town. So if I can find tasty water at home, I wouldn’t mind refilling a bottle here. (a bottle that is decent)… wondering if one of those water coolers makes more sense now that someone brought it up. I could get down with that.
@retirebyforty – Haha, nice.
@Jenna, Adaptu Community Manager – You avoided my two reasons for liking bottled water ;) I don’t mind changing my ways for the environment, I’m all for that, but I a) hate our tap water, and b) don’t like carrying around bottles. At home would be fine if I can find good water, but def. not on the road or walking.
@Debra – Oh nice! That’s pretty clever, I like that :) I never know how many I’ve drunk cuz I don’t pay much attention, so that would def help!
@Marshall – Haha, yeah – that does get annoying :) My wife REALLY doesn’t like it when I’m not around to help her load and then unload them – though sometimes she’ll just leave in the trunk for me to get later, which is all good.
@Jennifer G. – Thanks Jennifer, you’re sweet :) No, I have’t tried the gallons yet, but that’s a great idea – esp while I’m at home. That’s a great happy medium, thx!
@Kara – Oh wow, never heard that one before! I’ve heard the water in England doesn’t have flouride though cuz my wife got hit with a lot of cavaties too when she was living there ;) So I guess that makes sense, just never thought of it before… but yeah, we use ACT anti-cavity with flouride, I guess cuz the wife is super nervous now ;) Thanks for sharing that!
@Darla – Yeah, for sure :) I’ll def. do that. Do they give you alternatives to try too, or just scare you into not buying/using bottled water anymore? I’ll watch the movie and find out, but thought I’d ask too.
@Kitchen Penguin – Beer down the drain? Noooooo!!! Haha… good to know early on though, eh? :) Good links too – I’ve seen one of them already from another commenter, but not the other.
@Anita – Umm… not sure about the cancer one, but yeah – I def. don’t do that anyways :) I don’t like hot water, just room temperature. Interesting on letting the water run for a while though before drinking, I can try that and see what happens.
@Jen – Oh really? That’s kinda cool. You can always be drinking more water! :)
@LB – YES!!!! ahahhah I LOOOOOOOOVE those icecubes!!!!! With soda, over water (not a fan of freezing water) but TOTALLY a fan of those cubes.. mmmm…. good call.
@Diane – It’s okay if you don’t get it, we’re all different. But we’re all allowed to have our opinions and tastes whether it makes sense or not. And if you’re a reader of my blog you’ll know I rarely spend my money on “things” so I’m totally cool with “ridiculously over-priced” water – as I’ve mentioned at the end of the article. I’m sure you spend money on stuff I’d never do, and that’s fine – I’d never call you a sap over it ;)
I second the Britta and the Bobble bottle: the Bobble is just a cute 500 ml bottle, which you fill yourself with tap water and gets filtered while drinking. So you’ll save money, have a bottle at your side, and drink nice filtered water.
And I use Britta water to prevent calcium deposits in the kettle. Works like a charm.
@J about: Do they give you alternatives to try too, or just scare you into not buying/using bottled water anymore? I’ll watch the movie and find out, but thought I’d ask too.
It’s not at all about scaring you into anything – it’s simply presenting facts about bottled water and the subsequent impact on the world. It shows how it is regulated (or not) and where it comes from. I am not exaggerating when I say I was shocked at how much I did not know. It made me think about my choices and the potential health benefits/risks.
One person can’t change the world, but you can make simple adjustments that will help.
Hit us up when you watch Tapped. This should be interesting!
okay, your water, your choice!
Having said that, here’s what I read last week. If you take a plastic water bottle and fill a quarter of it with oil, that’s how much oil it takes to make one plastic bottle full of water. And it takes MUCH mroe than a bottle of water, to make one bottle of water. This is a fact by David Suzuki.
I have enjoyed this conversation, particularly with all of the links that have been shared. I just started buying bottled water this summer because I wanted my family to start drinking more of it. However, it soon became painfully obvious how many bottles we were consuming in such a short amount of time (particularly with the Little Bits didn’t throw theirs away and they began to accumulate).
I went grocery shopping yesterday and instead of buying bottled water, I bought three jugs of water. It was cheaper and it felt like it was a step in the right direction. I’ve use the Pur faucet mounts before and they were too cumbersome for us. The pitchers that are put in the fridge are too slow, so I’m still looking for the perfect vessel for my family. I will say that it’s looking like reusable water bottles with the personal filters (and in different colors, too – so neat), might be a viable option for us.
Our community doesn’t recycle (but I’d whole-hardheartedly participate if they did). I noticed last summer when my husband and I went on a cruise the beer bottles were made out of aluminum (?). Is this a new thing or just available at places where glass isn’t allowed (theme parks, cruises, etc)?
@Cora – Nice, I can get down with that :) Love your name btw, that’s cool.
@Darla – Thanks, will do :) Love your name too! haha… you and Cora win for coolest names today.
@Kay – Wow, now THAT is crazy. And def. gets me to stop for a second. I guess that’s what those movies people have mentioned in this thread go over — how much it takes to produce bottled water… looking forward to watching it and learning more, thanks for sharing :)
@Iva @ This Side of Perfect – Yeah! I’ve noticed that too actually – like at concerts. I’ve been wondering why that’s beeing going on too, good question :) I like your switch to jugs too, I think that’s an easy first step for me as well. I’ll pick up some the next time we go to the grocery store (instead of bottled water) and see how it goes. I guess I’ll have to get a nice glass/cup/etc to drink out of it too for my walks… not looking forward to that part, but it’s all in the name or research! :)
I use an aluminum canteen and fill it with purified water from a water delivery company that reuses its bottles. It tastes great and it is better for the environment that bottled water.
J$, depending on how much you hate carrying a bottle when you go for your walks, you can try a fuel belt or a running waist pack (scroll down). I use a amphibi single pack which lasts me a 3 mile run when it’s 3/4 full. I drink filtered stuff at home and we get 5 gallon bottles of water at the office.
I personally drink tap water that’s been Brita filtered–but I have a more economically sound and environmentally friendly option for tap water haters. Just get one of those water coolers (like Ozarka) delivered to your door monthly. It’s the same bottled water without the waste of a bunch of plastic bottles. Problem solved! No, you wont get to have your easily disposable bottles that you like having, but that is merely a luxury that budgeters should be able to do without.
@Christa – Yeah, I think that’s a smarter way to go for sure :)
@LLF – Nice! That would def. solve my problem about carrying stuff! haha… i love it.
@Melissa – I agree w/ the home delivery, I really think that’s where I’m gonna end up landing on after all my tests :) I’m fine with the “luxury” of bottled water (again, I prioritize my money on what’s important to me so I’m fine with that), but I want to change to be better about the environment. And if I can keep hydrated the same way as now, but save on all that plastic, then I’d def. call that a win.
Dooooooode. I told you I was going to come back to this post and give you ish about it, so here goes.
I like the planet. I don’t mind bottled water, BUT – I choose to use refillable water bottles when possible.
BUT MY THING IS (and I haven’t read your 80 other comments so if I’m duplicating something, sorry), I need water to be COLD, and I think icecubes made in my own freezer aren’t as good. Maybe with refillable bottles stored in your fridge for on the go use, you might be more inclined? I am always getting water bottles as swag, so I have no shortage of bottles – and so I try to remember to keep a few filled up (with tap water) in my fridge ready for me to grab as I walk out the door. If it’s cold, it doesn’t taste like tap water to me.
ULTIMATELY if the choice is bottled water or none, it’s kind of crucial to your body systems that you stay hydrated, but dude, I’m pretty sure you can kick the habit. (And actually, I get very pissy when people throw beer bottles away – recycle that shizz).
Hah! I’m the opposite of you — I like my water room temperature, I can’t drink it real cold cuz it gives me a headache :) I think I drink too fast? But yeah, I recycle everything – plastic, glass, cardboard, you name it. It doesn’t excuse my use of all those water bottles, but at least I’m not chucking ’em all in the trash. I’m gonna start getting bigger jugs of the water from Safeway and drinking from a glass at home for a while and see what that does. Though my biggest problem is going on walks and all and having to carry around a bottle with me for hours. But lots of good ideas here in the comments for me :)
Wow, 85 comments? This post struck a cord with a lot of people …
I say, do what you love! Money is for spending on the things you love, and the things that are important to you. If bottled water is so important to you that you’re willing to write a post about it, then it’s obviously worth your money. You’ve clearly throught this through.
Personally, I do what your commenter Stefanie does — put it in a Brita filter, and stick that filtered water in the fridge so it’s nice and cold.
Thanks Paula, that means a lot :) I actually went out and grabbed one of those large jugs of water at the grocery store, to see if that curbs my at-home drinking and so far so good! It’s only been one day, but I’d call that a success :) I don’t mind drinking water differently at home as long as it tastes good. I’ll still have to figure out water on my walks, but one step at a time…
Okay, first of all there is a lot of other things out there to worry about besides berating someone for drinking bottled water. In my eyes, if you are out and about and thirsty it is a much better choice than paying for a high fructose corn syrup laden soda. And I would NOT drink tap water due to the chlorine & flouride, and other yucky stuff in there that shouldn’t be (I have to clean a pinkish-orange residue off my tub from the water that dries there…what is THAT stuff?)
My kids will most certainly always choose a cold bottle of water if it is available.
And I would rather them drink the water than soda, more juice, or more milk…
So for a while I was also buying the bottled stuff & having it all the time.
But it is expensive, and everytime I saw that big stack of empty bottles it made me cringe…
So we bought a Berkey water filter. It is expensive, but it will pay for itself in very little time.
It filters out everything, and the water tastes great. And you can use it for emergency purposes also, like, if there was no water we could take the creek water and filter through it to drink. And then we bought everyone an insulated stainless steel water bottle to use. We just fill them up with our filtered water before we leave the house. I am never caught without mine! That thing does not sweat, and will keep ice in it for for over 12 hours! Even if you have it out in the hot sun (soccer games) or leave it in your car. (Got mine from flylady.net as it is the best I have been able to find anywhere! you can unscrew the top to put ice in it, and then drink out of the smaller spout…remember it needs to be “double wall” stainless steel or it is not insulated!)
I feel much better about our water habits now that I am not wasting so much money and not buying all that plastic…yet if I am out of water I will buy it and not feel guilty as I know I am doing what is best for my health at that moment!
I like it :) I’ve started drinking water in huge jugs at home, but it’s def. hard to get used to… my water habits have been cut in 1/2 so far in the past week. it’s just not as exciting to me as much as Dasani in a bottle, that’s the only way I can explain it… I’m not giving up yet though, wanna give it a good shot before reverting to my old ways. Thanks for sharing what works for you! I like it.