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Is Bottled Water Worth It?
The level of bottled water sales has been growing by something like 7 to 8% each year for the past decade or so. Worldwide consumption is estimated to have doubled between 1997 and 2005.
Worldwide, around about 200 billion bottles are sold every year. The US market makes up the lion's share of this accounting for about 25% of global sales.
There has been quite a backlash against the use of bottled water recently. The key concern for many being the environmental impact of bottled water. Polyethyleneterphthalate (PET) is the material used for most of these bottles. It is, to be fair, a material which can be recycled. The trouble is that recycling levels are estimated at less than 25%.
Environmentalist are also concerned about the energy used for production, transportation and disposal of the bottles. In comparison with normal tap water, the carbon emissions required to produce bottled water are greater by a factor of 5,000 times per litre.
There is no evidence, despite the extremely effective marketing of the bottled water producers, that such water is any better for your health than common or garden tap water. Some bottled waters have even been found to contain uranium or estrogenic chemicals. Salt is also present in some bottled waters - which is not good for your blood pressure.
When it comes to taste there is no evidence that indicates bottled water is, in any way superior to tap water. A blind tasting in London placed London tap water in third place out of 24 different waters. In the USA, an episode of Penn and Teller (hardly scientific but definitely worth a mention) proved that diners couldn't distinguish between water from a garden hose and bottled water.
Any cost comparison will be highly dependent upon which brand of bottled water is being used for comparison - but bottled water generally costs several hundred times more, on a per unit basis, than standard tap water.
Whatever way you look at it, whether in terms of environmental impact, health, taste or cost - bottled water doesn't seem to have much to recommend it. If you really don't like the taste of the water from your tap then you could always consider some type of filtration system. The cost will be a little higher than tap water, but very much less than bottled water. Using a solution like a water filter jug is also environmentally friendly as all parts of the filters are recyclable.
Of course, if home filtration systems are great for when you're at home - but if you like to carry water with you when you're out and about then you could use and reuse a bottle which you fill at home, or the office, before you leave. Again, Brita Water are a good example having combined with international designer Orla Kiely to produce the Wottle - which claims to be the world's first designer reusable bottle and is manufactured from 100% recycled material. Or do your own recycling and use an old soda bottle.
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