Five Reasons Why You Should Avoid Drinking From Single-Use Plastic Water Bottles

For many of us we have become accustomed to buying water bottles in bulk for the home so we can grab on the go or we often re-fill the same plastic bottles over and over again.   

Although many cities are now providing recycling services for their communities, and we feel more responsible for recycling; it does not mean we are helping ourselves in regards to health concerns.  

Studies have shown there are many inherent dangers in drinking out of plastic bottles and especially re-using them.

Here are 5 reasons why you should avoid drinking from plastic water bottles.

1.  Plastic chemicals are not good for you. 

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although it is regarded as a safe plastic usable for human consumption products it is still a porous material.  This means that this material can leach harmful plastic chemicals and hormone disruptors into the product stored in that bottle.  

This leaching is more likely to occur as the plastic ages and if it is stored in heat.  For example leaving it in your car, for a day in the heat and then re-using it is a very bad idea.

BPA  is a chemical found in some plastics and has been shown to possibly cause breast cancer, prostate cancer and diabetes along with other reproductive development disorders.

Many of the cheap plastic bottles we might have purchased or gotten for free over the years, might have BPA in it.

For our own health it is important that we do not take any chances.   Do not re-use plastic water bottles.

 

2.  It is too expensive.

Do you enjoy watching your money go down the drain?

Well, tap water costs less than 1 cent per gallon while the price of bottled water ranges approximately between .70 cents to $2 for an average sized 16-20 ounce water bottle.  

If you spend $1 on a 16 ounce water bottle that equates to $8 per gallon, as opposed to 1 cent per gallon if you use strictly tap water.  The worst part is that most bottled water is basically filtered tap water which you can purify yourself at home.

Investing in some form of water filtration system will be more cost saving in the long run.  While buying water filters, and water filtration systems for the home might initially seem expensive, within only a few months time you will have saved money by using your own water purification devices.

 

 

3.  Plastic bottles may contain harmful bacteria.

Some may say, being exposed to a little bacteria is the only way our bodies learn to combat them.  Many people believe that just washing a bottle and re-using it is absolutely fine.

However, sometimes bottled water from the factory comes with bacteria already in it.

In 1999, the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) tested more than 1,000 water bottles, including 103 bottled water brands, and they found that 1/3 of the brands tested contained levels of contamination.  Synthetic organic chemicals, arsenic and bacteria. 

 

4.  It doesn't always taste better.  

Although bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) it is not nearly as restrictive as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has very strict guidelines for tap water and has no jurisdiction over bottled water.

Approximately 70% of bottled water that crosses state lines is never inspected. 

So, you have a lesser chance of getting contaminated water from tap water because it much more frequently tested and under closer scrutiny to maintain purity standards.

 

5.  It's terrible for our environment. 

It's obvious water bottles only contribute to pollution on a global scale.   Despite our increased participation in recycling campaigns, a substantial amount of plastic bottles are still thrown away in the streets and end up floating in rivers and oceans where marine life can mistake it for food.  The chemical breakdown of these PET bottles are left to leach right back into our water supply.

The best way we can put an end to this needless and destructive cycle is to avoid using plastic bottles as much as possible but especially using plastic water bottles because there is just no real need to buy water from a bottle.  If we cut that out we can make a difference.

 

 

Here are some alternatives to buying bottled water.

Tap Water
Even though municipal water systems are regulated and tested by the EPA for bacteria and toxins, there is still the possibility that contamination will occur between the water plant and your home.

Toxic chemicals like chlorine, chloramines and fluoride can enter the water and it's important that we all consider using some form of water purification system in the home for drinking water.

 

Home Water Purification

There are many types of water filtration methods in this case the choice is up to you.  Water Coolers with fluoride filters, Point of Use (POU) Water Coolers with inline filtration systems, and water pitchers with replaceable filters are just a few ways you can filter the tap water in your home.

 

Filtered Water Bottles

Switch from using a plastic water bottle to a BPA-free stainless steel or aluminum water bottle.

You can fill it up with filtered water, or even buy a Clearly Filtered filtered water bottle from Clean Water Mill which produces great tasting and refreshing water every time.

 

Filtered Hydration Packs

Many backpacks come with side compartments to carry water bottles and hopefully by now you've resolved to use only BPA free bottles or stainless steel filtered bottles.   

Wouldn't it be great if your backpack contained it's own water filtration system?  Even better a water filtration system that can spray water on the go!

Clean Water Mill offers a line of Hydration Packs that do just that!

We hope this serves you in providing some ideas and consideration into simple ways we can reduce the amount of plastic we use daily. Every little effort we put forth does make a difference!

 

 

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