One thought that helps me to avoid buying water in plastic bottles is thinking about how, prior to the year 1990, humankind for thousands of years has managed to live without bottled water. When I was a child, teenager, and young adult, there was no such thing as water in plastic bottles, and we stayed hydrated.

One of the main reasons that people buy bottled water is that they think it is safer than tap water. This is not necessarily true. Consumer Reports (CR) reviewed test reports from bottled water brands, and they also did their own research. CR found that 11 out of 130 brands of bottled water had detectable amounts of arsenic, and 6 brands had levels of 3 ppb (parts per billion) or higher. CR says that over 3 ppb of arsenic is not safe in water consumed over an extended time period. Adverse health effects from over 3ppb of arsenic in water include increased risk of heart disease and lower IQ scores in children. WebMD has an article on the safety and purity of bottled water. They cited research from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). EWG found 38 contaminants in bottled water, including bacteria, fertilizer, and chemicals, similar to what is permissible in tap water.

What to do? Buy a good water filter and a stainless steel water bottle to use for your filtered water. Your filtered water may be safer than bottled water. There are many kinds of water filters available – pitcher, under-counter, counter-top with diverter valve, etc., that do an excellent job. Some of the water filters are under $100.00. Another advantage of filtered water over bottled water is the cost savings. See more information on water filters here.

Besides drinking water safety, there is another important reason to break the bottled water habit. Many plastic water bottles are not recycled. You may toss your plastic water bottle in your recycling bin, but it will probably not be recycled. Only 26%, or less, of plastic is recycled in the U.S. right now. This is because of other countries refusing to take our used plastic, like they have done in the past. There is not enough demand for used plastic in our country. Some plastic is incinerated, but this is a horrible practice because carbon dioxide is released during the process, and also because of carcinogens and neurotoxins that are spewed into the air when plastic is burned.

Of the three “Rs” – reduce, reuse, recycle – reduce is the best practice for everyday environmentalists!