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Cost: A single bottle of water generally runs about one to two dollars. In some cases, such as at concerts or amusement parks, one bottle can cost up to nearly three dollars! Even if bottled water is bought in bulk, the price still averages around .50 to .89 cents per bottle. Filtered tap water is essentially the same product and costs a fraction of the price.

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Space: Many people live in environments where space is at a premium. One reusable bottle takes up much less space than 12 bottles of the same product.

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Waste: In a perfect world, everyone would recycle their used bottles. All it takes is a quick drive down the highway to realize that we live in a far from perfect world. Old plastic bottles littering the curb are a common sight, unfortunately. Even in a garbage dump, one bottle can take thousands of years to decompose.

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Environmental impact: Litter aside, bottled water takes a greater toll on our environment. Oil goes into making the plastic. Large trucks need to be fueled up to transport them, emitting extra fumes into the air. The bottles are usually kept cool in the store, using up even more unnecessary energy.

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Quality: Bottled water has a reputation for being “safe”, but this isn’t necessarily true. Under extreme heat, like that found in a vehicle in summer, chemicals can be leached from the plastic and contaminate the water within.

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Regulations: Consider this; the EPA holds tap water to much higher standards than the FDA holds bottled water, meaning there is a chance that bottled water is not as safe as filtered tap water.

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Not So Pure: Bottled water companies claim their water is “purer,” often toted as spring water or more organic. Take a closer look at the label though. If the words “from a municipal/community source” are present, that water is likely to be no more than glorified tap water. Consumers can have the same taste and effect by attaching a filter to their faucets.

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Community effect: Bottled water is pulled from local sources near the bottling plant, leading to water shortages in the immediate area. Farmers and local residents take the brunt of the impact at first, but everyone feels the crunch in higher food costs and shortages.

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Redundancy: It takes a ridiculous amount of water to make one bottle of water! Some studies suggest that it takes nearly seven times as much water to make just one consumable bottle!

Doesn’t it make more sense to ditch to bottle?

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Louise Baker. When she’s not enjoying a glass of fresh, cold, tap water, Louise Baker is a blogger and freelance writer. Of late she has been writing about online degrees for Zen College Life.

Image: Nexeus_Fatale, xdmag, goldberg, Horia Varlan, bradleygee, calliope, jessicamelling, BAR Photography, Anthony Albright, Todd Morris

The post 9 Reasons to Ditch the Bottle Once and for All appeared first on EcoSalon.