Chris Koester’s Blog

I see two main reasons why people buy bottled water:

They think it is cleaner – In some circumstances this may be true. In developing countries that do not have an infrastructure to deliver clean water – bottled water is a convenient alternative. In the US, however, this is rarely an excuse. Tap water in the US is heavily regulated. According to the Earth Policy Institute, roughly 40% of bottled water begins as tap water.

Convenience – It is often easier to find bottled water than it is to find a drinking fountain. Some places are built this way intentionally so that they can make more money by selling the bottled water. (The new Indianapolis Colts stadium)

The reality is that there is now an enormous amount of trash generated by empty water bottles. An article in the Great Falls Tribune – Environment drowning in bottled water – has some good information regarding this pollution problem.

Solution – My solution for consumers is to simply reuse your own bottles. I very rarely buy bottled water. When I do buy bottled water, I reuse the bottle for weeks or months before I recycle it. Fill it up at home or at a drinking fountain. Not only will you help to reduce landfill waste, but you will save money. According to the Earth Policy Institute, bottled water can cost up to 10,000 times more than tap water! If you do the math, much of the available bottled water is more expensive than gasoline!

Via Reddit

Environment drowning in bottled water – Great Falls Tribune
Bottled Water: Pouring Resources Down the Drain – Earth Policy Institute