Water Quality

Please Ditch The Plastic! Exploring The Environmental Impact of Bottled Water

8 min read

It's time to wake up! Plastic waste and contamination from bottled water is one of the biggest environmental problems facing the world today. Every year, billions of plastic bottles are used and discarded. In the U.S. alone, more than 50 billion plastic bottles are used each year, and most of them end up in landfills or the ocean causing serious harm to our marine life. This is a huge problem because plastic takes hundreds or even thousands of years to break down, all the while leaching toxins into the environment. Let’s take a closer look at why you should ditch plastic bottled water and save the earth…

ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAYS

Every year, we produce enough plastic water bottles to circle the earth four times.


Less than half of all plastic bottles are ever recycled.


The rest end up in landfills or as litter, where they take hundreds of years to break down.


In the meantime, they leach chemicals into the environment and cause all sorts of problems for wildlife.

How Plastic Waste Is Messing Up the Planet

Here are some shocking facts about how waste from plastic bottled water is messing up the planet:

1. We're Producing an Insane Amount of Plastic Water Bottles

Every year, we produce enough plastic water bottles to circle the earth four times. 

That's a whole lot of plastic! 

Just think about all of those water bottles cluttering up our landfills and polluting our oceans. 

It's estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050, and it's all thanks to our love of bottled water.

2. Most of These Bottles Are Not Recycled

Unfortunately, less than half of these bottles are recycled. 

The rest end up in landfills or as litter, where they take hundreds of years to break down. 

In the meantime, they leach chemicals into the environment and cause all sorts of problems for wildlife.

3. Plastic Pollution Is a Huge Problem

The plastic pollution problem is only getting worse. 

Every day, tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans, where it harms or even kills marine life. 

This is a serious problem because it impacts the entire food chain. 

We humans are not immune to the effects of plastic pollution either... 

Studies have shown that we're ingesting microplastics, which can cause all sorts of health problems, including cancer. 

The issue with microplastics is that, like all plastics, they do not easily degrade into harmless molecules. Plastics can take decades and centuries to decompose, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem in the meantime.

Please Ditch The Plastic! Exploring The Environmental Impact of Bottled Water Microplastics

Why Is Bottled Water Bad for All Living Creatures?

The sad truth is that bottled water is not just bad for the environment, but it’s also bad for all living creatures.  

Here’s why:

1. It’s Made from Oil 

Plastic water bottles are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource that comes with a hefty environmental price tag. 

The production of just one plastic water bottle uses enough oil to drive a car for 20 feet.

2. It’s a Huge Source of Pollution 

Plastic water bottles are a major source of pollution, both on land and in our oceans. 

In the U.S., it’s estimated that about 30 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills each year. 

And if that’s not bad enough, an estimated 1 million marine animals are killed by plastic pollution each year.

3. It’s Bad for Your Health 

Not only is bottled water bad for the environment, but it’s also bad for your health. 

Many brands of bottled water contain harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA), which can leach into the water and cause health problems like hormonal imbalances.

4. It’s a Waste of Money 

Bottled water is a complete waste of money. 

In most cases, you’re paying for nothing more than filtered tap water. 

And even worse, you’re paying a premium for the privilege of drinking water that’s been stored in a toxic plastic bottle.

5. It’s Unnecessary 

There’s no need to buy bottled water when you can easily filter your tap water at home. 

This way you’ll save money and help protect the environment from plastic pollution.

So, next time you’re tempted to buy bottled water, think about how it’s harming the environment and all living creatures.

Choose a healthier and more sustainable option instead! 

Your wallet and the planet will thank you for it!

History of Bottled Water

The first recorded instance of bottled water was in 1622 when the English physician Sir Francis Bacon recommended that his patients drink water that had been boiled and then sealed in glass bottles.

In the 1800s, bottled mineral water became popular in Europe as a way to treat various ailments. 

Companies began springing up to the bottle and selling mineral water from natural springs.

In the early 1900s, several companies began bottling and selling municipal water in the United States. 

However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that bottled water took off in popularity.

Today, bottled water is a billion-dollar industry, with millions of people around the world drinking it daily. 

But despite its popularity, there are many reasons why bottled water is bad for our health and the environment:

  1. It’s expensive: A bottle of water can cost up to 2000 times more than tap water, even though it’s often no cleaner or healthier.
  1. It’s wasteful: Bottled water is a major contributor to plastic pollution, and each year, billions of plastic bottles end up in landfills or the ocean.
  1. It’s often no healthier than tap water: In the United States, bottled water is regulated by the FDA, which sets standards for purity that are similar to those for tap water. However, bottled water is not necessarily any cleaner or healthier than tap water. A study by the National Resources Defense Council found that one in four brands of bottled water contains levels of contaminants that exceed state or federal health limits.
  1. It’s a major source of microplastics: Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that can enter the food chain and cause serious health problems in humans. A study by Orb Media found that 93% of bottled water tested contained microplastics.
  1. It’s bad for the ecosystem: The production, transportation, and disposal of bottled water require a lot of energy and resources, and it results in a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite all of these negatives, bottled water is still a popular choice for many people.

DID YOU KNOW?

Microplastics can transport a variety of contaminants, including potentially hazardous organic chemicals and trace metals! Once in the body, these chemicals can increase the risk of disease, including cancer.

Why Do So Many People Buy Bottled Water?

In the United States, we're lucky enough to have some of the cleanest tap water in the world. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all public water systems to regularly test their water for contaminants and post the results online.

So why do so many people still buy bottled water?

A lot of it has to do with marketing. 

Water companies often use fear-based marketing, implying that their water is cleaner or healthier than tap water.

But the truth is, bottled water is no safer than tap water. 

In fact, it's often less safe!

That's because bottled water isn't subject to the same strict safety regulations as tap water. 

The FDA only regulates bottled water that's sold interstate, and only sets minimum standards for quality.

And even when bottled water is regulated by the FDA, it's not held to the same safety standards as tap water. 

For example, the EPA requires public water systems to test for E. coli and coliform bacteria every month, but there's no such requirement for bottled water.

What's more, bottled water is often contaminated with plastic. 

A study by the Orb Media group found that 93% of bottled water tested contained microplastics, and those microplastics can leach chemicals into the water, which can be harmful to your health.

So if you're concerned about your health and the environment, ditch the bottled water and drink tap water instead. 

It's just as safe, and you'll be doing your part to reduce plastic pollution.

It's Time to Kick Your Bottled Water Habit

The good news is that we can all do our part to reduce plastic waste and protect the environment!

One simple way to do this is to kick our bottled water habit. 

There are plenty of safe and healthy alternatives to bottled water, such as tap water, filtered water, and reusable water bottles. 

So let's make the switch and help save our planet!

So how can you make sure the water you drink is safe?

The short answer is: install a high quality water filter in your home, but more on that later…

In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires all public water systems to regularly test their water for contaminants and post the results online. 

So if you're on a municipal water system, you can just go to your water provider's website and check the results.

If you're on a private well, you'll need to have your water tested yourself, and it's not as expensive or difficult as you might think. 

You can either hire a professional to test your water or do it yourself with a home testing kit.

Either way, it's important to test your water regularly. 

That way, you'll know if there are any problems and can take steps to fix them.

when was the last time you tested your tap water?

A friendly reminder to get your tap water properly tested at least once a year to avoid any unwanted contaminants from sneaking in. Check out your community's most recent test results by entering your zip code in the box below.

How Can You Reduce Your Reliance on Plastic Water Bottles?

If you're concerned about the environment, the best thing you can do is stop buying plastic water bottles.

But I know that's not always possible or convenient. 

So here are a few other ways to reduce your reliance on plastic water bottles:

1. Carry a reusable water bottle with you.

2. If you must buy bottled water, choose brands that use recycled plastic.

3. Buy a water filter for your home and office, and use it regularly.

4. Encourage your friends and family to do the same.

By following these simple tips, you can help reduce plastic pollution and protect the environment.

So next time you reach for a bottle of water, think about the impact it could have on our planet. 

Choose a healthier and safer alternative, and help to make a difference.

If you do choose to drink it, be sure to recycle the bottles to help reduce its impact on the environment.

And if you’re looking for a healthier and more sustainable option, consider investing in a reusable water bottle and a water filtration system.

Why Should You Install a Water Filter In Your Home? 

There are many reasons to install a water filter in your home or office. 

Here are just a few:

1. Filtered water tastes better.

2. Filtered water is healthier for you. It removes harmful contaminants from your water, which can improve your health.

3. Filtered water is better for the environment. It reduces the need for plastic water bottles, which helps reduce pollution.

4. Filtered water is more affordable than bottled water. A quality water filter can save you money in the long run.

These are just a few of the reasons why you should buy and install a water filter in your home or office.

If you're concerned about your health or the environment, a water filter is a great investment!

For the cleanest water for you and your family, consider installing a filter in your home. 

Cloud Water reverse osmosis filters remove up to 99.9% of harmful toxins and make water taste great. 

Plus, they use built-in software so you can track and monitor your water quality 24/7. 

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Do you know what’s in your tap water?

Have you thought about what's in your tap water? You should check.