Bottled water is bad for the environment and your body as well

The amount of bottled water people are consuming has more than doubled in the last 10 years. Producers of the products claim that the water is cleaner, more pure, and better for you. Well, in many cases, they are flat out misleading consumers.

The fact of the matter is that bottled water is regulated by the FDA, which has much weaker restrictions and regulations on water than the EPA. The EPA regulates all tap water in the U.S. and has very strict rules in place to keep the water contaminant-free. Basically, the FDA doesn't have the funding, the authority, or the staffing necessary to regulate the water as much as they should. In fact, bottled water providers are not even required to test for contaminants in their products, and if they do test and find that their water violates drinking water standards, they don't even have to report this to the FDA.

In addition to the health concerns with bottled water, the environmental impact of the bottles is substantial. Most bottles are made out of petroleum and require a substantial amount of energy to produce, store, and transport. And, after they are consumed, only 20 percent of the bottles end up being recycled.

So, the next time you think about buying bottled water, buy yourself a stainless steel water bottle (because it won't leech chemicals like a plastic one will), and drink water from the tap. It'll keep both your body and the environment safer. Not to mention that it will save you a good chunk of change.

If you'd like more info on the health and environmental concerns involved with bottled water, check out this story from The Daily Green.