Home based Green Alternatives to Bottled Water:
If your refrigerator is filled with rows of plastic water bottles, it may be time to rethink your consumption. Although the bottled water market is a billion dollar industry, its critics have become increasingly vocal over the past few years due to environmental and safety concerns. With new water filtration technology now marketed for the home kitchen, you can transform ordinary tap water into crystal clear stream of refreshment, without the plastic.
Why Make the Switch?
There are numerous reasons to think about switching over from bottled water to alternative methods of home filtration. To begin with, bottled water can cost anywhere from 500 to 1500 times as much as tap water, with many consumers purchasing bottles of water on a daily basis. This can really add up over the years. To add insult to injury, in many cases when you buy a bottle of water you’re truly only paying for the packaging. It’s estimated that nearly half of bottled waters come from the same municipal sources as tap water. You can do the filtering at home with home water coolers or other devices of this nature instead and save yourself some money.
The environmental cost of bottled water is also high. It can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic bottle to biodegrade, and millions of them end up in landfills each and every day. To manufacture and distribute plastic bottles of water, a large amount of oil is needed. It’s estimated that if you fill up a water bottle of water one third of the way with oil, this is a fair representation of the amount used in each bottle.
Greener Options for your Kitchen:
From a filter jug that you fill by hand to a whole house filtration system, there are numerous options that you can work into the design of your kitchen, ditching your dependence on bottles.
Filter Jugs – The classic method of home filtration, a filter jug is filled up with water from the tap and then left in the refrigerator for cold, distilled water. Although this type of filter doesn’t capture as many contaminants as other options listed below, it is cost-effective and portable.
Home Water Coolers – The new generation of sleek water coolers, such as the Bibo home water cooler, connect directly to your water mains. They not only act as a filter but can also provide instant hot water.
Faucet Filtration – Similar to the home water cooler idea, you can attach a faucet filter to your sink and instantly have access to clean, fresh water. These filters need to be changed fairly regularly to stay effective, so it’s best to set up a consistent reminder.
Reusable Bottles – When you want to have water on the go, you can choose from a wide range of different reusable bottles on the market today. Stainless steel can be a great option for keeping your beverage cold without the chemicalleaching effects of plastic.
Guest Post by Robbie Reddy
Similar to gas stations if we have water stations we can take re-usable containers and get them filled with good quality water. The state should monitor the hygiene of the water to protect the very same people who elected them to power.