Are you still buying water in plastic bottles ? Really ?

Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy and respect the outdoors but do not "hug trees". But I really can't believe people still buy water in plastic bottles. Besides the ridiculous cost to the consumer, there is a huge environmental impact associated with the production and destruction of the bottles and the waste of water used in production. Buy a freakin filter and reuseable bottles, not that we all here don't already have those.

So, the poll is blind, no one will know how you answered.

I'm trying not to travel like a Joad. I'm also trying to make smarter choices about what I put in my body. That means that yes, I sometimes find myself without a bottle, much less a water filter, and on those occasions will sometimes opt for buying a bottle of water over a coke or the like.

Really.

Only if I forgot to bring water for a hike, or some other desperate situation. And of course, I recycle or re-use.

I buy water on occasion and use them until they turn green in the bottom
.. a great conversation starter

The only bottled water I drink comes from a Nalgene. Good old tap water tastes just fine to me (unless of course my father pushes changing the salt in the water softening filter and I get that yummy sulfur taste and smell....makes men more manly and puts hair on your chest! )

Brian

griffin said:

... That means that yes, I sometimes find myself without a bottle, much less a water filter, and on those occasions will sometimes opt for buying a bottle of water over a coke or the like.

Really.

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Polls are never perfect. I should have had a 5th option: "RARELY: Only when necessary will I buy." I understand what you're saying. In those situations I've been buying the thick plastic low calorie Gator Aid bottles that I will take home, clean and re-use.

Chip said:

Polls are never perfect. I should have had a 5th option: "RARELY: Only when necessary will I buy." I understand what you're saying. In those situations I've been buying the thick plastic low calorie Gator Aid bottles that I will take home, clean and re-use.

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The above pretty much describes me. "V8" and "Vitamin Water" are two additional products that come in a reusable, heavy plastic bottle. And of course, I would rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal labotomy.

For hiking? Not yet. Always have a Nalgene and a filter. When cycling and have consumed what's in my water bottles? Yep. Refill the bottles and return the empties for the nickle. Save the planet and a few cents.. I like that Maine puts a deposit on just about anything you drink...

Plastic Bottles Are Evil!

Thanks for bringing this up, Chip. These bottles are terrible and people really need to stop using them. We are all partially responsible for the huge spill in the Gulf because of awful habits like plastic water bottles. Many will take offense to that comment, but I strongly feel that it's true!

More go-green tips for those interested in being as green as possible. I've posted this before, but I'm forever trying to improve it:

EASIEST
~ shut off all lights the second you leave a room
~ buy reusable grocery bags and never accept taking a paper, cardboard, or plastic bag
~ stop accepting bags when you purchase clothing or goods at stores (bring a reusable bag into the store or carry purchases in your hand)
~ recycle all glass, metal, aluminum, plastic, cardboard & paper that you use (get a recycling box from your town's Department of Public Works)
~ turn off your computer & monitor immediately after you are done using it (especially at night)
~ buy food/supplies in bulk (results in fewer trips to the store & less packaging)
~ go paperless for all your bills and pay all bills online
~ remove yourself from ALL mailing lists; call or email the company as soon as you receive it to stop future mailings.
~ never sign up for catalogs
~ don’t wash bath towels after every use
~ don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth
~ turn off your car if you are going to be idle for more than 1 minute
~ skip reading the daily printed newspaper (i.e. the "Metro" in Boston)
~ don’t use straws
~ unplug appliances that are not in use since many appliances use power even when turned off. (ex. Some tv’s, computers, microwaves)
~ use direct deposit instead of receiving a paycheck.

EASY
~ change all your lightbulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (or LED’s when those get cheap enough)
~ get a Nalgene, Sigg, or Camelback water bottle and stop buying plastic water bottles. Bring that bottle with you everyday and everywhere (work, gym, meetings, etc.)
~ buy all fruits & vegetables from local farms so that they don't have to be shipped from countries 7,000 miles away.
~ recycle your cell phone and printer cartridges
~ make sure your car tires are properly inflated.
~ don’t use drive-throughs (get out of your car and walk into the restaurant to avoid idling)
~ cancel all your paper & magazine subscriptions and only read online versions
~ donate as much as you can instead of throwing it away (appliances, clothing, etc.)
~ try to avoid using plastic cups, bowls, silverware, etc.
~ buy products that are made with recyclable materials whenever possible.
~ bring utensils to work instead of using plastic silverwear
~ use lower watt lightbulbs
~ do not buy “happy meals” for kids as the toys are a complete waste of plastic
~ buy Gatorade powder and use that in Nalgene's instead of buying the bottles

HARD
~ carpool to work often
~ dry some or all of your laundry without a dryer (hang-dry instead)
~ never drive over 70mph as most cars lose fuel efficiency above that.
~ hail hybrid taxis since they get at least 2x to 3x the gas mileage
~ do full loads of laundry and try to always use cold water
~ remember that taking public transportation uses only 5-10% of the energy that you would use if you drove yourself.
~ go on fewer but longer road trips as opposed to more frequent but shorter trips.
~ keep the hot showers as short as you can
~ use low-flow faucets, toilets, showerheads
~ support conservation organizations with time/money/effort so that developers don't build 756-unit condominium complexes or casinos.
~ try to convince your entire office to go as “paperless” as possible
~ convince other people to adopt some of these tips

roadtripper said:

~unplug appliances that are not in use since many appliances use power even when turned off. (ex. Some tv’s, computers, microwaves)

~ cancel all your paper & magazine subscriptions and only read online versions

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I mostly agree. And I'm working pretty hard on the Hard ones.

I tried to unplug my cable box when I was not using it, but it stopped working, and I needed to call the company to get it working again!

I find that some paper magazines have more content. Or, sometimes just the opposite!

Paradox said:

I would rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal labotomy.

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ummm...... 'they' give you bottled water before they take you in for the procedure....not that I would know first hand or anything.

roadtripper said:

~ remove yourself from ALL mailing lists; call or email the company as soon as you receive it to stop future mailings.

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Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing and Email: Where to Go to “Just ...
Apr 24, 2009 ... However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA's Mail Preference Service. ...
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt063.shtm - Cached - Similar

Chip said:

Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing and Email: Where to Go to “Just ...
Apr 24, 2009 ... However, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that do not use the DMA's Mail Preference Service. ...
www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt063.shtm - Cached - Similar

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I went there and did some opting, thanks for the link.

I've got to quibble with one of your Easy ones:

~ get a Nalgene, Sigg, or Camelback water bottle and stop buying plastic water bottles. Bring that bottle with you everyday and everywhere (work, gym, meetings, etc.)

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Or, just reuse the water bottles you already have. I'm partial to Gatorade bottles with the quarter-turn spouts. Much lighter and much easier to drink from than a Nalgene, and believe me they're tough enough for backpacking.

nartreb said:

I've got to quibble with one of your Easy ones:

Or, just reuse the water bottles you already have. I'm partial to Gatorade bottles with the quarter-turn spouts. Much lighter and much easier to drink from than a Nalgene, and believe me they're tough enough for backpacking.

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Supposedly, bacteria can grow a lot easier in the caps of traditional water & gatorade bottles than in Nalgene bottles. At least that's what I've read a few times...not sure if I believe it or not.

On occasion if on a long car trip & I'm sick of diet coke. Always reccyle. Since recycling isn't always easy on the road, the bottles tend to accumulate in the back seat. (adding to the junky look that keeps vandals & thieves from breaking in)

Kids don't drink soda so if they are sick of juice or choc. milk, water is a good choice.

Reusing bottles, since BPA is use to makes plastic clear & mine may sit in a hot car (heat isn't good for BPA items) I don't reuse them.

While hiking I bring a mix of water (from home, hut or other trusted choice but on rare occasion have bought a gallon of P.S. at a store) and either Gator or Powerade. (financially in my best interest to buy the Coke product)

Good thread.

A couple thoughts I would add from a health perspective FWIW:

Bottled water is monitored by the FDA whereas tap water is monitored by the EPA. That in and of itself does not necessarily make one better than the other but bottled water has much less stringent quality requirements than tap water does. You take more chances with bottled water quality.

Regulations also change depending on whether bottled water crosses state lines or not, so even though many would like to buy local, in the case of bottled water, if the bottler sells in-state only and does not export to other states, the regulations are even less stringent.

One last thought: letting bottles of water heat up in a car (as Mike astutely mentioned) is not good due to the possibility of chemicals leaching from the plastic. Keep in mind that there is also a very good possibility the case of water sat in a very hot warehouse after packing and then traveled in the back of a very hot tractor trailer on the way to the store. Most likely, it has seen significant heating before you ever touched it.

My biggest concern however regarding water bottles (and I have many), is that there are companies like Nestle, Poland Spring, etc. that are quietly buying up alot of water rights for alot of years and will be taking that water from the same sources as wells of many homeowners, farmers, etc. when in many places, things are getting drier.

Low aquifer bad.

I drink them when I need to; I try hard not to need to.

Raven said:

One last thought: letting bottles of water heat up in a car (as Mike astutely mentioned) is not good due to the possibility of chemicals leaching from the plastic. Keep in mind that there is also a very good possibility the case of water sat in a very hot warehouse after packing and then traveled in the back of a very hot tractor trailer on the way to the store. Most likely, it has seen significant heating before you ever touched it.

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Bacteria (if any is present in the bottle) also grow faster in warm water.

Doug

I worked this summer at Paine College for a high school science program. One of the research teams (high school students) did their research on water sources and some of the highest bacteria counts were from bottled water. Public water has stricter standards than bottled water (if I recall FDA sets the standards for bottled) The highest bacteria count was from "Figi" bottled water and it just happened to be the most expensive of the bottled water that was tested.

Raven said:

Good thread.
My biggest concern however regarding water bottles (and I have many), is that there are companies like Nestle, Poland Spring, etc. that are quietly buying up alot of water rights for alot of years and will be taking that water from the same sources as wells of many homeowners, farmers, etc. when in many places, things are getting drier.

Low aquifer bad.

I drink them when I need to; I try hard not to need to.

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We have water today & I don't play a broker of FP in real life but at some point buying stock in a company with ties to desalination (& de-oiling) might be a gamble to take with some money.

(Not doing it or tomorrow unlikely to have you missing the great bubble on Wall St)

Rumor has it more people are living on the big blue marble & some historically poor countries are getting richer so clean, naturally fresh water will become more in demand.