Top Five Reasons Not To Drink Bottled Water

HEALTH-  There’s no guarantee it’s safer than tap water.

Municipal water systems must meet strict requirements set by EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act; bottled water falls under less proscriptive regulations promulgated by the FDA under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

GREEN HOUSE GASES- It’s greenhouse gas intensive to produce.

Bottled water is responsible for more than 200 times the greenhouse gas emissions of tap water over a full life cycle, which includes water extraction, treatment, bottling, and distribution.  (Source: Swiss Gas and Water Association)

WASTE- Water bottles wind up in landfills.

Plastic water bottles account for more than two million tons of trash sent to US landfills each year.  That’s 1 billion dollars worth of plastic  (Source: Earth Policy Institute)

MONEY- Buying water adds up.

In 2007, Americans spent over 12 billion dollars on bottled water.  Furthermore, bottled water corporations benefit from the commoditization of a common resource; extraction can adversely impact the water supplies of nearby communities.  (Source: International Bottled Water Association)

ALERNATIVES- Filtered tap water can be found in dozens of locations around HLS.

Check out the Green Team's "water map" to find out where you can find tap water.