Water Filtration

Bottled water? That’s so ’80s.

The $14.4 billion bottled-water market has come under fire for being environmentally incorrect as those discarded plastic containers keep piling up in landfills.

Meanwhile, decades of marketing that touted costly bottled water as cleaner, healthier and better tasting than tap water turned out to be a lot of hype. Not only is most good-old-fashioned tap water safe and clean, experts say, but swearing off the bottle also saves you a bundle.

Here’s how to turn on the tap and let the savings pour in — without sacrificing flavor.

The Truth About Tap

Before you get swept up by fancy-looking water bottles with fancy slogans (”collected from spring water sources,” “filtered naturally through layers of glacial sand”) at a cost of $2 a bottle, consider this: More than 90% of U.S. water systems meet all regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency.But bottled water is largely unmonitored. According to Food & Water Watch, a non-profit aimed at providing access to safe and affordable drinking water, the Food and Drug Administration regulates only 30% to 40% of the bottled water sold across state lines.

And despite claims from bottled water manufacturers that their product comes from pure mountain springs or groundwater sources, experts say that these days more bottled water comes from a municipal supply, just like tap water. Which raises the question: Why buy the cow if you can drink the milk for (practically) free?

As most of the nation’s water supply comes from a municipality, your local water utility is required to issue a water-quality report — which is one way to find out about the quality and safety of the water in your area.

For a comprehensive primer on tap water — including the stuff from the unregulated, private wells that supply about 10% of the U.S. population — consult the EPA’s guide to drinking tap water on the agency’s website, says Kuperszmid-Lehrman. There you also can find a report about the water quality in your area. You can also call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

Tap Savings With Tap Water

Single-serve portions of bottled water, the most common being the 16-ounce size, accounted for more than 60% of the volume of bottled water sold in 2009, according to Food & Water Watch.
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Water is the single most important element for human existence, yet many people do not know much about water. Water comprises 60% of a human’s body weight, counts for 80% of our blood, and comprises over 65% of our brain and muscles. Knowing this, one can see why choosing the best water to drink is of the impost importance. The two main types of water commonly chosen for their healthy properties are bottled water and water that has been filtered via a refrigerator water filter. Knowing the difference between these to types of water will surely help anyone make an educated choice as to what type of water they want to drink.

One of the first differences between refrigerator water filter systems and bottled water is the cost. There is no doubt that refrigerator water filter systems are cheaper than buying bottled water. They are even cheaper than buying cheap store brand water in bulk. Bottled water has to be so expensive because of packaging, shipping and marketing. Refrigerator water filter systems do not have to deal with massive marketing campaigns or packaging, and so they can charge the consumer less.

More important than the cost of one’s water choice is the health factors involved. Many people believe that bottled water is the only healthy water, but this is not true. In fact, some studies have shown that bottled water is less healthy than a refrigerator water filter system. Bottled water suffers because there are often chemicals from the plastic in which the water is stored that become mixed in with the water. Sadly, some companies fill their bottled water with mere tap water. There are no federal regulations concerning the quality of bottled water, so many major companies go unchecked. Refrigerator water filter systems tell the user exactly what has been filtered out of the water, so the user knows the kinds of chemicals he or she is avoiding. The healthiest people are, more often than not, also the best informed. Knowing exactly what is in your water will help you to live healthier.

It is essential to be conscious of the environment in which we live. Bottled water can be recycled, but how much of the plastic is re-used? Additionally, many avid water bottle drinkers do not recycle. The plastics used in water bottles may never fully decompose because of the nature of their chemical bonds. Refrigerator water filter systems are non-obtrusive to the environment. There is no plastic to throw out, and no harmful fumes.

Bottled water versus refrigerator water filters is a heated debate. For consumers who are health conscious, cost savvy, and environmentally sound, the choice is obvious. Refrigerator water filter systems are cheaper, healthier, and better for the environment. Some may think that bottled water is a great new trend, but personal health is more important than any trend. For the best personal health, it is advisable to choose a refrigerator water filter system.

An Ezine article

The fad in drinking water from bottles is killing off the planet as detailed by scientists.

The bottled water craze may be very fashionable, but it is no healthier than ordinary tap water and according to analysts is 10,000 times more expensive to produce.

This situation is having an alarming affect on the environment as to the resources required to extract the water from the ground, package it and distribute around the globe.

It is estimated that some 22 million tons of bottled water a year is distributed each year around countries. Transporting this water involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels, transporting this bottled water long distances, with approximately a quarter crossing national borders to reach consumers via trucks, trains and boats.

Once the water has been consumed, the problem of disposing of the plastic bottles is a major issue as they take 1,000 years to biodegrade. These bottles are commonly produced form polyethylene terephthalate, which is derived from crude oil. In America, to meet their demand it requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil a year, enough to fuel 100,000 cars for a year. Throughout the world 2.7 million tons of plastic are used to create plastic water bottles.

In industry and commerce, there has been a major swing away from bottled water dispensers to the plumbed in Water Coolers ( bottleless water coolers ) options. The option to use the water we are already paying for is one of many reasons for the switch over, besides health and safety issues, storing of the empty and full bottles, the lifting of 5 gallons of water onto the dispense stand and monthly accounts checking on full and empty bottles. Plumbed in water coolers do not experience these problems and offer pure filtered water at all times, without running out. No more waiting for the delivery truck with all its gas emissions to replace the empty bottles. In recent times the alarm bells have been ringing as to the toxins found in the plastic bottles plus the scare of bacteria build up insides the full bottles that are left standing around offices and on their stands, in full sunlight.

There is a myth that bottled water is better for you than tap water and tap water. Unlike bottled water, it is monitored daily and comes out fresh from the tap. Bottled water could be months old and is not treated to kill bacteria. The danger is that drinking from a bottle and then leaving it open or in the sun could encourage bacterial growth.

An Ezine article

A water filter is an appliance that removes chemicals and bacteria by means of chemical processes. Water filters are used to clean and purify more than just drinking water. They are also used for cleaning of aquariums, irrigation, swimming pools and etc.

Water filters are a necessity for life now days, due to the bacteria floating around in our water systems. Water filters prevent the cloudiness and color that you may have in your tap water coming from your house plumbing. These days clean healthy water is hard to find and that is when water filters come in handy. Many researchers have found out that most tap water is not safe because of environmental and industrial pollution.

Even though many people think bottled water prevents bacteria and chemicals from entering our body, they are wrong. The plastic bottles leave plastic residue behind in our water which is just as unhealthy as regular tap water. Also, you will have to buy tons of purified bottled water to complete you daily chores (like cooking and washing counters) if you do not have a water filter.

If you are on the go a lot or a hiker there are small portable water filters. These are great to bring with you when you are on the go so that you can have clean healthy water to drink even when you are away from home.

With so many families always on the go the bottled water industry has exploded with many people enjoying the convenience of grabbing a bottle off water and off they go in the car.

If you have a baby you also understand the meaning of busy and when you have to leave it is so easy to grab a few bottles of sealed water from your local store and take that to mix their baby bottle formula.

Due to the bottle water not even being as healthy as we think because of all the chemicals it makes it even more important to consider having a water filter especially for your baby and his or her health. Even if you get a drinking water filter only just for the purpose of your baby, you will probably find yourself using it more and more also.

Bottled water is very expensive, but it is a booming industry that rakes in huge profits. These profits have a cost to the environment and your pocket book. One and a half million barrels of oil are consumed each your to produce those disposable plastic bottles that the water is packaged in. Most, if not all of these bottles are recyclable, but most end up pitched to the curb or end up filling the landfills. There is an alternative, though.

Water filters can be used to treat many sources of water to produce clean, odor-free and taste-free water. They remove chemicals such as chlorine, which in turns improved the taste. Sediments and other harmful particulates are also removed, resulting in pure, clean water. Some scientists theorize that drinking unfiltered water can be harmful to your health.

Many types of filters are available depending on the end users needs:

Whole House Filters: This type of filter attaches to the household water supply and filters the water before it is distributed through the home. Whole house units are more costly to purchase and install, but provide greater convenience since all the faucets in the home will dispense filtered water.

Faucet Filters: Faucet filters attach easily to your existing faucet, allowing you to have filtered water on demand. This is one of the most popular styles due to its ease of use and installation. Maintenance is as simple as sliding a new filter in when replacement is needed. The only disadvantage is that the room where the filter is installed is the only source for the filtered water in the home.

Filter Pitchers: This is the simplest form of water purification. It is a pitcher with a built in filter, unfiltered water goes in the top of the unit and gravity feeds into the pitcher. The pitcher can then be kept in the fridge to provide a quick and convenient drink of cold fresh tasting water. They are also great for campers or those who travel, but want the benefit of clean water where ever they are.

There are many other styles of water filters and purifiers available, choose what works best for you and your family. Not only will filtering your own water benefit you, it will also benefit the environment.

An Ezine Article

There are many reasons one might consider a home water filter with the first being the ever-growing concern about the purity of our water supplies. Bottled water has been the choice for people world-wide for more than a decade, but it is an unregulated industry, and some may actually be no better than tap water. There are health, economic, and environmental concerns that one should also take into account before considering the use of bottled water.

Water filters provide clear, clean, and pure water. They are instrumental in the reduction or prevention of many diseases including cancer, learning disabilities in children and birth defects that can be linked to a contaminated water supply.

Filters remove sediment and dirt. They also remove bacteria, chlorine, cysts, and VOCs-volatile organic chemicals as well as lead. Most filters also retain valuable trace minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

Unfortunately, municipal water companies cannot always control the outbreak of dangerous bacteria in our water supply making filters almost a necessity. Filters can promote good health including proper growth and development of unborn babies and children. In addition, if you purify your water supply, there will also be a greater reduction in contaminants that could escape into the air which can adversely affect health as well.

The economic benefits of filters include less cost. Water filters more than pay for themselves because the savings can be as much as $700 dollars a year which is the average amount spent on bottled water.

Water filters also benefit the environment. Environmentally friendly filters reduce the amount of plastic bottles that need to be produced to accommodate the bottled water demand. A significant reduction in the amount of plastic going into our land fills can be directly related to the use of water filters.

The benefits of water filters easily outweigh the use of bottled water. Filtered water means better health and less expenditure. Even individual use filters have all the health and economic benefits as well as the added convenience of portability. So, when it comes to a choice between bottled and filtered water, the decision seems more than clear.

An Ezine Article

Back-to-the-Tap Movement Gains Momentum 

Many people around the world have become accustomed to the use of bottled water.

I must say it is very convenient, simple and easy. You do not have to worry about cleaning a plastic container over and over again and worry about it harboring bacteria if you cannot get it cleaned thoroughly.

This convenience has become used more and more everyday. If you think you do not need a filter because the bottled water is free from impurities you may be mistaken. Yes, bottled water may have some contaminants removed but may still contain some things that a water filter would remove completely. Also, some bottled water is called spring water and has a worse taste than drinking water from the faucet.

 I personally use water filtered through a system as my source for consumption source and most times will bring water in my own container that I have acquired through a drinking water filter when I have to leave the house.

Also consider that you are using up valuable Earth resources with all the plastic from the water bottles everyone is purchasing. If we all drank filtered water from home and used a specific container all the time and reused it we would save and conserve the earth.

Benefits from drinking water filters are many. A few of the benefits are:

• Recycle and save earth resources by not using plastic bottles
• Have clean contaminant free water to drink even when you are out
• Have good tasting water

I even fill about 6 bottles from by drinking water filter and leave in the refrigerator and instead of grabbing a store bought bottle of water I grab one of my own bottles with water acquired through my drinking water filter.

This way I conserve the Earth resources and have healthy water on the go.

An Ezine Article

Ranking as one of the most bizarre ideas in water purification in recent years, consumers can now find New York City’s tap water in bottles.

Credit a company called TAP’D NY for the idea, which implements a reverse osmosis process to purify the water and filter out any potentially harmful agents. They then encourage everyone to reuse the plastic bottles the water comes in, and drink locally. The carbon footprint of drinking from other sources, they say, is getting too much for the earth to take.

Even though the idea sounds bizarre and even somewhat unappealing, TAP’D NY has an honest marketing strategy, which is a rarity when it comes to bottled water. They’re calling theirs “Truth in Hydration,” which is fair enough. Most other companies are quick to tell you that the water comes from a glacier, stream or other “natural” source, when all the while it might be runoff from an industrial plant. (And before you think no company would ever market something bad for your health, give the people at Phillip Morris a call.)

Is bottled water really worth it?

Brought to you by www.SoundWaterSolutions.com 

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This concise, and to-the-point article, originally published on Bottled Water Blues.com, for me ends the debate once in for all.

Bottled Water Vs. Filtered Water

Despite all the hype and expensive ad campaigns, the best water does not come in a bottle.

Companies like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, with their Dasani and Aquafina bottled water products, spend millions of dollars on ads that depict fresh mountain springs and nature… when in fact both of these, like many leading brands, use municipally treated tap water as the source.

Bottled water is not only the fastest-growing segment of the entire beverage industry, it is also the most profitable. This explosive industry is fueled by the misconception that bottled water is safer or better than tap water… when in most cases Read the rest of this entry »