Is Bottled Water the Right Choice for You?

Is It Better for the Environment?
Bottled water used the energy equivalent of 32 and 54 million barrels of oil to produce and transport plastic water bottles in 2007—enough to fuel 1.5 million cars for a year. Rather than being recycled, 3 out of 4 empty plastic bottles end up as litter or in the landfill. 

Is It More Economical?
In 2009, the average person drank 27.6 gallons of bottled water.  At $1.29 for a 16 oz bottle of water, that translates to $10.32 per gallon or $285 per year.  A person drinking tap water would have spent $0.28 leaving $284 to spend on something more fun.

Is It Better for You?
Tap water is regulated by the US EPA which requires routine testing of water samples.  Bottled water is regulated by  1 person from the FDA.  Bottled water that does not cross state lines (60% of the bottled water market) is not regulated by the FDA or EPA.  

In 2009, the bottled water industry sold 8.1 billion gallons of water at $10 per gallon. The City of Newberg charges approximately $0.01 per gallon.  How do you want to spend your money?

Sources:  FDA.gov, bottledwater.org, foodandwaterwatch.org

                                           Water Conservation. It's a Choice.