Here is something you probably already know: Florida is hot — really, really hot. So hot, in fact, that if you go outside at the right time during the day you sweat just by standing still. Gross, yes, but here is something you may not know: sweat is mostly water, and therein lies a problem. Most people don’t reach for more water when they’re thirsty, and if they do, it is expensive bottled water. But consumers aren’t the only ones to pay a high price for bottled water, so does our environment.
America has been gripped by the bottled water fad for too long. We literally throw our money down the drain every we time we purchase what is, essentially, a piece of “pre-trash” that contains water. Cut out the middle man and break away from purchasing bottled water. Get a permanent refillable water bottle and stop adding to the massive amounts of waste created by “lazy hydration.”
According to the Food and Water Watch, a private consumer rights group, 1.5 billion tons of plastic waste is created each year from used water bottles. That’s 1.5 billion reasons to ditch the dependency.
I do understand the reason behind most of these “ill-informed” water purchases. It is seemingly convenient. But according to an article from www.dailyfinance.com, bottled water has a 4000 percent markup so how “convenient” is it really? Instead of waiting in line at Einstein’s Bagels to buy a bottle of water, skip the queue and bring your own bottle to fill up at one of the many fountains around campus.
“But tap water is disgusting.” Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but there is no reason to be a slave to Dasani, Fiji, Evian, Poland Springs, etc. Studies from the Natural Resources Defense Council proved that most bottled water, about 40 percent, according to the NRDC, is just as polluted as city water. All those brands tout “purity” and how safe their water is, but in reality they might as well be taking water from the kitchen sink and putting a cap on it. But fear not, city water is tested thoroughly and the FDA regulates it to much higher standards than bottled water.
So, unless you’re preparing for another hurricane, looking to keep a large group of people hydrated, or just really rich, avoid paying the markup for bottled water. The environment and your wallet will thank you.
