While observing folks shopping carts, many have a 24 pack of bottled water.  Is bottled water safer, healthier and cheaper?

• Regulation and safety
  • Both bottled (FDA) and tap water (EPA) have similar regulations. In blindfold taste tests 90% of people can’t tell the difference
  •  US tap water is considered some of the safest in the world. Fluoride is added to protect children’s teeth.
  • Bottled water contains twice the amount of microplastics as tap water.  Ingesting microplastics has been increasingly associated with health problems. (Home water filters have been shown to successfully decrease microplastics in tap water)
  • At least 50% of bottled water has been shown to be obtained from municipal sources.  Even if the bottled water has been filtrated, it is not rated safer than tap water.
• Environmental Impact-
  • Energy footprint for bottled water production, transport and refrigeration is 2000 times greater for bottled water
  • Manufacture of plastic water bottles created 4 billion pounds of plastic in 2016. The use of plastic keeps going up.
  • Production of A plastic bottle uses the equivalent of one liter of oil!
  • Most plastics end up in landfills and bodies of water where they leach toxins over hundreds of years.  Only 20% of plastic water bottles get recycled
• Cost
  • 1 gallon of US tap water costs 0.005 cents, 1 gallon of bottled water collected from several bottles costs $9.87, that cost makes bottled water more expensive than milk, or gasoline and 2000 times more expensive than tap water!

There are times when bottled water is necessary but we have been made to feel like bottled water is safer and healthier.  However bottled water is another marketing scheme used by large companies.   Are we being fed another hoax?

Good News-BCC has a water bottle filling station right outside the gym doors-use it!

About Green Chalice Ministry: 

Green Chalice educates the congregation about caring for God’s creation by promoting initiatives that inspire partnership in caring for creation. Please contact us to learn more and join us in our mission to Worship, Grow and Serve – Caring for God’s Creation