Bottled Water

[Tone2TheBone]

Do you? So it's tap water huh? But wouldn't tap water somewhere else be better than the tap water you have at home? Or maybe it's worse? What about all those empty bottles that are thrown away. Would filtering water like say inside your refrigerator or under the sink to your faucet be "good enough". What exactly IS good enough?

[t_ross33]

Bottled water is becoming more and more popular in Saskatchewan, as it is everywhere. There are some major eco-environmental issues with the industry as a whole that haven't been addressed yet. Major softdrink companies are setting up shop near fresh water sources in underdeveloped and third-world countries. On the surface it's seen as a plus as it potentially employs local labour, thus improving the local economy, but they are also monopolizing access to those fresh water sources, affecting local agriculture and sustainance farming, which inturn creates a dependance on purchasing food grown/processed elsewhere.

We take water for granted, especially in Canada where there is supposed to be an abundance. Access to fresh water is a basic human necessity. We need to be careful how we proceed with the "manufacture" and supply of such a precious commodity.

Back to the question: I would think that filtered water from your local supply would be fine, though I do buy bottled water for the sake of convenience and as an alternative to soft drinks.

Trev

[Tone2TheBone]

Bottled water is becoming more and more popular in Saskatchewan, as it is everywhere. There are some major eco-environmental issues with the industry as a whole that haven't been addressed yet. Major softdrink companies are setting up shop near fresh water sources in underdeveloped and third-world countries. On the surface it's seen as a plus as it potentially employs local labour, thus improving the local economy, but they are also monopolizing access to those fresh water sources, affecting local agriculture and sustainance farming, which inturn creates a dependance on purchasing food grown/processed elsewhere.

We take water for granted, especially in Canada where there is supposed to be an abundance. Access to fresh water is a basic human necessity. We need to be careful how we proceed with the "manufacture" and supply of such a precious commodity.

Back to the question: I would think that filtered water from your local supply would be fine, though I do buy bottled water for the sake of convenience and as an alternative to soft drinks.

Trev

Really really good reply thanks Trev. Yeah I understand the implications but we too buy it for convenience and as an alternative to soft drinks just as you've mentioned. During the summers down here it gets wicked hot and so we go through cases of the stuff. I kinda feel bad about generating so much plastic trash though.

[t_ross33]

Really really good reply thanks Trev. Yeah I understand the implications but we too buy it for convenience and as an alternative to soft drinks just as you've mentioned. During the summers down here it gets wicked hot and so we go through cases of the stuff. I kinda feel bad about generating so much plastic trash though.

Are plastic bottles refundable or accepted in your local recycling programs (if available)? They are here. It helps keep it out of the landfill.

[Tone2TheBone]

Are plastic bottles refundable or accepted in your local recycling programs (if available)? They are here. It helps keep it out of the landfill.

We have a plastics only recycle bin here at work so I'm sure we have some kind of system for recycling in the city. I'll find out where we need to take them and start doing that.

[Bloozcat]

Some of the big bottled water producers like Coca-Cola and Pepsi have finally admitted that they're just selling filtered utility service water. Anyone can do that themselves, so why buy bottled?

I'm on a well where I live. I designed and put together my own system for treating the water. The last thing in line is a reverse osmosis unit under the sink in my kitchen that produces water that is just short of distilled in purity.

Our area is scheduled to get county utilities water in the next year, so I'll be saying good-bye to well water for the house, except for my irrigation system. I won't miss the hassle of maintaining my treatment system, that's for sure. One thing I will be keeping when the new water comes in though, and that's my whole house carbon filter. So, as treated as the water will be, it'll get an extra treatment to remove the chlorine, amomia, and who know what else that's used in utility water. So in effect, my water won't be any different from Desani or Aquafina.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Bottled water is becoming more and more popular in Saskatchewan, as it is everywhere. There are some major eco-environmental issues with the industry as a whole that haven't been addressed yet. Major softdrink companies are setting up shop near fresh water sources in underdeveloped and third-world countries. On the surface it's seen as a plus as it potentially employs local labour, thus improving the local economy, but they are also monopolizing access to those fresh water sources, affecting local agriculture and sustainance farming, which inturn creates a dependance on purchasing food grown/processed elsewhere.

Trev

Not to mention the shipping costs on the enviroment!

I use a brita filter, but will buy bottled water for a road trip or a day out etc.

[Tim]

Not to mention the shipping costs on the enviroment!

I use a brita filter, but will buy bottled water for a road trip or a day out etc.

I am thinking about purchasing a filtering system for the kitchen sink. Then maybe every 4 months or so buy a case of water, but in between cases I would clean and refill the empties with home filtered water. I am not too sure on which system to buy nor if certain systems can be installed buy the home buyer.

[Bloozcat]

I am thinking about purchasing a filtering system for the kitchen sink. Then maybe every 4 months or so buy a case of water, but in between cases I would clean and refill the empties with home filtered water. I am not too sure on which system to buy nor if certain systems can be installed buy the home buyer.

I bought an under sink reverse osmosis unit from EcoWater Systems about 4 years ago, and it works great. Here's some info on a unit that looks identical to mine for $199.00.
http://www.yourwaterneeds.com/DW_WIN445.asp

ETA: I installed it myself, and I don't think it's beyond the skills of most home owners who've done any light plumbing and repairs around their homes.

[Spudman***]

Tim

I've been using one of these faucet mounts for the last 8 years. http://www.purwaterfilter.com/faucetmounted.html
They work great and are cheap as all get out. I found some of the replacement filter elements at a Big Lots store for about $5 each and bought a lot of them so I think if you look around you can find the same deals as well.

The units can be found at almost any of your big box retailers (Kmart, Walmart etc.)

[Mark]

I bought an under sink reverse osmosis unit from EcoWater Systems about 4 years ago, and it works great. Here's some info on a unit that looks identical to mine for $199.00.
http://www.yourwaterneeds.com/DW_WIN445.asp

ETA: I installed it myself, and I don't think it's beyond the skills of most home owners who've done any light plumbing and repairs around their homes.

Ok let me just warn you on these, they work..yes...BUT! Being in the Plumbing business for 20+years let me educate you. Most of these systems use plastic fittings and tubing I cannot tell you how many FLOODED houses I have been to because of these, if fact I went to one this past friday. If they would just use brass and copper...but they dont. Since I own my own Plumbing Company and I can take the hit liability wise, I ALWAYS have people sign a waiver BEFORE I install one, I dont even sell them but if the customer buys one and wants it installed that is my policy. If I cant talk you out of it!! If you own one INSPECT it frequently!!! If it makes it to 4-5 years old buy a new one....... WHY??? The plastic gets brittle stresses and fails then you get a flooded house!

Do it your self tip: Cardinal rule in Plumbing NEVER screw a metal male fitting INTO a female threaded plastic fitting. NPT pipe threads are tapered the metal into the plastic STRESSES IT.....it is going to crack as sure as you are reading this. Maybe not today or next week but it will in time, trust me I have been doing this a long time!! Plastic INTO metal always. many of the kits have cheap parts and you must be very careful to not overtorque plastic fittings.


I generally recommend the Brita or the faucet mounted types also many refridgerators have a filters for the water dispenser this is what I have and it does fine. Bottled water???? I refuse to pay for it plus half these companies are running tap water through a filter...if your lucky and selling it, also many of the bottled waters when tested have higher bacteria counts than tap water. Dont say you weren't warned.

[sunvalleylaw]

We drink it some out of convenience, but are on good well water so I try not to. The local city water is excellent too. What bottles do any of you use for your own water? I understand Nalgene has its problems, as do the softer bike type bottles, and you are not supposed to re-use those pre-filled ones too. So what is one to do?

[Bloozcat]

We drink it some out of convenience, but are on good well water so I try not to. The local city water is excellent too. What bottles do any of you use for your own water? I understand Nalgene has its problems, as do the softer bike type bottles, and you are not supposed to re-use those pre-filled ones too. So what is one to do?

I'm not opposed to drinking bottled water altogether. When I'm out somewhere and I'm thirsty, I buy bottled water. It sure beats chlorinated utility water for taste.

I think it's the Nalgene polycarbonate bottles that are supposed to leach chemicals into the water. I have some one gallon Rubbermaid plastic water bottles at home that work great. No plastic taste issues with them...although I don't let the bottles sit around in the sun with water in them. I've got some Rubbermaid 20 oz. bottles made of the same plastic, and they're good too. And then there's the good old GI plastic canteens....again they're ok as long as they don't get hot.

[Tone2TheBone]

I'm not opposed to drinking bottled water altogether. When I'm out somewhere and I'm thirsty, I buy bottled water. It sure beats chlorinated utility water for taste.

I think it's the Nalgene polycarbonate bottles that are supposed to leach chemicals into the water. I have some one gallon Rubbermaid plastic water bottles at home that work great. No plastic taste issues with them...although I don't let the bottles sit around in the sun with water in them. I've got some Rubbermaid 20 oz. bottles made of the same plastic, and they're good too. And then there's the good old GI plastic canteens....again they're ok as long as they don't get hot.

Question: What happens to water inside bottle water if it gets hot? Or is this about something else....

[Bloozcat]

Question: What happens to water inside bottle water if it gets hot? Or is this about something else....

I believe that there's a temperature where certain plastics begin to break down. I've had experiences with plastic bottles that were fine when filled with cold water and kept that way, and the same bottle that when it and the water inside got hot, the water had a plastic taste to it. Anyone who's ever had the "pleasure" of drinking water from a GI plastic canteen after slogging around with it in 90 degree plus heat, knows what I mean. The water just tastes like plastic...and that has to be because the plastic is somehow transfering that to the water.

One of the warnings about bottled water pertains to the problem of the plastic breaking down. Bottled water isn't always stored in cool places, and here in Florida, it's practically guaranteed that it's been exposed to heat at least somewhere after it was bottled. When I see those Coca-Cola and Pepsi delivery trucks loaded with their Desani and Aqufina bottled water in the back at this time of year, I know that water is getting hot.

[duhvoodooman***]

The environmental considerations are important, no doubt. But I've never liked bottled water 'CUZ I'M CHEAP AND IT COMES OUTTA THE TAP FOR FREE!!

[pie_man_25]

I don't bother with bottled water, my opinion is that althought it is cleaner, some of the pollutants your body actually needs to keep alive, and besides, you drink water to keep from being thirsty, not to taste it, plus tap is cheaper and faster.

[Big_Rob]

Watch the Penn and Teller episode of Bulls**t! about bottled water for a real surprise.

[guitartist]

I drink a lot of bottled water. Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, the tap water tasted so good... but when I moved into the city there was noticeable difference in taste.

A guy I used to know, the bass player in a band I was in about 15 years ago, worked for the Atlanta Water works. Sounds like he had the easiest job in the world, he said he would usually sleep or read at work, or sometimes take an acoustic guitar with him to work and play while he was on the clockl (he worked the graveyard shift). He would also do a lot of drugs at work...and do you know what happened to him? He got a big promotion!

So now I understand why Atlanta city water tastes the way it does....I'll stick to bottled water, thank you, even if it is an overpriced sham.