It is estimated that this year (2017) alone, the global consumption of bottled water topped 391 billion liters. In the scheme of things, the USA was a major player in what is known to be a fast-growing industry. While this kind of water has been known to be popular among people, it has also faced plenty of criticism over the years. At the moment, there is a raging debate as to whether bottled water is worth its weight or volume in this matter. At the core of it is the argument that filtered water is a better choice and needs to be adopted across the board.
A “Case” of Statistics
A look at the facts related to the manufacturing and consumption of bottled water serves up a damaging discovery. The Earth Policy Institute estimates that over 1.5 million oil barrels are used up in the production of plastic water bottles a year-and we are only considering US figures. Otherwise translated, that amount of oil can fuel and run 100,000 cars for a year. Keep in mind that this does not factor costs related to transport and other logistics.
The plastic bottles the water is stored in is not bio-degradable. Most people that purchase bottled water are not near proper disposable places. This probably has something to do with why 80% of water bottles used in the states never see the gate of a recycling plant. So in turn, this results in littering the environment, and the plastic will take anywhere from 450-1000 years to degrade completely.
Why Filtered Water Is The Way To Go
The average water filter is a simple device that you can grab at the local store on your way home. It can be used both at commercial and at your home and makes the water you are taking as safe as safe can get. In a point for point debate, filtered water blows bottled water right out of the water (pun intended). A substantial number of contaminants and other pesky unwanted features like odors of water are eliminated with an affordable filter.
Water Filters Are Eco-Friendly
The process of producing plastic water bottles releases 2.5 billion tons of the toxic carbon(IV) oxide gas into the environment in the US alone. 38 billion plastic bottles end up in landfills around the country. Moreover, with the unbelievable amount of years it takes for a bottle to degrade, it is an easy observation of pros and cons to see the better option. Each of these figures elicits plenty of scares all around. Combined with the data, there is a massive qualm with the efficacy of bottled water, and how bad it is for space we inhabit in life. As if that were not enough, three liters of water is used in the manufacture of a one-liter water bottle.
Water Filters Keep Water Affordable
Think about it, the likes of Dasani, Aquafina, and Evian incur a ton of costs to put water on the shelves. These costs will be passed over to you too, the final consumer, with little margin added on top to keep the water businesses chugging along. Now, consider just buying a water filter for your tap water at home, and you will start getting the picture.
Let’s break it down;
Statistics indicate that the average American will buy 167 bottles of water a year. Let’s assume that a single bottle (1.5 Liters) costs $1.78. The inference here is that every single year, you shell out around $297 for water. Now, this is by no means a small fortune, but over the course of a few years, it can be an unnecessary expense. Just think about what gaps this pocket change could save around your overhead.
A single water filter will cost you anywhere between $15 and $25. It is recommended you replace your filter every six months. If you purchase three filters from discountfilters.com you can on average get 2 for 19.95 each, that is a $277 difference in cost.
Water filters have a host of benefits to the consumer and to the environment we inhabit as a whole. Embracing home water filtration approaches and ditching the water bottle is something we should all try.