The Truth about Bottled Water

[-Davo]

I never understood why people constantly buy bottled water, I had my own ideas, and most of them are covered through interviews in the following Pen and Teller video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPAjUvvnIc

I never buy bottled water UNLESS I have no other source of water. I never go out of my way to actualy spend money on water unless I need to.

For example; after my 21st (the night after) we went to the movies down the road to see 300, I was extremely hung over, had an upset stomach, and just had some pizza. Upon arival of the movies, all my mates were getting coke and icecream, I wanted WATER, and I wanted a lot of it.

They charged me $4.50 for a 600ml bottle of probably TAP water.

Man I was pissed off, but I didn't have a choise. I could of gone the extreme, got an empty cup and made my way to the bathroom [to use the taps]. Still.

Kinda interesting to see how many Americans fool for the bottled water scam. Funny how that co-incides with Scientology, rofl.

Also, I'm aware of the irony of assuming all bottle water is tap water.

Peace.

['97ventureowner]

Take Evian brand water for example. Do you know Evian spelled backwards is?

[Toksin]

Bahaha.

I remember that Penn & Teller video. Brilliant.

[drunken monkey]

that's why we laugh at americans.....
Just want to point out that your food standards are such that many of your food products aren't allowed to be sold in the UK.

However, in the UK, there is also the added irony that in some areas, the tap water is actually sourced from natural springs, just like the stuff you can buy in stores.

part 1
part 2
part 3

[turtlecrxsi]

We buy bottled water so we can re-fill them with water filtered through our brita filter. When the bottles get old we toss them and use a different one. We still have unused bottles. So it seems spending 6 bucks for a case of bottled water that lasts a few months isn't such a bad thing...

[stieh2000]

Tap water FTW!

[freakray]

If you understood the actual processes utlised to purify tap water and take all the crap out of it at the bottling plants, you'd realise there isn't a whole lot of money being made per bottle of water.

[BrodyP]

Originally Posted by turtlecrxsi

We buy bottled water so we can re-fill them with water filtered through our brita filter. When the bottles get old we toss them and use a different one. We still have unused bottles. So it seems spending 6 bucks for a case of bottled water that lasts a few months isn't such a bad thing...

100% the same thing we do and have been doing for years.

['97ventureowner]

One of our local news stations did an investigative report recently, testing various bottled waters against our own public water supply. In the end it was revealed that the bottled water wasn't any better and in some cases was WORSE than the public drinking supply. I think i saw on one of those news shows like 20/20 awhile back that some of the bottled water that is sold comes from a tap at the facility where it's bottled, in essence, from the public water supply.One downfall to bottled water is the lack of fluoride which children need for their teeth. Most public water supplies are fluoridated.

[J-Ri]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

...the lack of fluoride which children need for their teeth. Most public water supplies are fluoridated...

I've heard some very convincing arguments that flouride is very bad, but I won't go into those conspiracy theories here.


90% of the water I drink is bottled... of course I live in the country and have well water. It will plug a brita pitcher filter after about 10 gallons, and my dog won't even drink it unless I'd forgotten to fill his bowl for at least 12 hours. I buy the very cheap stuff from Aldi's, it's only a few cents more per gallon than buying 1 gallon bottles. It probably IS tap water, but it's CITY tap water

[Toksin]

That's why I love Christchurch. Apparently our tap water is almost pure aquifer water, it's hardly treated at all. Tastes great.

[79Bandit]

water gives me a sore throat...

continue on.

[ericn1300]

Originally Posted by turtlecrxsi

We buy bottled water so we can re-fill them with water filtered through our brita filter. When the bottles get old we toss them and use a different one. We still have unused bottles. So it seems spending 6 bucks for a case of bottled water that lasts a few months isn't such a bad thing...

We do that too, but we have a filter for the drinking water on our refrigerator so we can refill old bottles or just get a glass of good tasting water on the cheap.

Here in Idaho we have springs where the water that comes from a volcanic aquifer has been tested and certified to be underground for over 1 million years and filtered thru the volcanic fields. Maybe I'll buy some to go with my $1,000 a shot Scotch. Until then, thanks for reminding it's time to go change the filter on the frig and have a Johnny Walker and water.

[sivic02]

Originally Posted by J-Ri

90% of the water I drink is bottled... of course I live in the country and have well water.

That struck me as strange. Well water is the good stuff! It always tastes cleaner and doesnt have a strange smell. Maybe its just different locations or maybe your water might need to be treated differently.


I buy bottled water for two reasons. 1. I am always running out the door in the mornings and evenings and am driving all the time, its a lot easier to grab a bottle of water and have it laying around instead of having a cup that isnt closed with a cap laying around. 2. The city water here tastes like crap. I buy the walmart brand water which is i think 3 or 4 bucks for 24 20oz bottles. I am sure without a doubt that it is tap water but it tastes a hell of a lot better than the crap the city gives us here.

[00accord44]

For those reusing bottles for water, I hope you're giving them a good rinsing with hot water on a regular basis. The droplets left in an essentially empty bottle of water are enough to grow bacteria that lives on the inside of the bottle. Although in reality, those bacteria would most likely be battled off by your immune system, but its something to think about.