By kicking the bottled water habit, you save money, free up space, protect the environment, and make the smartest choice! This sounds like a plea to quit smoking. Well, the same medium that got you hooked on bottled water also got millions to become smokers — before the truth about tobacco was revealed. That medium is advertising!
Our society has become increasingly dependent on bottled water. We have unwittingly developed this habit through very intoxicating advertising by bottled water companies. We have been sold on buying bottled water when there are much less expensive and more convenient options.
Most people whom I’ve talked with about this immediately disagree. “No way!” they say. “Bottled water is the best and healthiest choice, especially when you compare it to tap water,” they declare. “Is it? Are you sure? Or have you been sold an image, an idea, and a concept, and not the true reality?” I would reply.
This is where many people shut down. Why? Because they have been so thoroughly brainwashed by bottled water advertising that they can’t even imagine any other reality. Let me provide you with some background information.
The bottled water industry began in the late 1970s with the introduction of Perrier. Seeing the massive profit potential, the big boys jumped on board, and it has grown by leaps and bounds ever since.
The public has been constantly exposed to these advertising messages since the late 1970s. And they have gotten more sophisticated with each passing year. This is when I hear, “I’m not stupid. I’m not being brainwashed!” “Oh no?” I thought. Their defensiveness clearly shows that they have been. They are firmly on the side of the bottled water industry, and they have no idea why. Here’s why. Constant promotion in every imaginable form for decades!
“Brainwashing is not possible. Not on such a basic product like water,” they would say. It is basic. But that’s what makes it so incredibly profitable. Let’s face this brainwashing issue head-on. How do you suppose the tobacco companies persuaded the majority of the U.S. population during the early to mid-20th century to take up smoking? They achieved this through massive advertising efforts that targeted not only consumers but also the entertainment industry, medical community, and government.
Let me share some information about the bottled water industry with you. Then you can decide for yourself.
Bottled Water Industry
The majority of bottled water in the U.S. comes from municipal sources. Most of the rest comes from reservoirs. A relatively tiny portion comes from true mineral or alpine springs.
A handful of gigantic corporations control the bottled water industry. These include Nestle, Coke, and Pepsi. These companies have come up with some very appealing names for their bottled water products. They have also developed highly effective advertising campaigns that have taught us to believe that their product is far superior to municipal water sources.
Why did they spend vast amounts of money to promote their products? They did it because bottled water has a markup of up to 1,000 percent. Based on that, I would imagine that it could easily be their most profitable product.
Do they provide a far superior product as their advertisements suggest? Some sources report that the test results say no. Studies have found toxic substances in some of the most respected bottled water brands. How could this be possible? Here’s the rub.
Bottled water companies have no testing requirements imposed by any U.S. government agency. None! They are left to do their testing as they deem necessary. However, municipal water facilities in cities are highly regulated by the U.S. government and are required to test their water many times a day! It must also meet the government’s minimum standards.
Based on this, the water you get from your tap might be as good, or even better, than many bottled water products. Put it through a home water filtration system of some kind, and you might surpass many bottled water products in purity and taste!
Toxic Bottle
Another alarming aspect of this is the bottle itself. The materials used to make the bottles can contain harmful substances. Interestingly, there are reports of a higher incidence of various cancers among residents who live near particular factories that produce plastic bottles.
Pollution
Due to the billions of bottled water containers being produced and discarded daily, our planet is becoming polluted by them. Very polluted! Especially by single-use bottled water containers.
This problem is compounded by the fact that plastic bottles take 450 to 1,000 years to biodegrade, depending on the material used to make them. Can you imagine how many plastic bottles are out there? Must be trillions!
Recycling programs are helping, but bottled water is unique in that people often take it with them wherever they go. Many of these places may not have a recycling bin or even a trash can. In these situations that are occurring by the millions worldwide as you read this, people are just tossing them… wherever.
My Awakening
My awakening and education on this topic came from watching a documentary entitled “Tapped
Although I watched it twice, I hope that I’ve presented the facts correctly. If you watch the documentary and find otherwise, please let me know.
Bottleless Rewards
I shared this information to inspire you to adopt a solution that rewards both your life and the environment.
Your personal rewards for kicking the bottled water habit are huge! You’ll save a lot of money. You’ll have more space in your home for the things that matter most. And you will no longer have to haul tons of water from the store to your car and from your car to your home.
When I gave up bottled water, the thing I appreciated most was not having to haul all those bottles every two weeks. That water, regardless of the type of container it was in, was by far the heaviest item in my shopping cart. Although I’m very fit and can easily lift them, I felt stupid doing it. I often thought, “There must be a better way.” Fortunately, I found it.
Although in-home water filtration may not be necessary in some locations, it’s a good practice to ensure maximum purity and improve the water’s taste. City water utilities can be pretty aggressive in their use of purification chemicals, such as chlorine, to ensure compliance with testing standards. Water filters remove these unpleasant-tasting chemicals.
Since I’m living in an apartment right now, I have a water filter pitcher that serves the purpose. If I were living in a house, I’d invest in a central water purification system.