In this article we will answer the question….
Is drinking bottled water bad for the environment?
Want to do your bit?
Drink tap water to save money……
and help save the environment!
Why do we drink bottled water?
Ask most people why they drink bottled water and they will probably tell you that it tastes better – maybe less chemically.
The interesting fact is that blind taste tests revealed that most people can not tell the difference between tap and bottled water, and just over half said they preferred the taste of tap water. Now of course this depends on what part of the country you live in.
London tap water is harder than other parts of the country so maybe this is more justifiable.
Did you know: More than two billion litres of bottled water are sold in the United Kingdom each year – that’s enough to fill the new Wembley Stadium twice over. The worst part is that only one in five plastic bottles is recycled.
What’s the damage?
What most people aren’t aware of is that bottled water is 1,000 times more expensive that normal tap water and that it’s much more damaging to the environment.
The main reason why its environmental impact is so damaging is the way in which the bottled are manufactured.
The manufacturing process uses millions of barrels of oil and transporting mineral water across the globe produces large amounts of carbon emissions.
Empty plastic bottles take up a lot of landfill space and plastic incineration uses up large amounts of energy, producing even more environmentally damaging greenhouse gases.
How safe is our tap water?
We’re lucky here in the UK as our tap water is one of the safest waters in the world.
Most people will be unaware of the fact that it undergoes three million tests a year to make sure it stays safe. It is sourced from good quality natural underground wells or reservoirs, lakes and rivers and contains minerals, like calcium and magnesium.
The misconception that tap water doesn’t taste as nice is probably because most people keep bottled water in the fridge and drink it chilled.
Top tap water tips
- Keep a jug of tap water in the fridge at home and at work and drink it within 24 hours.
- To keep your tap water chlorine-free, let it stand for 20 minutes to let the gas evaporate naturally.
- Take reusable bottles with you on the tube, to work or to the park.
- Clean your reusable bottle regularly in hot soapy water to keep it sterile and hygienic.
- Ask for tap water in restaurants and cafes.
Courtesy of Thames Water
For more information visit www.water.org.uk.