Each year, 14 billion pounds of plastic waste is cast off into the ocean, polluting our water. This is more garbage than we are able to deal with in a timely fashion and it quickly adds up.
While much of this pollution is due to corporations, there are still things we can do as average citizens to help reduce the plastic waste in our lives. One of those ways is cutting down our use of plastic water bottles.
These plastic water bottles create tons of waste that harm all parts of our environment, not just the ocean. The cost of water bottles alone is enough to justify the action that needs to be taken to curb the negative effects these products have.
Just by taking a few simple steps, you can help limit water bottle pollution and save money in the process.
Of the 60 million plastic water bottles thrown away by Americans every day, 80 percent will end up in landfills. This is billions of plastic waste created every year.
Recycling these bottles is possible, but there is still a chance that they will eventually be in a landfill. In the landfill, these plastic bottles will take hundreds of years to finally decompose. All the while, the plastic of these bottles is putting various chemicals in the soil and poisoning the earth.
The plastic that is being put in the earth today will be harming you tomorrow. These chemicals from the water bottle plastic are in your drinking water and the food you eat. They have negative effects on your health and well-being.
Difficulties such as depression, reproductive issues, cancer, and even death have been linked to the breaking down of water bottles in landfills. These are all direct impacts produced by the plastic waste of these bottles.
If landfills are not the ultimate destination, then the ocean is. This plastic waste has far-reaching consequences once it arrives.
Marine life will eat the plastic garbage, which will typically kill them and in turn, limit food supplies for communities. If creatures do survive the consumption of this waste, they will absorb the chemicals and toxins in it and pass them along to people. Scientists have found that common seafood items, like mussels, contain plastics in them.
Water resources are also contaminated by pollution. This hurts developing nations more as it limits their available clean drinking water since mass water purification systems can be expensive to build and operate.
Plastic waste is extremely harmful to the planet. Whether located in landfills or the ocean, the toxins found in plastics are absorbed into our drinking water and the food that we consume.
The True Cost of Water Bottles
Beyond the extensive pollution caused by water bottles, there is also a heavy monetary cost to water bottles. Simply stated: you are overpaying for water.
The water found in plastic water bottles is three thousand percent more expensive than the water from the tap. This adds up to hundreds of dollars each year. Especially since you’re including the overpriced bottled water on top of the water utility you already need to pay for.
You would be saving quite a bit of money by ditching the bottled water and going to the tap instead.
Not only is there a personal cost to plastic water bottle consumption, but there is an environmental cost as well. The production of these bottles alone causes great damage to the planet and mankind.
Due to pollution, there are limits to the amount of clean drinking water that is available. It is not possible to clean and reclaim this water faster than the rate at which garbage is being disposed of.
Another difficulty is that it takes more water to create a single-use plastic bottle than what that bottle will hold. This creates more chemical pollution and wastes water that could be used for drinking.
Not only is there a large amount of water used in the process, but it also takes large amounts of oil and fossil fuels to make these bottles. The mass production of these water bottles aids in large amounts of fuel consumption and air pollution.
Yes, you are paying too much for clean water in your everyday life, but you will soon be paying much more to compensate for environmental damages in the future. Examining the cost of water bottles shows that it’s more than simply the $1.50 you would pay at the grocery store.
Easy Ways You Can Limit Your Water Bottle Use
The good news is that there are simple and effective ways you can limit your use of plastic water bottles. They are easy habits to start and you may very well find yourself liking them more.
The first might be the most obvious but investing in a quality reusable water bottle is a great way to limit your waste. They last for years as they are made out of materials that are more durable than the cheap plastic of a disposable water bottle.
You can take your water bottle anywhere since they are designed to be carried, either with grip areas or handles. If you use a reusable bottle, you can get one that keeps your water cold for hours on end, perfect for enjoying the summer heat.
Reusing your plastic water bottles is a great way to combat pollution. With a little bit of creativity, you can find cool ways to incorporate them into your everyday life.
Cut the top off the bottle and use the base as a place to grow seedlings for a garden. Then you can use the top as a funnel when cooking or storing grains to reduce the mess in your kitchen. These are a few examples of possible tricks you can try but there is no wrong method to reusing what you have.
Another simple change you can make is using the tap. You are already paying the utility and using it to wash your clothes and shower. Why not also use it to get your water for consumption?
Companies already use filtered tap water in their plastic bottles. There is almost no difference in the quality of water and reports show that tap water is subject to greater rules.
This is not without challenges, but these are fixed with a water purification system.
Filtration System
Using the tap instead of bottled water is a great way to save money and limit your plastic use. But filtering your water is crucial.
There are many kinds of contaminants in your tap water, which are harmful to you. The last thing you want to do would be to drink them.
You don’t even want to shower or do your laundry with it. Skin irritation and hair loss are symptoms caused by the water.
This is why a whole house water filter system is necessary. You gain clean water throughout the entirety of your home which helps your health and water consumption.
High-quality technology ensures that your water is pure and remains that way. Water filters soften your water, rid it of carbon and other toxic minerals, and clear it of microorganisms.
Along with cleaning your water, a filtration system ultimately saves you money. All the water originates from the tap, an already inexpensive option. You will no longer spend on wasteful bottled drinks.
A significant amount of money will be saved as there will be no need to replace your appliances. They will last longer and be more effective due to the clean water flowing in their systems.
You will also save money as your health improves. Fewer toxins in your body limit your chances for severe problems. Imagine avoiding kidney stones now that all the unnecessary calcium is out of your water.
Your body is better able to process this clean water making you feel better as you go about your day. Worries about skin irritation or brittle hair are no more as you use water that is beneficial for you.
With a water purification system, you’ll never worry about how clean your drinking water is again. This is especially true if you fill your reusable water bottle with it.
Filtration System
Due to pollution and the waste produced from their creation, the cost of water bottles is incredibly harmful not only to the environment but to your home as well. Luckily there are ways to combat this, benefiting both you and the world you live in.
Schedule an appointment and see for yourself the many ways in which a whole house water filter system can improve your life.