Avoid Bottled Water

There are many reasons to avoid bottled water. The top two are plastic bottles contributing to our waste problem and the ingestion of harmful chemicals in the water that has leached out of the plastic. The world and our oceans are being filled with plastics. The water we are ingesting from those bottles is often contaminated by endocrine disruptors and carcinogenic chemicals from the plastics.

To steer clear of these, use  a BPA free, glass or stainless reusable water bottle.  Refill it with filtered water. Demand access to safe filtered water in schools and businesses in both public and private. spaces.

The longer the water sits in the plastic water bottle on the shelf of a store or even at your home, the more harmful chemicals it contains.  Bottled water can sit on the shelf for years. Many of these chemicals are cancer-causing and affect the endocrine and immune system.

Environmentally, Millions of tons of plastic clog our landfills. Roadways and public spaces are littered by them. Many plastic bottles finds their way to lakes and streams. They are creating large floating garbage islands in the ocean. 

The monetary cost of buying bottled water is not insubstantial. Some people spend over 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for filtered tap water. When looking at a families food budget, those dollars could be better spent on organic produce and whole foods.  

In addition the quality of the water being put into these plastic bottles is in question. Federal law does not require that bottled water be safer than tap water. Tap water in the US must be disinfected and filtered for pathogens and tested for cryptosporidium and giardia.  Bottled water does not have that requirement. Both bottled and tap water are required to be regularly tested for bacteria and most synthetic organic chemicals. But municipal water systems are often tested more frequently. There are regulatory standards for phthalates, chemicals that are endocrine disruptors, in tap water but there are no legal limits in bottled water. 

But we also want to assure that our filtered water at home or elsewhere is safe for our children. There are standards in place on regular monitoring in both bottled water and tap water for lead. Despite regulatory testing, water may have lead contamination. Some municipalities have more lax standards. Older homes may have lead pipes.

Lead poisoning can interfere in children's cognitive development, cause anemia and even death. Exposure may cause damage to the brain and nervous system, slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems, and hearing and speech problems. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, constipation, headaches, irritability, memory problems, and tingling in the hands and feet.

Check your water in your home. Replace old pipes. Make sure your municipality has strict lead testing for the protection of children. Advocate locally for strict water testing of all contaminants including lead. Avoid buying water bottled in plastic. Consider buying a water filters for your tap and water containers. Carry reusable water bottles with you. Keep them in the car, at school, and in gym bags. Have them accessible in your home and at the ready. Encourage drinking water during the day. 

We should all be concerned about our water quality. The levels of contaminants, antibiotics and medications in our water contribute to health issues in our children and families. Water is essential for survival. Clean water is a worldwide issue that affects us all. Access to safe, clean, drinking water should be of utmost concern as a parent.