Hydration! It's something I am guilty of preaching and not following. I can admit it. Regardless, the last two weeks I've been on an amazing water kick, taking my little water bottle to work, keeping an eye on the ounces on the side of the bottle as I suck it down. The water bottle is the great water "psycher-outer". I see it on my desk, and I must conquer! Also, it's what I recommend to all my clients that have trouble with hydration.
Now, I am and have been a tap-water drinker for as long as I can remember, but just recently I decided to make an effort to fill up my re-usable bottle from my tap at home and at the water fountain at work. This was after I realized I was spending an extra $10-$20 a week on the bottled wet stuff, buying it at the grocery store in bulk, or individually sold from the vending machine.
But the bottles weren't just adding up on the bill; they were also adding up in the trash.
Therefore, in addition to feeling good about saving money, I've felt that extra satisfaction from knowing that I'm keeping it GREEN for the planet, and keeping that GREEN in my pocket. It's been a really simple process, and in a time of economic frugality (and a time where mother nature seems to be telling us she's not having it anymore), all can benefit from sticking to the tap.
Unfortunately, through the years of misinformation, tap water has received a bad reputation, and somehow bottle water has prevailed as the number one source of purity. I'm here today to say, it's time to take back the tap!
And if my little exclamation point signaling enthusiasm doesn't get you going, well then here are a few facts to get you flowing:
- Tap water is regulated by the EPA, and bottled water is regulated by the FDA, and while the EPA is constantly checking and keeping records of the safety of the tap water, the FDA sends inspectors to bottling plants once every two to three years.
- FDA requires by state or local approval of bottled water sources, but there is no federal definition of control of what may be a bottle water source.
- Bottled water is thousands of times more expensive than tap water. Compare $0.002 per gallon for most tap water to a range of $0.89 to $8.26 per gallon for bottled waters.
- About one-fourth of bottle water is actually bottle tap water, according to government and industry estimates!
TIPS of the TAP:
Here are a few things to help get your tap water drinking on:
- Make the decision to stay true to the tap and stop buying bottle water at the grocery store or while out at restaurants.
- Purchase a lined aluminum, glass, stainless steal or BPA-free plastic bottle for water on the go or at work. Be sure to not forget it at home (it kind of defeats the purpose); you can always buy a second for the office.
- Encourage others to give the tap a chance.
- Refill, and refill, and refill! Hydrate for your health!
