Bottled Water is seriously a problem. - VGF

**Crazyswordsman** · 04-05-2008, 03:07 AM

No, this isn't a Dihydrogen Monoxide thing. This is real.

Bottled water is bad for many reasons:

1. Water is a public commodity, not something to be sold and made a profit off of (this can be rebutted by saying that you pay for your tap water via your utility company, and by saying that if water weren't bottled it would get wasted faster).

2. It's shipped all over the world, and shipping costs can be expensive.

3. Recycling bottles takes a lot of energy, and bottle caps can't even be recycled. Garbage often ends up in the oceans, where it harms marine life.

4. They say that tap water is actually better for you than bottled. If you don't like the taste, buy carbon filters and put one in your water bottle. Or, buy a filter for your tap water.

5. Bottled water means less attention to public systems. The ASCE (an organization which I actually have ties to) did a study which showed 17.5 billion dollars need to go into repair of California's water system.

6. Water from a spring is being sucked away from the sources of streams and rivers, and thus not only will marine life die, people who rely on these streams, rivers, and groundwells can't use them. This is especially important in the high plains and the southwestern deserts.

So I decided that after I graduate college, I will avoid drinking bottled water as much as I can. It's a win win situation for you, for the environment, and so on. I hope you guys will join me. -CSM

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 04-05-2008, 03:17 AM

I dislike the taste of most bottled water. The chemicals they use to clean their "pure spring water" are disgusting. We drink filtered tap water.

**Booyakasha** · 04-05-2008, 09:11 AM

The ability to turn on a faucet and get potable water is a beautiful commodity, one that not everyone in the world enjoys. I think it's a shame that so many have been bilked into believing city water poses a health risk.

My mom and sister buy bottled water by the pallet. When I pointed out how dumb that is, they countered by telling me that it's easier to just grab a bottle and go than to have to fill up a Nalgene (or whatever). So they'd rather waste money than take an extra second in the morning, I guess. Well, whatever--it's their money.

wariovswario · 04-05-2008, 09:21 AM

Bottled water companies are businesses. They are in it for the profit. It costs about 5 cents to fully produce a bottle of water yet they sell it for a dollar to make some money. I do have to admit though that where bottled water is we don't often see water fountains. It's convenient in some situations.

If you are really against bottled water you should buy a water filter for your sink. It's cheap, lasts quite a while, and makes the water taste great. I guess because I live in Maine, home of Poland Spring that I see the bottled water everywhere and stuff. My town's water isn't exactly the cleanest (for some reason it fizzes). We use well water and a water filter to get our pure water.

CSM I didn't know you were in college! What's your major?

GRENTLEMEN · 04-05-2008, 11:16 AM

I drink water in a bottle. It comes from the tap via a filtering-urn type dealie, though.

I agree that it's a shame we aren't seeing as many public drinking fountains, anymore. That someone would pay 2 bucks for a bottle of water never ceases to amaze me, you'd think they lived in Saudi Arabia or something.

***Ace Mercury*** · 04-05-2008, 12:21 PM

Penn & Teller did an episode of Bull**** where they talked about bottled water. Bottled water is such the scam. I mean, can you imagine the board room at Coca-Cola? "Hey, it turns out that we can sell Coke without any of the ingredients except water, and still charge the same amount of money!"

Meanwhile, potable water is such a cheap commodity that we use it to flush our toilets.

***ZeldaGirl*** · 04-05-2008, 12:26 PM

Well, being in college (and not having access to filtered tap water and such) and living in a state where dehydration is uber-common, I do buy bottled water - otherwise, I die.

Swordmaster Link · 04-05-2008, 01:15 PM

*shrug* I just drink from water fountains.

...*dies*

ADVENTURE BUS · 04-05-2008, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaGirl

Well, being in college (and not having access to filtered tap water and such) and living in a state where dehydration is uber-common, I do buy bottled water - otherwise, I die.

This kinda, except we did buy a filter for our sink water, so I'll use the same bottle for a whole week and keep refilling it.

**Dr. Horrible** · 04-05-2008, 01:21 PM

Here in College Station the water tastes pretty nasty, so I buy gallon bottles of water for around 50 cents a pop. Back in Houston the tap water is actually quite good, though.

wariovswario · 04-05-2008, 01:23 PM

My college gave everyone a nalgene bottle to first year students. Being in school right now I frequently refill it.

***ZeldaGirl*** · 04-05-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swordmaster Link

*shrug* I just drink from water fountains.

...*dies*

You don't live in a state where it's 100+ degrees for a good majority of the year.

**Crazyswordsman** · 04-05-2008, 01:52 PM

^When you get home. You live near Phoenix, right? They have to have something. -CSM

***ZeldaGirl*** · 04-05-2008, 01:56 PM

When I'm home, of course.

***CaptHayfever*** · 04-05-2008, 02:28 PM

^Living in a desert is one thing. Most of us don't, though, so we don't have that (perfectly valid) excuse.

St. Louis city water got voted "best-tasting" in a blind taste test of a bunch of mayors. Coincidentally, St. Louis city water is also free-ish; city residents receive a fixed "sewer bill" each month (determined by the number of active water outlets on a property) instead of a water usage bill. Wayyyyy cheaper.

I hate that my family buys bottled water.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Crazyswordsman** · 04-05-2008, 02:39 PM

Wait...do you live in South City or South County? I forget. -CSM

ADVENTURE BUS · 04-05-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeldaGirl

You don't live in a state where it's 100+ degrees for a good majority of the year.

She has a point.

What about those of us that have that 7-8 months a year?

LinkManDX... FACE · 04-05-2008, 07:49 PM

I wrote about this on mah blag, and I completely agree with you.

Ike · 04-05-2008, 07:55 PM

I usually just don't drink water. I prefer milk and juices.

Brandon2390 · 04-05-2008, 10:09 PM

DaSani actually is tap water. Or it used to be.

04-05-2008, 03:07 AM	#1
Crazyswordsman RPG Mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 7,968 Thanks: 534 Thanked 365 Times in 252 Posts Points: 124,664.95 Bank: 25,155.52 Total Points: 149,820.47 Donate	Bottled Water is seriously a problem. No, this isn't a Dihydrogen Monoxide thing. This is real. Bottled water is bad for many reasons: 1. Water is a public commodity, not something to be sold and made a profit off of (this can be rebutted by saying that you pay for your tap water via your utility company, and by saying that if water weren't bottled it would get wasted faster). 2. It's shipped all over the world, and shipping costs can be expensive. 3. Recycling bottles takes a lot of energy, and bottle caps can't even be recycled. Garbage often ends up in the oceans, where it harms marine life. 4. They say that tap water is actually better for you than bottled. If you don't like the taste, buy carbon filters and put one in your water bottle. Or, buy a filter for your tap water. 5. Bottled water means less attention to public systems. The ASCE (an organization which I actually have ties to) did a study which showed 17.5 billion dollars need to go into repair of California's water system. 6. Water from a spring is being sucked away from the sources of streams and rivers, and thus not only will marine life die, people who rely on these streams, rivers, and groundwells can't use them. This is especially important in the high plains and the southwestern deserts. So I decided that after I graduate college, I will avoid drinking bottled water as much as I can. It's a win win situation for you, for the environment, and so on. I hope you guys will join me. -CSM

04-05-2008, 09:11 AM	#3
Booyakasha Mod of War Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wisconsinland Gender: Posts: 6,812 Thanks: 75 Thanked 340 Times in 221 Posts Points: 9,754.64 Bank: 20,637.07 Total Points: 30,391.71 Donate	The ability to turn on a faucet and get potable water is a beautiful commodity, one that not everyone in the world enjoys. I think it's a shame that so many have been bilked into believing city water poses a health risk. My mom and sister buy bottled water by the pallet. When I pointed out how dumb that is, they countered by telling me that it's easier to just grab a bottle and go than to have to fill up a Nalgene (or whatever). So they'd rather waste money than take an extra second in the morning, I guess. Well, whatever--it's their money. __________________ Boo--the only dude bad enough to rescue the president

04-05-2008, 09:21 AM	#4
wariovswario Don't ban me please. :( Join Date: Jul 2000 Gender: Posts: 3,986 Thanks: 82 Thanked 53 Times in 36 Posts Blog Entries: 2 Points: 387.63 Bank: 414,336.21 Total Points: 414,723.84 Donate	Bottled water companies are businesses. They are in it for the profit. It costs about 5 cents to fully produce a bottle of water yet they sell it for a dollar to make some money. I do have to admit though that where bottled water is we don't often see water fountains. It's convenient in some situations. If you are really against bottled water you should buy a water filter for your sink. It's cheap, lasts quite a while, and makes the water taste great. I guess because I live in Maine, home of Poland Spring that I see the bottled water everywhere and stuff. My town's water isn't exactly the cleanest (for some reason it fizzes). We use well water and a water filter to get our pure water. CSM I didn't know you were in college! What's your major? __________________ --------------------------------

04-05-2008, 01:23 PM	#11
wariovswario Don't ban me please. :( Join Date: Jul 2000 Gender: Posts: 3,986 Thanks: 82 Thanked 53 Times in 36 Posts Blog Entries: 2 Points: 387.63 Bank: 414,336.21 Total Points: 414,723.84 Donate	My college gave everyone a nalgene bottle to first year students. Being in school right now I frequently refill it. __________________ --------------------------------

04-05-2008, 03:17 AM	#2
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 23,289 Thanks: 219 Thanked 299 Times in 185 Posts Points: 60,960.91 Bank: 109,590.84 Total Points: 170,551.75 Donate	I dislike the taste of most bottled water. The chemicals they use to clean their "pure spring water" are disgusting. We drink filtered tap water.

04-05-2008, 11:16 AM	#5
GRENTLEMEN Retro Nintendo Supermod Art & Literature Mod Metroid Mod Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 15,831 Thanks: 449 Thanked 1,133 Times in 618 Posts Points: 4,736.37 Bank: 1,759,285.16 Total Points: 1,764,021.53 Donate	I drink water in a bottle. It comes from the tap via a filtering-urn type dealie, though. I agree that it's a shame we aren't seeing as many public drinking fountains, anymore. That someone would pay 2 bucks for a bottle of water never ceases to amaze me, you'd think they lived in Saudi Arabia or something.

04-05-2008, 12:21 PM	#6
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 18,931 Thanks: 359 Thanked 1,486 Times in 781 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Points: 97,134.58 Bank: 11,498,264.91 Total Points: 11,595,399.49 Donate	Penn & Teller did an episode of Bull**** where they talked about bottled water. Bottled water is such the scam. I mean, can you imagine the board room at Coca-Cola? "Hey, it turns out that we can sell Coke without any of the ingredients except water, and still charge the same amount of money!" Meanwhile, potable water is such a cheap commodity that we use it to flush our toilets.

04-05-2008, 12:26 PM	#7
*ZeldaGirl* Venting SuperMod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 11,640 Thanks: 490 Thanked 717 Times in 483 Posts Points: 21,574.62 Bank: 300,009.62 Total Points: 321,584.24 Donate	Well, being in college (and not having access to filtered tap water and such) and living in a state where dehydration is uber-common, I do buy bottled water - otherwise, I die.

04-05-2008, 01:15 PM	#8
Swordmaster Link Super Bodyguard & King of the Arcade Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Wherever you want me to be Gender: Posts: 29,929 Thanks: 215 Thanked 528 Times in 367 Posts Points: 1,055.35 Bank: 1,158,804.35 Total Points: 1,159,859.70 Donate	shrug I just drink from water fountains. ...dies

04-05-2008, 01:21 PM	#10
Dr. Horrible PP&R Mod Current Events Mod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: More important than where is when.... Gender: Posts: 6,304 Thanks: 103 Thanked 272 Times in 171 Posts Points: 1,466.72 Bank: 1,793,477.93 Total Points: 1,794,944.65 Donate	Here in College Station the water tastes pretty nasty, so I buy gallon bottles of water for around 50 cents a pop. Back in Houston the tap water is actually quite good, though.

04-05-2008, 01:52 PM	#13
Crazyswordsman RPG Mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 7,968 Thanks: 534 Thanked 365 Times in 252 Posts Points: 124,664.95 Bank: 25,155.52 Total Points: 149,820.47 Donate	^When you get home. You live near Phoenix, right? They have to have something. -CSM

04-05-2008, 01:56 PM	#14
*ZeldaGirl* Venting SuperMod Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Why do YOU want to know...? Gender: Posts: 11,640 Thanks: 490 Thanked 717 Times in 483 Posts Points: 21,574.62 Bank: 300,009.62 Total Points: 321,584.24 Donate	When I'm home, of course.

04-05-2008, 02:28 PM	#15
*CaptHayfever* Smash Supermod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 19,225 Thanks: 159 Thanked 716 Times in 464 Posts Points: 104,474.02 Bank: 887.92 Total Points: 105,361.95 Donate	^Living in a desert is one thing. Most of us don't, though, so we don't have that (perfectly valid) excuse. St. Louis city water got voted "best-tasting" in a blind taste test of a bunch of mayors. Coincidentally, St. Louis city water is also free-ish; city residents receive a fixed "sewer bill" each month (determined by the number of active water outlets on a property) instead of a water usage bill. Wayyyyy cheaper. I hate that my family buys bottled water. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

04-05-2008, 02:39 PM	#16
Crazyswordsman RPG Mod Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Booyaville (yeah!) Gender: Posts: 7,968 Thanks: 534 Thanked 365 Times in 252 Posts Points: 124,664.95 Bank: 25,155.52 Total Points: 149,820.47 Donate	Wait...do you live in South City or South County? I forget. -CSM

04-05-2008, 07:49 PM	#18
LinkManDX... FACE Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Some call it slums, some call it nice! Gender: Posts: 3,239 Thanks: 241 Thanked 189 Times in 111 Posts Points: 19,189.16 Bank: 4,093.11 Total Points: 23,282.27 Donate	I wrote about this on mah blag, and I completely agree with you.

04-05-2008, 07:55 PM	#19
Ike Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I don't know. Where do I live? Gender: Posts: 5,628 Thanks: 40 Thanked 153 Times in 109 Posts Points: 5,787.97 Bank: 174,638.17 Total Points: 180,426.14 Donate	I usually just don't drink water. I prefer milk and juices.

04-05-2008, 10:09 PM	#20
Brandon2390 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Connecticut Posts: 10,362 Thanks: 5 Thanked 17 Times in 14 Posts Points: 36,955.55 Bank: 836.71 Total Points: 37,792.26 Donate	DaSani actually is tap water. Or it used to be.