Water is not only an important world resource, but it is the key to life. Without water, there would be no plants, animals, or people. And, although a large percentage of the earth is covered in water, 97% is in the ocean and 2% is frozen in polar ice caps. This leaves only 1% of all the water on earth for our use.

That being said, how does bottled water fit into this equation, and what effect does it have on our environment?

• The bottled water industry makes 35 billion dollars worldwide annually, and in addition to majorly profiting off of its consumers, they produce a huge quantity of plastic waste. And, although these bottles can be recycled, four out of five still end up in landfills where it can take them up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.
• It takes 1.5 million barrels of oil to satisfy America’s bottled water addiction. That is enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars for a year! Bottled water also must be shipped long distances which uses even more fossil fuels.

We’ve discussed the cost in oil, fuel and waste, but what about the actual water itself?

• Bottled water labels boast the clear, freshness of their water emphasized by pictures of rocky mountains and crystal streams. The marketing of bottled water makes it seem like it must be so much better than tap water, but the fact is that that’s just not true.
• In fact, in developed countries such as America, tap water is actually more regulated than bottled water. And, in many cases, bottled water is just that: tap water. They my tempt you with picturesque images of mountains and springs, but in reality you could get the same product by turning on your facet.
• On top of that, it takes twice the amount of fresh water to produce bottled water, so to produce a 1 liter bottle of water it takes 2 liters of fresh water.

So, bottled water uses huge amounts of oil and fuels, two times the water, clutters our landfill, and costs you cash!

It seems obvious that tap is the way to go, and for water on the go, simply buy a refillable water bottle. You can buy very cheap ones from Target or Walmart, and even if you buy a more expensive one, it’s still cheaper than spending a dollar a day on bottled water. If you want a super cool water bottle, check out mysigg.com. You can also find Sigg water bottles at REI.com, certain Dicks Sporting Good Stores, and some Whole Foods locations.

In an effort to reduce our reliance on bottled water, thinkoutsidethebottle.org is trying to take action and get pledges from people to stop relying on bottled water and instead carry reusable bottles and refill them.

So remember, by using reusable water bottles, you’re not only saving the environment, but you’re also saving yourself money! Let us know what you think by taking our poll and leaving a comment below:

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