Summer is here, and with the hot temperatures, refreshment from water is crucial to hydrating after some of the 90 degree days we have been experiencing. However, I am sure you have all read about the “controversy” regarding bottled water- in that it is not environmentally friendly, between the cost to transport, the fossil fuels used to get it from the “spring” to your grocery store and those plastic water bottles that end up loading up our land fills.
So what is a true “Green” approach to water?
First, we should recognize that we are very grateful to have so many water choices, when many countries struggle with safe clean water. But the Net-Net is that Bottled water is not “green” for many reasons. Plastic water bottles generate 30 billion single serve bottles a year and only 20% of that is ever recycled. However, with the choices available to us- is tap water the way to go? Are the areas well’s reliable? What about Municipal water? Which options are the best and/or “Greenest” for us in the area?
The irony about bottled water is that while it is more expensive than gasoline- up to $12 dollars a gallon, on comparison- it is not always superior to tap water. Cities must filter and disinfect tap, which comes from surface water. No federal filtration or disinfection requirements exist for bottled water. So is your 3 dollar bottle of water superior to tap? In most cases, no. And that holds true in this area.
However, most of the folks in the New Hope/ Solebury area do NOT have “city water” and utilize well water- how does that compare? I asked my neighbor geologist Dr. Peter Brussock about the water quality in the area, and how he felt it compared to “City” water or even bottled water. His comment was that if your desire is to limit your carbon footprint, then using your own tap water addresses this goal. The cost per gallon of typical well or even municipal water is the most economic and greenest approach by far.
Municipal water is highly regulated and these standards have large margins of safety to protect the average person as well as those who might be most sensitive to chemicals/minerals. Should you still have a “chlorine” aroma to your water straight from the tap, letting the water de-gas; by simply filling a pitcher of water and letting it sit for 24 hours will address that easily.
The benefits of well water are higher mineral content, which is better for you. However, realize that some minerals- mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic- are naturally occurring, and can be found everywhere. If you have a “mineral” taste and wish to filter some of that from your water- a simple carbon filter like a Brita will help to address that concern. The benefits of a carbon filter would be- improved taste of coffee, increased detergent performance and also improvement in your bath products- shampoos etc.
Dr Brussock also suggested checking out the National Groundwater Association website
www.ngwa.org which has plenty of information about water. So for the “Green” water alternative- pass on the bottled water and fill up your Sigg reusable water bottle with “tap” water and enjoy the great outdoors!
