bottled water

Bottled Water – The Biggest Con of Them All?  

Posted by: Rhona Reid On March 13, 2018 7:00 am

The PR job is a good one, to be fair.  When it comes to bottled water, people are prepared to throw a lot of money at it, regardless of the environmental price and the sky-high cost to their pocket.  

Tap Water: Now Available in Bottles
Water Check

Bottled water costs more than tap water.  A lot more.  In fact, a new report from The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that some people are paying an astonishing 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than they are for the water that comes out of the tap.

But here’s the next shocker: frequently the water that you buy in a bottle is…erm…tap water.  

“We don’t believe that consumers are confused

…
Read More
2 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Plastics – The Global Crisis That Won’t Go Away

Posted by: Rhona Reid On February 15, 2018 12:00 pm

Single use plastics take five minutes to produce, five minutes to use and 500 years to break down, the vice-president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, told reporters recently.  

499 years to go.

In a move that highlights just how catastrophic the risk of choking the planet in plastic really is, the EU has announced a plan to ensure that by 2030, all packaging on the continent must be reusable or recyclable.

No More Plastic Imports to China

The move is partly in response to China announcing that it will no longer accept plastic waste imports.  For years, EU countries have met their own higher recycling targets and reduced landfill by shipping the excess to China.  Here, the large-scale manufacturing …

Read More
4 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Imagine a Day Without Water?

Posted by: Rhona Reid On October 26, 2017 12:00 pm

The third annual Imagine a Day Without Water took place on the 12th October.  Schools and workplaces participated with utilities and water organizations to look at how much we depend on water.  

Can you imagine a day without water?
The True Value of Water

The recent hurricanes that have seen thousands of people having their access to clean, safe water cut off, highlight just how vital water is to our health and well being.  

Some communities in America already know how impossible it is to try to go a day without our most precious resource: Water.  Imagine a Day Without Water 2017 is the third annual day to raise awareness and educate America about the value of water.

~ …

Read More
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Are You Drinking Plastic Chemicals From Your Plastic Bottled Water? (Plastics Series: Part I)

Posted by: Rhona Reid On October 12, 2017 12:00 pm

The issue of what’s in the water we drink – and more worryingly – what shouldn’t be in it, has never been more pressing.  

What exactly are we drinking?

Nationwide scandals attached to the potential dangers of drinking tap water have prompted millions of Americans to ask the question, “what exactly are we drinking?”

Many have stopped trusting the municipal water supply altogether.  An obvious alternative? Bottled water.  Well, sure.  It’s convenient and available virtually everywhere.  Plus, it’s in a sealed, factory-produced bottle.  It’s clean and good for us, right?  Well, not always.  In fact the EWG has recently published a report on exactly why we should look very closely at the risks of drinking bottled water.  

  1.  What’s in
…
Read More
1 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Ditch the Soda – Water Ionizers are Naturally Good for You!

Posted by: Rhona Reid On May 4, 2017 12:00 pm

 
It hasn’t been a great couple of months to be in the soda industry.  On 20th April this year a report was published by the America Stroke Association that appeared to draw a link between the consumption of artificially sweetened “diet” soda and the risk of suffering a stroke or dementia.  A further report from Beverage Marketing Corps pointed to the fact that Americans now officially drink more bottled water than soda.

We’ve woken up and started ditching the sugar.
Bittersweet News

Coca-Cola responded by announcing job cuts and a new CEO who, it is believed, will try to steer the mighty company towards “healthier drinks” that have more appeal for today’s consumer.

It is, by and large, …

Read More
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Behind “Safe” Bottled Water

Posted by: Rhona Reid On November 10, 2016 12:00 pm

Back in 2008, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that 10 top brands of bottled water contained contaminants such as disinfectant by-products, pain medication and fertilizer residue.

Toxic Waste Near Water

Even if the beverage industry has cleaned up its act since then, there’s still the worry that plastic leaches controversial carcinogen Bisphenal A (BPA) into the bottled water.  No one is certain about the long-term effects of imbibing the estrogen-mimicking chemical, so wobbly reassurances along the lines of “it seems to be alright so far…” is pretty much the best we have.

Portable Problems?

So how about using “safe” reusable plastic bottles instead?  When Treadmill reviews commissioned environmental testing laboratory services company EmPak P&K to test 12 different types of portable plastic water …

Read More
9 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Is Buying a Water Ionizer Really Worth It?

Posted by: Rhona Reid On October 18, 2016 7:00 am

 
There’s a whole lot of information out there about water ionizers and the incredible benefits that millions of people have enjoyed for years.  The medical establishment has weighed in time and time again with endorsements, and scientists are racing to make the next breakthrough when it comes to how ionized alkaline water can positively affect health.

Undecided?  We’ll try to help with that.
Undecided?  We’ll try to help with that.

But let’s be cynical for a moment.  Sure, all of that is true.  But still, is that reason enough to actually go ahead and buy an ionizer?  In other words, is buying a water ionizer really worth it?

What Are the Alternatives?

Well, first of all, let’s think about the alternatives.  America’s water supply and pipeline …

Read More
1 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Sorry Soda.  It’s Not You.  It’s Us. 

Posted by: Rhona Reid On September 1, 2016 12:00 pm

 
On the 2nd August, Bloomberg.com published a report stating that bottled water is poised to outstrip soda sales, a new phenomenon which industry experts believe owes as much to the highly publicized water crisis which began (publicly at any rate) in Flint, MI., as it does to any real sea change in our health habits.

Sorry soda.  It’s all over between us.
Sorry soda.  It’s all over between us.

Just How Bad is Soda?

Even fans of soda know that there’s little to recommend it, in terms of what it contains; and in fact there’s mounting evidence that soda is actively harmful to our health.

“Soft drink consumers are being exposed to an avoidable and unnecessary cancer risk from an ingredient that is

…
Read More
1 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Is Your City Cheating at Water Testing?

Posted by: Rhona Reid On June 14, 2016 9:00 am

 
British newspaper The Guardian has concluded a damning investigation into how some cities in America apparently attempt to conceal how much lead really is in the water, by employing “cheats” when testing.

“Who amongst us is safe?”  Marc Edwards,  Flint Whistleblower.
“Who amongst us is safe?”  Marc Edwards,  Flint Whistleblower.

The investigation revealed that 33 cities across 17 states have used methods of testing water that possibly conceal dangerous levels of lead.

 “They make lead in water low when collecting samples for EPA compliance, even as it poisons kids who drink the water.  Clearly, the cheating and lax enforcement are needlessly harming children all over the United States.”

~ Marc Edwards, Virginia Tech Scientist

“Cheats” and practices designed to conceal concerning results include:

  • Requesting that testers run water
…
Read More
1 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Why Alkaline Water Beats Bottled Water Hands Down!

Posted by: Rhona Reid On May 3, 2016 9:00 am

 
In data recently released by the Beverage Marketing Corporation, it was apparent that one area of growth exceeded it’s projected performance.  Sales of bottled water are over and above the industry forecast, and it begs the question why that might be.

Millions of these end up in landfill every year.
Millions of these end up in landfill every year.

Damage Limitation?

A desire to be a bit healthier?  Certainly water is a better option than soda.  An inevitable reaction to the frightening stories about exactly what the water that comes out of your taps might contain?  After Flint came Bruni, and if recent reports are to be believed, there’s more trouble brewing in the pipelines of America.

Disposable Dilemma

But bottled water is a bit of …

Read More
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments