Why do you buy bottled water?

Watch this video: http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/ 

Ask yourself why do you buy it?

• Lazy?
• Forgetful?
• Really think it tastes better?
• Like to line the pockets of the companies that make it?
• Another reason?

Do you feel better because you only buy a few and refill them?

That in itself has its own issues as the plastics used for these bottles are designed to be used only once.  When they are re-used toxins from the plastics can leach into the water as the plastic gets older.  This is made worse when the water sits in the bottle in the sun. 

What should you do?
Get yourself a reusable bottle, keep it in your bag and keep it full.  You should choose a food grade plastic bottle, that is BPA free and designed to be reused or consider a stainless steel bottle.  Recently some groups have come out saying that we can't even be sure that the plastic bottles designed to be reused don't start leaching toxins - I will leave you to do your own reading on this and make your own decision.

There is piles of good information at this link regarding bottled water to enable you do do further reading if you are not yet convinced

Reduce waste, save money and even get the same taste:

• Try chilling water from your tap prior to drinking
• If your tap water is chlorinated, have a jug or open bottle in the fridge - over a couple of hours the chlorine will evaporate off and the water will taste just fine.
• If you really think that your tap water tastes bad - spend the money on a filter and get it installed at home.
• With some of the money you save, get yourself a funky looking water bottle that is reusable.  Be the envy of your friends and feel good about yourself.  You can find some cool designs here: http://www.safebottles.co.nz/

Challenge yourself, your family, your work mates and anyone else you meet in life to stop purchasing water in bottles unless there is a truely genuine reason (in New Zealand that would be rare - even after the CHCH EQ, as long as you had power and water coming from the tap you could make safe water by boiling). 
Challenge those who produce and market bottled water to invest in sustainable practices such as developing and producing portable filters for example rather than fulling the planet up with empty bottles (and all the waste products produced making those bottles in the first place) or provide drink stations where you pay a few cents to refill your bottle with chilled drinking water perhaps..............I am sure there are many more ideas - add your ideas in the comments field below.
Put pressure on the celebrities who have a share in businesses that bottle water or market bottled water..................challenge them to use their celebrity status to change practices and do something good for the environment. 
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