Sometimes I feel like tossing bottled water down the toilet to show my disdain. Maybe I’m not the only one?

A recent post at the Intuit Blog featured a great visual guide / infograph describing how small cutbacks in the home can lead to great savings. Things like changing to CFL’s, insulating the home, etc. were noted. One thing I found interesting was their idea to help save money with each flush:

A 20oz or 32oz bottle filled with water and placed in the toilet tank will reduce water use. Each flush is about one cent, roughly $48 a year.

What a great way to make use of bottled water, should you have it lying around. I’m sure I’ve never mentioned this before, but this is certainly a way you can actually save money by using bottled water [in a way I'm sure companies like Dasani and Aquafina are not quite embracing].

Budgeting: A Visual Guide to How Small Cutbacks Lead to Great Savings [Quicken Personal Finance Tips]

A blogger at Bon Apétit magazine recently complained about restaurants attempting to trick him into buying bottled water when all he wants is some lovely, refreshing tap water with ice in it. Instead, the waiters offer water without offering tap as an option at all. Most customers either didn’t notice the ruse, or didn’t care.

Here’s the scene, at a seafood restaurant in Las Vegas:

Tall Suit: “It looks like you don’t have any water yet. Can I get you flat or sparking?” Me: “Flat is fine, thanks.” Tall Suit: “Okay, I’ll bring you a bottle of flat.”

He starts to walk away. I’ve seen this trick before, so I catch him before he’s out of earshot.

Me: “Actually, we don’t need a bottle. Tap is fine.”
Tall Suit (thrown off): “Oh. Okay. Tap then.”

By not offering tap water as an option, it’s clear that he intended to trick us into buying a bottle of water. Judging from the amount of bottles of water at the tables around us, a lot of people fell for it. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been through this routine at restaurants and, frankly, I’m tired of it.

I haven’t been through this routine, at least in the US, but maybe I don’t eat in nice enough restaurants. Have you experienced it?

I’m Sick of Restaurants Trying to Trick Me Into Buying Water [Bon Apétit]

It’s no secret we advocate for the use of reusable bottles. But how often have you found yourself at the reusable bottle aisle at REI and had no idea what to choose? I mean, how many sleepless nights must one lose trying to figure out exactly what bottle to purchase!?

Well, I probably have not lost sleep over this issue, but nonetheless it’s important to once-and-for-all lay the rest the myths and facts about different types of bottles available for purchase.

Reusable Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles come in a multitude of shapes, sizes and flavors. From squeezable bike bottles to heavy-duty plastic bottles like those by Nalgene, plastic bottles offer the greatest variety and versatility for consumers.

Lately, however, the news surrounding a key ingredient used in the production of plastic bottles has seen quite a bit of backlash from consumers. BPA, as it is commonly known, has been linked to cancer in lab tests and, predictably, many consumers quickly moved away from plastic bottles. Major bottle companies like CamelBak and Nalgene quickly changed their bottle production techniques to remove this chemical from their bottles. (more…)

Are people beginning to realize that carrying bottled water is almost as bad as smoking while pregnant? A recent CNN article discussed how many consumers are beginning a backlash against bottled water companies.

The article noted:

“Carrying bottled water is on its way to being as cool as smoking while pregnant,” claims the video “The Story of Bottled Water,” which debuted on YouTube last month and garnered more than 450,000 views.

Is it true? Are liters of Evian now beyond the pale? Is Dasani déclassé? Has bottled water become the new eco-no-no?

Not quite yet. Though water sales have seen a recent downturn, plenty of folks are still paying for their daily hydration.

In fact, Annie Leonard’s video points out, Americans buy more than 500 million bottles of the stuff every week. It’s second only to soda in popularity, and some industry analysts believe that by next year water will become the most-purchased beverage in the country.

She wants to redirect the flow of water. The bottled water companies, the video insists, are “scaring us, seducing us, misleading us” into buying their products. Leonard, the writer and narrator, gives plenty of reasons why more and more people want to “take back the tap.”

Add the fact that, according to Leonard, the amount of petroleum used to make water bottles every year is “enough to fuel a million cars” and that 80 percent of supposedly recyclable plastic bottles end up in landfills, you have the makings a ecological crusade.

Also, she says, tap water is certainly cheaper — thousands of times cheaper. Not to mention that some of the best-selling bottled waters — Pepsi’s Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani among them — are, actually, nothing but filtered tap water. The companies have spelled this out on labels after pressure from the consumer watchdog group Corporate Accountability International.

However, Leonard argues that not only does tap water often beat out bottled in blind taste tests, but bottled is often less regulated than tap. Tap water is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency, whose standards are generally stricter than the Food and Drug Administration, which oversees most bottled-water sales.

Here’s a link to the full article: Bottled Water Faces Backlash

Here’s the YouTube video that’s creating such a stir:

Florida’s Senate Commerce Committee voted 7-1 to allow a $.06 tax on every bottle of water purchased in Florida.  Great quote to represent this vote “This is not a tax. It’s a surcharge to save the environment.” So true! It is estimated that big water companies pull 3.6million gallons of water DAILY from Florida’s resources.

Read more here – Bottled Water Tax is Back

I love water. I also enjoy sleeping. But I’ve always wondered why I don’t usually need water during the seven hours I sleep at night.

A recent article I read noted the physics behind why we don’t get too dehydrated at night and I’ve posted it for your viewing pleasure below.

Brain cells collude to keep animals hydrated while they sleep, which prevents nightly dehydration or trips to the toilet, according to researchers.

Neurophysiologists Eric Trudel and Charles Bourque at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, suggest the body’s internal clock helps to regulate a water-storing hormone.

(more…)

Recently several groups have called the governement out on the carpet about their frivilous spending on bottled water.  Corporate Accountability International cited that in 2008 state agencies spent over $525,000 on bottled water 5-gallon jugs.  While smaller cities and towns service fewer people, their cost could be less than $100. But it still begs the question – how are we supposed to feel good about our water if the government doesn’t even drink the tap water?!?  Leading by example is always the first step when trying to help initiate Ban the Bottle campagins.  Take San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, St. Louis and Seattle – all have lead by example and made it illegal to spend government money on bottled water.  Support your public water system – ban the bottle!

Read the entire article here – http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/regional/x1439500979/Group-criticizes-state-for-spending-more-than-500-000-on-bottled-water

Here at Ban the Bottle we get a lot of questions on how to implement a Ban the Bottle group at individual workplaces, schools or even just how to make a difference one person at a time.  The idea that in 2007 Americans consumed 8.8 billion gallons of bottled can seem daunting when trying to curb bottled water use. BUT the good news is that in 2008 that number dropped to 8.7 billion, which means that people are becoming aware and every little bit helps.

So here is a list of ideas, suggestions, and tips on how to get the movement going in your area!

1. Buy a Reusable Water Bottle – duh! Buy yourself, your mom, sister, boyfriend, teacher, neighbor, and/or boss a reusable water bottle. Little by little you can infiltrate their bottled water use by providing them with the tools to make the change! It doesn’t have to cost you a lot of money – make a promise to buy one reusable bottle a week and give to someone else. If you are a student buy one from the bookstore and give it to your school President, at work give it to your boss. Include a note that says “Thanks for helping ban the bottle!”

2. Start a Facebook or MySpace Page. Get your friends and families involved and ask them to pass on the word. Find other groups and build your friend list.  Start educating people with articles, facts, pictures, etc. Utilize all the free tools from the social media sites and invite people to events, tag them in photos, start discussions, etc.

3. Host a Ban the Bottle event! There are so many things that you can do to encourage and educate people about bottled water. Host a party at your house, lunch room, dorm room, park, etc. Invite people via email and Facebook/MySpace. At the party have multiple “tasks” for guests to do.

• Sign a Declaration – www.tappedthemovie.com has a declaration page which will commit people to curbing bottled water consumption. When people sign their name to something they will generally read what they are signing…generally.
• Write a letter/email to the government asking them to stop using your money for bottled water – www.congress.org. You can enter your zip code and the site will give you a list of people to send to and the issues you want to address.
• Tell celebrities to stop endorsing bottled water. www.tappedthemovie.com has two direct links to Tom Brady and Jennifer Aniston; both are spokespeople for Smart Water.
• Make the event day your official Ban the Bottle day! Start telling people today is Ban the Bottle Day and they will believe it! Changing their habit for one day will not only make a difference but will also make them aware of their impact.

4. Host or Organize a Viewing of “Tapped” the movie. The movie is still in theaters and numerous locations are showing the movie every month. Find one close to you and invite colleagues, friends, and students to watch with you. Or wait for it to come out on DVD and host your own movie night.

5. Talk to Administrators at Your School or Office. Getting the top people from your organization or school involved is key to any campaign. Request a meeting with your President, Vice President, Catering Manager, Student Body President, Human Resources Manager, anyone that will listen really!  Present the facts, plead your case and ask for vocal support. More than likely they won’t be able to give you funding for anything but your goal is to have them aware, educated and active.  You are going to do all the work, they just need to say “I agree!”.

6. Get Local Community Support. Approach companies that are like-minded and would have reusable water bottles for sale.  A lot of companies are branding their reusable bottles with their logos and would be willing to support your efforts if it gets their company some free advertising. Call or send an email to a manager at a grocery store, construction office, sports team, Home Depot, Costco, etc and ask if they would like to support your cause by donating 5 reusable water bottles. If you get 10 companies involved you can start giving away their bottles as promotional or raffle items at your events.