Water Filters vs. Bottled Water – Thinking Environmental Friendliness

Did you know that the human body is mostly made out of water? A whopping 80 percent! It’s essential for the optimal function of every cell in the body. This is why it’s important to drink the recommended 8 glasses a day.   Drinking water helps keep our joints lubricated, our skin looking supple and much more. It’s also necessary for our very survival. The human body can last, at most, a week without water. We can go up to three weeks without food, in comparison.   The problem is, the tap is the fastest way to get the water our body needs to remain hydrated. But, this type of water is chock full of harmful contaminants that can do a number on the body. This leaves us with two choices of getting good water, filtered and bottled.   But, have you ever wondered which one was best for you?Well, ease your mind. Today, we are analyzing the pros and cons of both types of water to help you decide once and for all.

Pros and Cons of Bottled Water

Over the years, bottled water has become popular for those looking for healthy hydration on the go. But there are many other benefits of this type of water. Some of them include:They’re convenient: The small bottles are portable and you can take them anywhere – even places where there’s no drinking water.It’s safer than tap water: Bottled water goes through a purification process that removes harmful chemicals and other contaminants.

• It’s easily accessible: Virtually every store sells water, making it possible to buy them anywhere and at any time.
• It tastes great: Bottled water is delicious, especially when compared to tap water. This is because of the purification process it undergoes that removes foul tasting impurities from the water.

  Just as there are benefits to this type of water, there are disadvantages as well. They are examined below:

• It adds up: The biggest disadvantage of bottled water is the cost. If you calculate the amount that you spend on this type of water every year, it’s entirely possible that you spent the same amount you would’ve on a home filtration system. Although buying one bottle at a time can seem like no big deal, there are some who easily spend thousands of dollars on bottled water. With filtration systems, however, the daily cost of water for a family of five is about $2 a day.
• Bottled water isn’t as green as you may think: One of the biggest environmental hazards on the planet is plastic. It is non-biodegradable and can severely impact both the land and sea. Most of this pollution is linked to the irresponsible disposal of plastic, including water bottles.
• It isn’t always contaminant free: Although most bottled water is purified and free of contaminants, the same isn’t true for all. Some unscrupulous companies don’t care about the quality of their bottled water so they don’t purify it thoroughly. There are even some that bottle tap water and sell it, without purifying it at all. If you are unlucky enough to buy this water, you ultimately are paying for the same thing you can get from your pipes. It holds no benefit at all.

Pros and Cons of Filtered Water

Filtered water is water that’s been purified using a filtration process. There are a variety of different water filters, but, they all do the same thing. That is, they all provide the same benefits:

Filtered water doesn’t smell:

Did you know that chlorine is the reason that your tap water has that funny smell? This chemical is added to water to kill bacteria and remove impurities. Filtered water does the same thing, but without that unpleasant smell.

Filtration is one of the most effective forms of water purification:

The filtration process uses both physical and chemical processes to remove contaminants from the water. But, the best part is that it retains its healthy minerals. This ability to preserve these minerals is why filtered water is the healthiest type of drinking water.

Water filtration systems are cheap:

The upfront costs of installing a water filtration system may seem excessive. But, the amount of money it will save in the long term justifies the price.

Filtered water is delicious:

Drinking funny tasting water is an unpleasant experience and usually signifies that something is wrong. Filtered water removes chlorine and the other chemicals that cause this bad taste, resulting in delicious, pure tasting water.

Water on demand:

Because the filtration system is a part of your plumbing system, you are able to get pure drinking water whenever you want it.Filtered water has its downsides as well. But, these tend to be associated with the purchase, installation, and maintenance of the unit. They have nothing to do with the quality of water they produce.

These issues are further examined below:

Initials costs may be high: Water filters aren’t cheap. But, there are some units available for those of us on a budget. Just ask your local water filtration company for advice. Their expertise and experience in the field will guide you to the right option for you.

Maintenance is required:

To keep things running smoothly, your water filtration system will need regular maintenance. For instance, you will have to replace the water filter from time to time. This ensures that the water you drink is always its purest. To further minimize your carbon footprint, you may want to recycle your old water filters. This keeps your old filters out of the landfill, where they can add to environmental pollution.

The Bottom Line

Although bottled water has its benefits, its disadvantages make it inferior to filtered water. With filtered water, you are virtually guaranteed the water coming out of your tap is pure, safe, and great-tasting. You can even improve its portability by simply pouring some in a container before leaving your home.