Stewardship Tip November 14th, 2008-Bottled Water
In 1999, the National Resources Defense Council found that, in a sample of 1000 bottles of drinking water, most brands appear to be safe. They noted, however, that the quality of some brands was spotty and may pose a health risk. Recent studies have reconfirmed what the NRDC found over ten years ago.
At around a dollar a bottle for the non-premium brands, bottled water rivals the price of a gallon of gas. Considering that fact a gallon of tap water costs well under a penny, bottled water is hardly a bargain. Some bottled water is sourced from aquifers; other brands are merely filtered municipal water.
Every year about 1.5 million tons of plastic go into manufacturing water bottles for the global market using processes that release toxics such as nickel, ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide, and benzene. In the U.S. alone 1.5 million barrels of oil are consumed in making the bottles. Most bottles end up in landfills.
No more bottled water: Use a water bottle and get your water directly from the tap! Save yourself some money and reduce the stress on our environment and landfills.
Why it is important to the fish: Whether they draw from an aquifer or a municipal water supply, water bottlers pump tremendous amounts of water and redistribute the product nationally and internationally. When water is removed from local aquifers in large volumes, it draws down the local water table. This can reduce flows and raise the temperatures of streams. For species such as trout, who thrive in cold water ecosystems, the consequences can be devastating. In addition, when water is transported to another region, it is permanently removed from its normal evaporation/precipitation cycle. This is vital to replenishing aquifers, lakes, rivers and wetlands.
Keep your water local! Get a bottle and fill it from the tap! Save some money; you will save some fish in the process.
Visit the National Resources Defense Council’s website for more information how bottled water affects our environment.
This week’s sponsor-partner: Folger’s Coffee singles
Folger’s Coffee singles go hand in hand with the outdoors. Whether backpacking into remote country or rising early to be on the water before sunrise, you can brew right in your cup with Folgers® Instant Coffee Singles. They’re specially made using a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans and concentrated coffee. Their partnership makes this week’s “Stewardship Tip” possible.
Rising demand for our weekly Stewardship Tip and a new partnership with Fly Cast America now makes the Stewardship Tip available in Spanish. Ahora, reciba el Stewardship Tip en español. Gentileza de Fly Cast America.
To read the weekly Stewardship Tip in Spanish, click here Simplemente haga click aquí si desea recibir el Stewardship tip en Español.
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