Reusable Water Bottles

Approximately 80% of all empty bottled water containers wind up on the side of the road or in a land - where they'll stay for over 1,000 years.

Most common plastics leach chemicals into the water supply as they "bio-degrade."

It's estimated that between 15 and 17 million barrels of oil are consumed to make plastic water bottles - enough to fuel a million cars each year.

The United States alone uses 1.5 million barrels of oil each year for the manufacture of plastic water bottles.

The manufacturing process of these bottles also releases toxic chemicals into the air.

The transportation, processing and refrigeration of bottled water all contribute to a staggeringly high carbon footprint - it is estimated that a PET plastic bottle that holds 1 liter requires 5 liters of water in its manufacturing process.

Image: How Can I Recycle This

At $5-$10 per gallon, bottled water is more expensive than gasoline.

If you're trying to achieve that mythical eight glasses of water every day, you will spend over $1000 a year on bottled water.

The same amount of tap water will cost you only about 50 cents.

Now a $23 designer reusable water bottle doesn't look so bad, does it?

Studies have shown that bottled water is not any purer than water from a public drinking fountain.

In fact, local water agencies are subjected to rigorous controls to ensure the cleanliness and purity of tap water - many bottled water sources are not.

A recent National Resource Defense Counsel study found that 1 in 3 samples of bottled water contained contamination beyond allowable limits - including e coli and fecal forms.

Wouldn't you feel better knowing that you and your family are safe with reusable water bottles and sippy cups?

In addition to all the environmental and economic benefits, reusable water bottles are just as convenient and more durable than the disposable kind.

Bottled water isn't healthier, less expensive, safer, or easier on the environment, so why choose it? It's far easier to carry reusable water bottles and fill up at the nearest tap.

Image: JR Guillaumin