FOTD: How much does that bottle of water really cost?

Let’s talk a bit about bottled water.

90% of the cost of a bottle of water is in the bottle, the cap, and the labeling.

In many cases we pay more for a gallon of bottled water than we do for a gallon of gas.

About 1.5 MILLION barrels of crude oil is used each year to produce the plastic used for bottling water. That does not take into account the amount of fuel it takes to transport the finished product to the stores.

Global sales of bottled water broke $100 Billion in 2005.

Many bottled waters are no better than municipal tap water. This is due in large part to the fact that municipalities are better regulated than the water bottling companies. In many cases it is even just a bottle of municipal water from a different city than where you purchased it.

For example: In my house right now we have two varieties of bottled water. (My In-Laws buy it.)

The first brand is Nestle Pure Life water purchased at Wal*Mart. Here is exactly what it says on the label.

Source: Public water supply, Dallas, TX

Nestle Pure Life purified water is purified using reverse osmosis or distillation and enhanced with a balance of minerals for taste.

Contains: purified water, calcium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate

So, not only is it Dallas tap water, BUT they have to add minerals to it to make it taste even remotely decent.

The second brand is Ozarka Brand 100% Natural Spring Water. Again, here is exactly what the label says.

Source: Piney Woods Springs, Wood County, TX

Nestle Waters

North America, Inc. Stamford, CT

Now, Ozarka is 100% natural spring water even though it is bottled by the same Nestle company that bottles the above one. It is one of the better tasting bottled waters I have tasted.

The best thing you can do is to get yourself a pitcher filter and use the water from your tap. Tap water generally costs about $0.01 per gallon. With gas prices skyrocketing why would you want to pay more for your drinking water than your gasoline?

We personally use a Clear 2.0 pitcher. It is far and above the best water we have ever had. Once you taste it you will think bottled water tastes weird, honestly, you will. Other good pitcher filters would be good too, we just prefer the Clear 2.0 one.