Essay - Bottled Water vs. Tap Water Introduction: is Bottled Water Safe...

Bottled Water vs. Tap Water

INTRODUCTION:

Is bottled water safe to drink? Is it environmentally responsible to buy bottled water? Is tap water a ***** *****nd sound alternative? What kind of filters are necessary when drinking tap water? There are a variety of answers available in the l*****erature today for all of these questions. And due to the importance ***** ***** in terms of human health and nutrition, these ***** ***** relevant and vital ***** today's changing world. All sides and a diversity ***** opinion will be fully ex*****mined and reviewed in this paper. However, the bottom l*****e ***** this research is that bottled water is, as a general rule, a wasteful use of resources. And whenever possible people should avoid *****ing plastic ***** instead use tap water (with proper *****) or use water filling stations using five-gallon reusable containers f***** fresh, safe water.

LITERATURE REVIEW:

The newsletter Environmental Nutrition reports that "more than half of all Americans now drink bottled water" (Welland, 2007). The money spent on bottled ***** in ********** year in ***** U.S., accord*****g to Welland, ***** $4 billion. But where does the water come from that is in the plastic conta*****er? The first problem in researching the sources ***** bottled water, Welland writes, is that bottling plants are not required by law ***** reveal their ***** of water. One of the more popular bottle ***** companies ***** Aquafina, which is "drawn from municipal water in Detroit and Fresno," Welland asserts.

In fact, the writer continues, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a le*****ding environmental organization, reports that about 40% of ***** ***** *****s ***** city sources and is then treated so it tastes good. Indeed the NRDC tested 103 brands ***** *****d water (taking samples from over 1,000 plastic bottles of water); ***** results of that research showed ***** "one-third contained significant contamination."

***** study also shows that contaminants like lead, arsenic, radon and "perchlorate" (from fertilizers) show up most often in tap water research. Also pathogens ***** "Cryptosporidia" have been found in tap ***** supplies, especially in smaller municipal*****ies (big cities tend to have safer ***** water). There ***** several k*****ds of purifiers ***** work well for your tap water system, according ***** Well*****'s research; activated carbon filters (removes parasites, pesticides, bad tastes, heavy metals like lead, copper and mercury, and "volatile organic chemicals"); cation exchange softener (softens hard water); reverse osmos***** (***** "***** contaminants," parasites, ***** heavy *****)***** and ultraviolet disinfection (removes parasites and bacteria).

***** women ***** girls who read CosmoGirl were recently provided "Myths" and "Truths" in an article ***** bottled water (Goldstein, 2006). The accuracy of a m*****gazine dedicated to fashion and entertainment ***** cannot absolutely assured, of course, but the importance of ***** ***** issues gave editors the idea to pursue the information in any case. Goldste***** says that since "both" tap water and bottled water "are allowed ***** have trace amounts of *****, like lead or bacteria," nei*****r one is "safer than the other." That is a questionable statement,