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Message In A Bottle

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PATTY KIM

Published: November 1, 2007

So, you're one of the people who won't leave home without a bottle of water. You've got them stashed in your car, purse and laptop bag. You can't leave Publix without a swing through the water aisle. The vending machine is your friend.

If you're caught up in the bottled water hype, maybe you should sip on this:

About 1.5 million barrels of oil — enough to run 100,000 cars for a year — are used to make plastic water bottles, according to the science-based nonprofit Union of Concerned Scientists. Transporting bottles — many brands must cross national borders to get to customers — burns thousands more gallons of oil.

Two gallons of water are wasted in the purification process for every gallon bottled, and millions of gallons of water are used in the plastic-making process. Only10 percent of those bottles are recycled, leaving the rest in landfills, where it takes thousands of years for the plastic to decompose.

And consider the hit to your pocketbook. You hear lots of yelping about the cost of gasoline, but a gallon of regular unleaded costs $2.65 to $2.89 in the Bay area (according to Tampagasprices.com). A 20-ounce bottle of water costs $1 from a vending machine — the equivalent of $7.69 a gallon.

Then there's the all-important issue of quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standards for tap water are more stringent than the Food and Drug Administration's guidelines for bottled water, says Daniel Yeh, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of South Florida.

"Tap water is pretty clean as opposed to bottled water," Yeh says. "The quality of bottled water can really vary. Certain brands could treat it more, some brands less. And at the same time, there have been cases where bottled water is really just tap water repackaged. So I think for someone to buy bottled water, it wouldn't be for better water, per se."

Certainly, the ubiquitous water bottle won't disappear overnight. The convenience is worth it for many water drinkers.

But here's the bottom line: "If you want to turn on the tap and drink the water, there's nothing wrong with that," Yeh says.

If you're considering green alternatives to bottled water, we've got some options for you.

Water filtration pitchers

Brita pitchers provide from five to 18 cups of filtered water, depending on which model is right for you. $10.99 to $41.99. www.brita.com

Clear2O says it eliminates five times more contaminants — including lead, mercury and asbestos — than the leading brand. The pitcher connects directly to standard faucets, and filters supply about 40 gallons of water. An intelligent filter takes the guesswork out of when it's time to replace it. $29.99. www.clear2o.com

PUR pitchers are said to reduce 99.9 percent of microbial cysts. The space-saving design works with a full fridge. The system leaves fluoride, which is found in most tap water, to help fortify and protect your pearly whites. A two-stage filter provides up to 40 gallons of water, or a one- to two-month supply. $14.99 to $19.99. www.purwater.com

Water filtration faucet mounts

Brita faucet filtration systems attach in minutes without using tools. The Advanced Faucet Filtration System includes an electronic LED filter change indicator. Aquaview shows you the particles your filter removes from your tap water. The Disposable Kitchen supplies filtered water for up to a year without having to replace the filter; throw it away when it's done. $19.99 to $39.99. www.brita.com

Each PUR faucet mount can replace 3,200 16-ounce bottles of water a year. No tools are needed to attach these mounts, which make cooking with filtered water simple. Filling a reusable bottle with filtered tap water could have a huge impact on the environment. $19.99 to $49.99. www.purwater.com

Filtered flavor

PUR Flavor Options lets you add sugar-free, calorie-free flavoring to your water with a push of a button. The more you push, the more flavor is added. Flavor cartridges can be used with faucet mounts and pitchers. It could be the boost your family needs to ensure everyone drinks the recommended eight glasses of water a day. It comes in raspberry, strawberry and peach. www.purwater.com

Turn tap water into soda and seltzer water with the Soda-Club home carbonation machines. Soda-Club brews a liter of soda or sparkling water in about 30 seconds. You can add one of 25 regular and diet flavors, as well as an energy drink mix. $99.99 to $349.99. www.sodaclubusa.com

Bottle alternatives

BIOTA Spring Water comes in a bottle manufactured from a 100 percent renewable source: corn. BIOTA and its sister company, Planet Friendly Products, developed the world's first biodegradable bottle in 2003. Bottles degrade in 75 to 80 days in a commercial compost. www.biotaspringwater.com

Klean Kanteen is a stainless-steel alternative to plastic water bottles. It's dishwasher safe and can be cleaned with a bottle brush and mild soap. $15.95 to $28.95. www.kleankanteen.com

SIGG Swiss Engineered Water Bottles deliver both function and fashion. Have fun choosing from 144 reusable water bottle designs, 22 interchangeable lids and accessories you like to reflect your style. $15.99 to $39.99. www.mysigg.com

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