How much are you willing to pay for your bottled water?

Question

If you choose to get your recommended eight glasses a day from bottled water, you could spend up to $1,400 annually. The same amount of tap water would cost about 49 cents.

This country has some of the best public water supplies in the world. Instead of consuming four billion gallons of water a year in individual-sized bottles, we need to start thinking about what all those bottles are doing to the planet’s health.

Source: New York Times "In Praise of Tap Water," 8/1/07

Answer 1

with all the health concerns surrounding plastic bottled water id just rather have filtered tap water. Also, brands like dasani and aquafina are bottled tap water

Answer 2

I wouldn't mind trying one of those Bling H20 bottles selling for $40 - $90 at least once.

http://www.blingh2o.com/store/  

Mmmmm.. WATER!

Answer 3

The reason why people drink so much bottle water is mainly because we are to lazy to go to the faucet and pour our selves a glass of water. Instead we pay 2 dollars to grab a bottle.  I would be willing to pay no more than 2.50 for water even that is ridicoulous

Answer 4

to answer the original question: nothing. After the headline you kind of just gave your opinion (which I agree with). The only time I really buy bottled water is if I am somewhere where I have to be outside for a long time and I need to re-hydrate and buying bottled water is an option, although I usually get juice or iced tea. Otherwise I think paying for bottled water is pointless.

Answer 5

Previously I drank bottled water when I wanted it carbonized, tapwater otherwise.

Now, I've recently bought myself a Soda Streamer so I can carbonate my water myself. That will save a lot of energy in the long run but it's not about the money, not for me anyway.

Answer 6

I can't say I never buy bottled water, which I'd like to say, but I typically stick to my Nalgene bottles or my hydration pack (backpack with waterliner/hose/drinking nozzle).  When I do have to buy a bottle of water, I'll buy whatever the cheap stuff is just because I don't have my own bottle(s) for whatever reason.  It's usually the big gallon of water for $0.99.  I have a UV water filtration system at my office, a filtration system set up at home, why buy?  I would like to try some of the alternatives to plastic bottles, though, after my sister was talking to me about how aluminium and other sources might be better than plastic for water bottles.  Those Nalgene bottles are just so invincible, though...

Seriously, thinking of all of the plastic bottles from the constantly increasing bottled water usage and I heard a statistic of a really high number not getting recycled (it was over 50%!!) paired with the really high quality of drinking water in the states, where so much of the bottled water usage is, it seems maddening to think that people are throwing their money away on something as available as drinking water.

Answer 7

In general, I don't buy it.  The government finally forced the industry to reveal contents.  Almost all were disclosed to be ordinary tap water.  Some brands had been put through a filter, and some hadn't.  Prior to then, testing of the type available from your county extension agent had shown none were cleaner or "purer" than the minimum standard for tap water in the US.  It also showed some brands to be grossly contaminated, either with bacteria or heavy metals.

The bottles used for bottled water are not being recycled (fewer than 1 in 10).  This amounts to 3 billion per year in California and about 20 billion for the country.  They have become the top or close to the top ingredient in landfills everywhere.  States that have passed deposit laws have seen no improvement.  Producing new bottles is energy intensive.

Personally I'd never buy the stuff except for an Shelter, survival kit, life boat or something like that.  The water where I am is clean and tasty, but I know it isn't everywhere.  The filters you can buy in the drug store are similar to what the industry uses,  There's no need for an expensive one, but do your research before buying.  If a filter doesn't do the job on your local water, buy the cheapest gallon jugs of store brand distilled water (like they sell for steam irons), and recycle your old bottles.  That stuff actually has to meet some testing standards.  In most cases the products sold for drinking don't.

Answer 8

The dirty secret of the environmental movement. The bottles are made from oil. Using electricity made by burning coal. And end up in land fills or along side the road. Shame.

Answer 9

not a cent I drink tap

Answer 10

I'd pay up to $2.00,

even if it's just tap water it tastes fresher and is colder than tap water, from my faucit.

Answer 11

a buck. tap water isnt as fresh as bottled water.

Answer 12

I  live  in  a  rural  area.  When  I  was  a  child  growing  up,  we  got  our  water  from  a  spring  in  the  ground  and  later  from  a  water-well.  I  never  buy  bottled  water  to  drink,  nor  did  my  parents  or  grand-parents.  My  grand-pa  lived  to  be  94,  mom  lived  to  be  92  and  her  sister  lived  to  95.

Answer 13

Most of the time I drink tap water. Even if it is unfiltered.

On the go? I freeze a bottle half way then add  the tap water to the top, before i leave the house.

Snopes proved that reusing plastic is OK, it was a hoax to say they released poisons.

Usually the bottle I use to refreeze is a Powerade aprox 32 oz.

many people though just do not care if they are filling landfills. They do not care if their children  grandchildren will have an adult life.

They figure it is going to be someones elses problem, so instead of getting a glass from the cupboard, and then going to the sink and turning on the water, they just grab a bottle.

It is nothing more than an ego trip.

Rarely does bottled water need to be used here in the U.S.

When the local water supply is damaged and when there is a disaster that effect the water supply.

But in both cases, bottled water can be bought by the gallon, instead of the 12 to 16 oz bottles. Which are more expensive and more trash.

Answer 14

don't forget all the harm that the labels on those bottles are doing to our fragile environment.  and don't get me started on the bottle caps!!!

Answer 15

I buy cases of bottled water, usually when it is on sale. I end up paying between 10 and 15 cents a bottle. I will not pay more than 15 cents a bottle.

each bottle has 500ml in it, which is like 2 cups. so 4 bottles a day.  

which would end up costing me $219/year.

I think it is totally worth it. It is soooooooo convinent. And where I live the water has a very strong chlorine taste.

tap water is never cold enough, and if you put tap water in the fridge it picks up a funky taste.

**** the planet. If you dont like bottled water, dont drink it. But there is a reason why I choose bottled water, so dont go preching to me.

Answer 16

Depends on how thirsty I am.   On road trips I usually run out of water and am forced to buy some liquid along the way.   When I have a choice between a $2 16 oz. bottle of water or a 80c 2 liter bottle of soda why not get the extra caffeine and drive a little longer?

Answer 17

25 cents for 24oz or just get it at home for less.

Answer 18

Nothing  -  it is the responsibility of the local authorities to

ensure that the tapwater is of an acceptable quality.

Answer 19

I'd rather just drink tap.. but there are some people that go to water bars.(a bar with just water) and pay $55 dollars for a bottle of 'Bling Water' ... nothing too fancy just a cool bottle.

Answer 20

Thats an awesome point!  I know i prefer bottle water cause it can be kept cold AND on the go.  Also, I live in San Diego and about a year ago we had a scare in our public water system where ecoli was found in the water.  A couple people got sick from it.  I know its farfetched and higher likely that i'll get hit by a car, but i like the peace of mind.  I do admit though, for at home i should consider buying a Brita.

Answer 21

I Pay $1.89 for mine. Evian is the Best g*y Water!!

Answer 22

during the 70's the oldies kept on saying "dadating ang panahon na pati tubig bibilhin" (sometime in the future water will be bought also)

now is the time.  maybe bec they saw how people behaved versus the environment that is why they said that.

Answer 23

I drink tap water.  Also, our fridge has a filtered water system. I like my water at room temp and I dont use a filter on my tap.  I refuse to make Pepsi and Coke (who make Dasani and Aquafina) more money by buying their tap water. With the dollar going further down the toilet people wont be willing to pay for it much longer.

Answer 24

this is so true

i havent drinken bottled water in 3 years!!

its way more cost efficient to buy one of those fridges that have the filtered water built into it

it is not that hard to fill up a nalgene in the morning rather than grab a bottle of dasani.

Answer 25

i drink tap water because mostly all the botlled water is tap water just filtered. aquafina filtered tap water, dasanie filtered tap water. why buy tap water in a plastic bottle when you can drink it out of a glass.