What's better for California environmentalism, tap or bottled water?

Question

I live in California and there is worry of a water shortage and we are being asked to be conservative on water consumption. Therefore, is it better for the water shortage and the environment to drink bottled water (to save on CA consumption) and recycle the bottles afterward or is it better to drink from the tap (and not conserve as much water) and bypass the need to even recycle all those bottles? My boyfriend and I argue about this all the time!

Answer 1

We've been drinking tap water for many many years and all the sudden some french moron puts it into a bottle and starts a revolution.

  Tap water is safe, if it wasn't then it wouldn't be there.  Or they'll warn you not to drink it.

  Personally I like bottled water for the cleaner taste.  But tap water is safe, just need to get used to that chalky, egg smelling or whatever kind of stuff might be in the water.

  Buying the bottled water means you bought plastic that was produced which took energy to make and will take energy when getting recycled.

  If you're arguing that bottled water does or doesn't cost too much and money is tight, then you can save money by just using the tap water.

  But even the tap water needs to be treated with chemicals, so it too is not the perfect system.

  So, it's a double edge sword really.

  Figure out the lesser of the evils and go with it.

  Good luck.

Answer 2

all tap water these days is suspicious unless it come from a spring or high up in the mountains

Purification does not even take all the effects of agricultural chemicals out of the normal bottled water whci changes the PH

That is why in Mexico so many kids are born infertile , g*y or deformed

Answer 3

Tap water.  You have to think of the entire environment as  a whole.  There will be less land fill from the discarded container and better air quality.  The transportation uses gas which pollutes our air.  Another consideration is the loss of ground water needed by our aquafirs.  Degraded stream habitat threatens trout populations. ... In Michigan and Northern California 'Save the Au Sable" and "Save the McCloud" are battle cries of those who care about our treasures.

Answer 4

bottled

Answer 5

whatever you like.

Use tap and you'll die.

Use bottled and you'll spend money and you'll be "contributing to waste."

Answer 6

tap is bottle water come from the tap to start with take short showers don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth will save more water then you can by drinking bottle water

Answer 7

Tap.  Most of our bottle water is from the state.  It would not help to conserve water by drinking water from other parts of our state.  Those who are trucked in from other states or countries, waste gas as well as cost more to bottle.  I think the one that waste the most is the ones made from filtered tap water like desante.  Reverse osmosis waste alot of water to make the water more pure.

Answer 8

i guess tap water is better

Answer 9

To whom it may concern,

Your best uption is hidden option "C": Rain water catchment. set up a cistern/watertank and catch the rainwater off the roof via gutter.  You may be suprised by how much rain water actually runs off that roof.  Feel empowered by your own free/clean water supply.

   Recycling plastic is a hoax.  The amount of chemicals that are used to recycle plastic do not out-weigh the finished product.  Also, most "recycled" products can more appropriatley be called down-cycled products because eventually it will end up in the dump.(don't be discouraged there are companies out there planning for the birth and redistribution of there products. If this interests you go to www.mcdonogh.com.)

  If you decide to go with tap water, I recommend a filter.  Check with your local government or library to see what kind of contaminants are in your water supply.  If the filter doesn't treat chlorine let the water sit out so the chlorine can evaporate. I forget for how long but you can check it out in the book "The post petroleum survival guide and cookbook."

Regards, Ryan

Answer 10

Tap water. Look; the amount of water we DRINK- is so insignificant next to all the OTHER uses we have for it, -there's NO WAY it justifies the pollution we're making by bottling it !!! It's a joke. And the quality of bottled water is a rip-off too; half of the brands are selling us THEIR version of "city water"! We've been sold a "bill of goods" -and the people are "swallowing it"- hook, line & sinker. This is one of the WORST examples of wasteful consumption- there is. And we can't throw away our money fast enough- to buy into it. :(

Answer 11

Unless you know the quality of water coming out of your tap I would drink bottled. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Answer 12

Plus the plasticizers in those bottles are carcinogens once they leach out.

Ironic, California sits alongside the largest body of water on the planet and yet they have to conserve drinking water because they can't bring themselves to look at nuclear plants sitting next to desalinization plants that would solve the problem.

Answer 13

tap and bottled water is the same thing other than bottled water aren't regulated and they use up resources and energy so i would have to go with the tap.