In recent years, bottled water has become increasingly popular. However, there are many reasons why drinking bottled water is not a smart choice for your health or our planet.

The top 5 reasons you should avoid bottled water.

1. Money - With prices for single bottles ranging from $1-$5, buying bottled water can get expensive very quickly. And if you're buying multiple bottles per day for yourself or your family (like when you're on vacation or just out), it can add up even faster. Filtering your own tap water with an inexpensive water filtration system is far more cost effective than buying bottled water over time.

2. Plastic Consumption - Every year, millions of tons of plastic end up in our landfills and oceans because of our disgusting single-use plastic habits-including bottled water! Not only does this create an eyesore both on land and in the ocean, but it also adversely affects marine life and other animals that mistake these plastics for food sources. So, before you reach for that bottle of water, think about how much plastic you'll be adding to the waste stream by choosing to consume it!

3. Safety Issues - Tap water is regulated by the EPA and is tested regularly for safety standards such as lead levels and chlorine content. Bottled water isn't held to those same standards-in fact, several studies have found that some brands of bottled water contain higher levels of contaminants than tap water! Let me say that again,

"Don't be fooled by the pretty packaging. Several studies have found that some brands of bottled water contain more contaminants than tap water!"

Which raises the question, how safe is your tap water? I don't want to go down THAT rabbit hole, so I'll refer you to this Blog. You should note that most city water municipalities will offer their water test results on their website. If you are on well water, you can order a test here.

4. Unsustainable Practices - Most brands source their bottled water from springs or aquifers located hundreds (or sometimes thousands) of miles away. This means a lot of energy is used to transport them across long distances before they ever make it into your hands! Plus, many companies use unsustainable packaging materials such as non-recyclable plastics and aluminum cans which further exacerbates the environmental impact associated with purchasing them regularly.

5. Wastefulness - Even if you do choose to recycle your empty bottles after drinking them, most municipalities don't accept plastic bottles because they aren't easily recyclable due to their unique shape and size-meaning most end up in landfills anyway!

By investing in an affordable water filter system from US Water Systems and using reusable containers like glass or stainless-steel bottles, you can ensure that you always have access to clean drinking water without contributing to our gigantic mountain of plastic trash every time you quench your thirst. Cheers!