Bottled Water versus Tap Water?

(source: http://www.kptm.com)

Julie Hong

Omaha (KPTM) - By the end of this year, we all drink billions of gallons of bottled water. But that bottled water craze could be costing us more than just money.

One dollar and the push of a button at most vending machines gets you a cold, refreshing, convenient bottle of water.

"I can't even drink tap water," says Noreen Ianacone. She's one of millions who prefer bottled water to the tap. "It's just cleaner and healthier for you by a long shot."

But bottled water isn't necessarily healthier for you or healthier for the environment.

"A bottle that takes you 3 minutes to drink, that can take thousands of years to bio-degrade," says Daniel Lawse.

The Container Recycling Institute shows more than 47-million gallons of oil are used to make the plastic water bottles American's use each year.

While these plastic bottles are 100% recyclable, more than 75% of them wind up in landfills. It's why some cities like San Francisco have gone so far as to ban bottled water.

Daniel Lawse hopes others will follow suit. "There are simple concrete things you can do to live green."

As a member of the Green Neighborhood Council, he's rallied some "green" metro neighbors to reduce their "carbon footprint." That includes signing an online pledge to drink tap water, instead of bottled water.

"If you want the future generation to live as well as we do now, we've got to change the way we do things and a lot of the technology is already here with relative ease," say Lawse.

Technology that can't get any easier than turning on the faucet. "We know that tap water is a better product, it's better regulated, it's better on cost and it's better on the environment," says MUD President Tom Wurtz.

You pay a fraction of a penny to fill a bottle of tap water. Compare that to the dollar plus you pay for bottled water in vending machines, restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations.

A choice more people seem to be making.

"I think tap water makes the most sense the most of the time," says John Bartle.

"Everyday if I bought a bottled water at work, I'd be throwing away this bottle everyday and you can recycle plastic but it's just as convenient to fill up from the tap and filter it that way," says Miles Waggener.

Water treatment plants are regulated by the EPA. The FDA monitors bottled water. Experts want to remind you about the three "R's", Recyle, Reduce and Reuse.