Plastic is choking our planet and we have to act now if we want to save it. One of the biggest culprits in the plastic problem is bottled water. Think about it - when you buy bottled water, you're not paying for the water (which is extremely cheap). You're paying for the bottle.
Plastic bottles require up to 700 years to dissolve, and even when they do, they pollute water bodies and destroy ecosystems. 80% of plastic bottles never get recycled. 38 million plastic bottles go to landfill each year in America alone. 24,000,000 litres of oil is needed to produce these billions of plastic bottles.
So what do you do if you find yourself in a situation with no water? Here are 5 swaps for bottled water, so you can continue living an eco-friendly lifestyle without having to compromise on health and hygiene.
1. Drink tap water.
The water might taste different from one place to the next because certain countries add things to the water, and certain countries filter out different minerals, but the tap water is still safe.
Tap water is safe to drink in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Western Europe, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.
If you're not sure whether the tap water in a place is safe or not, call up a friend living there and find out, look it up online or visit a travel website. Many households also use water purifiers.
When you're in a neighbourhood, you can always go next door and refill your water bottles. You can also go to any hotel or establishment to drink water. In a safe neighbourhood, no one would object to helping you out.
2. Refill your bottle at a restaurant.
As for India, the Supreme Court ruling makes it mandatory for all eateries to serve free drinking water. So next time you find yourself in a restaurant and see no alternative to bottled water, try asking your server to refill your empty water bottle. They might refuse filling water in a cup since most restaurants count the number of cups to check how many drinks were sold, so I recommend carrying a bottle with you.
3. Carry a large portable water container.
If you're going to a place that probably won't have clean drinking water available, you can carry a medium-sized portable container of water in your car. The container can also be used for travel and road trips, so it won't go to waste.
If you're not willing to splurge on a tank or bottle, carry a metal pot or container - get creative! You can also carry it in your backpack or (if it's small enough) in your bicycle basket. Most large bottles come with a nozzle at the bottom to refill your bottle, so there's no need to pick up any plastic on the way!
4. Buy water purification bottles or tablets.
Many sporting brands, adventure and hiking stores and other manufacturers sell water purification bottles that filter unclean water and make it clean, drinkable and potable.
You should make sure, however, that the brand from which you're purchasing your bottle is trustworthy and legitimate.
Pharmaceutical companies also sell water purification tablets that you can dissolve in your water to clean it. Both purification bottles and tablets have shown spectacular results and though they are the pricier option, they ensure that your water is always fit for drinking.
5. Find alternatives!
As the world begins to realise what nuisance plastic bottles are, more eco-friendly products for water consumption begin popping up in stores all over the world. People are innovating and designing new alternatives to plastic bottles like packaging made from paper and reusable mugs. If you know of any such alternative products in your area, comment below with its name and area of availability so other readers can use them too.
Together we can end plastic pollution.
This article has been written by Urvashi Balasubramaniam, an environment-enthusiast and the founder of The EcoClub United. If you liked her article, hit the like button and share it so more people can live an eco-friendly lifestyle and we can beat plastic pollution!
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