Water & Air – Filter Systems News

A few days ago, a Canadian news source put out an article called, “Bottled water not so bad.” Naturally, I was curious. There have been a lot of recent desperate attempts by the bottled water industry to reclaim its hold on the convenience-obsessed, consumer culture of America. The IBWA has put out several videos, such as “The Real Story of Bottled Water,” defending bottled water from the criticism it has received from environmental enthusiasts like Annie Leonard, or Stephanie Soechtig – director of the documentary “Tapped” – who claim that bottled water is an expensive marketing scam that’s bad for the environment. (In case it’s not obvious by now, we tend to agree.)

This article, along with several other recent news sources, claims that bottled water’s environmental footprint is not that bad, when compared to that of other packaged consumer goods. According to the article, “the average bottle of water travels about 250 kilometers from source to shelf.” Hmm… now I know Fiji is not your “average” bottle of water, but last I checked, it was a lot farther than 250 kilometers.  This article also makes the point that bottled water is 100 percent recyclable. The problem, however, is that not much of it is actually recycled. Though the recycling rate of bottled water has risen, according to a recent report, we are still left to deal with the remaining 69 percent that continue to pollute our landfills.

The only seed of hope that I saw in this argument was this: “Plastic beverage containers represent less than one-fifth of one per cent of the waste stream. Bottled water packaging represents 40 per cent of that.”

Perhaps that’s because more people are beginning to realize the wastefulness of plastic bottled beverage consumption. IBWA has proudly reported that the recycling rate of bottled water has increased to 31 percent. Well, of course it has. If fewer people are choosing to drink beverages sold in plastic bottle containers, even if the amount of bottles recycled remains the same, the rate of recycling is bound to increase.

Perhaps you’re a little hesitant to trust the water that comes out of your tap, especially in light of the recent discovery of hexavalent chromium (a.k.a. chromium-vi, or chromium-6) in water, in 31 cities across the U.S. If you think bottled water will save you, think again. Your best bet is to buy a reverse osmosis filter. Even the Environmental Working Group admitted that bottled water will not guarantee protection from this carcinogenic substance.

Once again, the bottled water industry has put its best, most defensive foot forward, but we are still not quite convinced. Nice try, though. Good game.

No need to visit the tropics to indulge your craving for coconuts – this fruit is now a part of the multi-billion dollar bottled water industry. And, like many other brands of bottled water, it even has quite a few celebrity endorsements. Touted as the natural alternative to sports drinks like Gatorade, coconut water comes from the center of young, green coconuts, and is said to be healthy, fat-free and hydrating after a long work out. At least, that’s what the bottling manufacturers would have you believe…

Before you pay $2-3 for 11 ounces of this “miracle” drink, you may want to investigate its worth. Coconut water’s biggest claim is that it’s high in potassium and low in sodium, a combination, which nutritionists say are not ideal after a strenuous workout. ZICO, one brand of coconut water, advertises  with pictures of runners, hikers and mountain bikers on its website. However, as we’ve seen in the past, bottled water manufacturers are very clever when it comes to advertising. Pictures like this, along with multiple  celebrity endorsements, appeal to the majority of people in America. Some brands have even “gone green” by packaging the water in the supposedly “eco-friendly” Tetrapak bottles. Smart move, seeing as how environmentalism is a hot topic these days. But is this just more greenwash? Is coconut water really better than your average sports drink in terms of health? Better yet, is it a good substitute for pure, filtered water?

Coconut water is very popular in foreign countries like Brazil. If this drink really is as good as they say it is, then we’re supporting, yet again, the bottled water industry’s scheme to take good water from people who really need it, waste massive amounts of energy to bottle it up and ship it to the U.S. so that those of us who already have access to clean water can drink it instead. Does that sound like a good idea to you?

America is the land of the free, right? Well some might argue differently, in light of recent Homeland Security developments (i.e. airport “security” checks.) The United States officially became free with the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It’s the reason we celebrate the fourth of July every year with fireworks and funnel cakes. It’s the reason why a man walks through an airport “security” check in a speedo with an insulting message written to a certain politician scribbled on his back in bold, black marker, and doesn’t get labeled a terrorist … well, at least… for now.

As we’ve seen in recent controversial media reports over the last few weeks, these “freedoms” we have are precious to us, and if we comply with new procedures in the name of security, safety and comfort, there’s a chance we could lose them. Allow me to call your attention to a recent article published by the BBC: “Bottled Water has Become Liquid Gold.” This piece describes how bottled water rose to a global billion-dollar industry within the last 40 years, because of smart marketing. Through advertising that speaks directly to the human desire for luxury and convenience, this product has become all too appealing. One particular section of this article really got my attention – a quote by Richard Wilk, professor of anthropology at Indiana University:

“I think bottled water is the most revealing substance for showing us how the global capitalist market works today … In a sense, we’re buying choice, we’re buying freedom. That’s the only thing that can explain why you would pay money for a bottle of something that you can otherwise get for free.”

(Now, before I get attacked by the IBWA for referencing an “untrue” statement, we know that even tap water isn’t free. Technically we pay for it when we receive our water bill every month. What Wilk likely means here is, “That’s the only thing that can explain why you would pay ridiculous amounts of extra money for an environmentally-unfriendly, plastic bottle of something that you already pay for every month anyway.”)

That disclaimer aside – and I promise I’m going somewhere with this – Wilk’s quote suggests that people are essentially buying their right to choice and freedom every time they pay money for a bottle of water. In fact, “the right to choose” has been cited in several places as one of the reasons why bottled water should not be banned in colleges and universities. In today’s world, where freedoms and rights seem to be slipping slowly from our grasp with each new security measure, people are even more compelled to stand up and fight to keep them. But the willingness to pay for them isn’t doing much good. If bottled water is a symbol of the success of a capitalist market, buying it is only going to feed that market. And, in my opinion – feel free to debate with me on this – that market, and the greed associated with it, is the very thing that drives the policies that are slowly beginning to restrict our personal freedoms.

Sometimes, fighting for freedom means sacrificing security and comfort. Bottled water is one of the many symbols of security and comfort for those in the developed world, as it sets us apart from the less secure nations that don’t have access to clean water. It’s just a matter of where your priorities lie – with personal freedoms, or with comfort and security. In the name of the freedom upon which this Independent nation was founded, choose to drink filtered tap water, instead of bottled. It’s better for the planet, less expensive, less wasteful, it’s still purified, and you still retain your right to choose (along with preserving your dignity by resisting the temptation to get duped by clever advertising.) Seems like the more sensible decision to me – what do you guys think?

Fiji Water: Taking good water away from people who need it most.

Two days ago, Fiji Water‘s only production plant announced that it was shutting its doors, following a significant bottled water tax raise by the country’s military ruler. (There was talk of sourcing the water somewhere other than in Fiji, but then it wouldn’t really be “Fiji Water,” anymore, would it?) The announcement saddened many here in the U.S., as Fiji water is probably the most popular brand of premium bottled water on the market. I’m sure advocates of bottled water were saddened. Workers of the plant wept openly at their job loss. But those of us who maintain that bottled water is an unnecessary and expensive commodity that’s helping to destroy our planet were perhaps more saddened by today’s news: The Fiji plant will reopen tomorrow.  They have decided that the tax (15 cents per liter – up from only one-third of a cent per liter) is payable. The Fijian government’s total annual tax-take is expected to raise from F$500,000 to F$22.6 million.

But why don’t we consumer-obsessed Americans take our eyes off of ourselves for just one second to think about why the Fiji Water company is willing to dish out such a ridiculous amount of money to remain in production?

It’s now well-known that the success of bottled water in our nation is largely due to clever marketing tactics, most of which, sadly, we are gullible enough to fall for. Fiji is the most popular premium bottled water brand because it is well-advertised. Now, I know most of you Fiji lovers would say that it tastes different. But that idea just takes me back to a time when I was over at a friend’s house, drinking cold water which he had poured from the tap into a wine glass; I looked up at this friend, after a few sips, and said, “mmm… this water is really good! Is it Fiji?!?” And that, folks, was the day I stopped buying bottled Fiji water. I realized, at that point, that I had been tricked into believing that this Fiji-sourced artesian water was really better than what I could get at home for the price I already pay when I receive my monthly water bill.

The exotic factor is Fiji Water’s highest selling point. After all, who wouldn’t want to drink water that is bottled from an underground artesian aquifer in Fiji and never touches 21st century polluted United States industrial air until a consumer unscrews the cap? Fiji water is willing to remain in production, regardless of the tax, because they have done the math. They know that consumers will pay for it, and they know that they will still make a significant profit. Staying open, for them, is better than shutting down. It was a smart business decision.

But I can’t help but feel sorry for the people in Fiji, as well as those in other developing nations. We have access to clean water straight from the tap, along with filters that purify it even further by reducing the presence of chemical disinfectants; yet we choose to drink bottled water, simply because it comes from an underground aquifer in an exotic country, and we are gullible enough to believe that it really tastes that much better and is worth the price of $3-4 per liter (plus the extra $0.15 the company will probably now add to the cost to cover the tax). Moreover, we haven’t given a single thought to the fact that those in Fiji, not to mention those in Haiti, Indonesia, Africa and other developing nations, have to hike miles a day just to get access to dirty water that will probably either kill them or make them unbearably sick. Nor have we given thought to how much water and oil are wasted in the production, transport and disposal of this convenient luxury – a luxury that many others don’t have.

Now you may be thinking that bottled water has often been the saving grace for those in underdeveloped countries. But, giving them bottled water is like putting a band-aid on cancer. There are better, more permanent solutions, like helping these countries build a stable clean water infrastructure and teaching them how to manage it long-term.

The message is simple: think twice before you buy that next bottle of water, as it may only further contribute to the suffering of those less fortunate.

There are certain things in life that we need to survive. Bottled water is not one of them. It’s costly to both the environment and to your wallet. Besides, why would you want to waste your money on that, when there are so many other more important needs that are way cheaper? For example:

Alcohol

Several recent news reports have revealed that booze is cheaper than bottled water in New Zealand, which is bad news for this binge drinking population… (or is it?) Regardless, it could be really bad news for bottled water companies. I know we say it all the time, but when it just makes more sense to spend the money on beer or wine, why would anyone pay for a plastic bottle of something they can get for free from a tap? Think about it…

Gasoline

As expensive as a gallon of gasoline is these days, believe it or not, it can be cheaper than a bottle of water, depending on what kind of water you drink. If you’re the kind who prefers Fiji over Evian (which we think is still pretty naive), you’re looking at spending more than $3 for a liter bottle. A gallon of gas is only $2-something in some parts of the U.S. You do the math…

Iced Tea

Water tastes even better with tea flavor in it, right? (I’m sure @toddx can back me up here.) Why would you want to buy bottled water when you can drink iced tea instead? A box of 100 Lipton tea bags is about the same price as 2-3 bottles of water from a vending machine, and you can choose to drink it sweetened, unsweetened, caffeinated, or decaffeinated, flavored with peach or lemon, or just plain – the possibilities are endless! Not only that; the production process for bottled water depletes so many of our earth’s resources – including water! And, as @toddx so kindly pointed out to us on Blog Action Day, “Without water, there can be no iced tea.” You don’t want that, do you?

Ramen Noodles

If you or your kids have ever attended college, you know what I mean when I say Ramen Noodles is an essential good. It’s practically how all of us survived through those regrettable years, right? (That, and alcohol, which, as you know now, is also cheaper than bottled water.) Depending on where you shop, you can get as many as 5 or 10 packs of Ramen Noodles for only $1. That’s over a week’s worth of food! Compare that to the price of a bottle of water… I think you see where I’m going with this.

Filtered Water

You may think we sound like a broken record, but we can’t emphasize it enough. Not only does drinking filtered water save our planet from the detrimental effects of plastic bottled water waste… it saves you money! And, these days, I can’t think of one person who’s not looking to save a buck or two. Okay, so maybe the previous four goods are not really that “essential” when it comes down to it, but, in our humble opinion, filtered tap water is. With regular tap water you run the risk of ingesting cancer-causing contaminants, and with bottled water… well, I don’t need to repeat myself do I? Drinking filtered water will help ensure the health of you and your loved ones.

Please do yourself and the rest of the world a favor by visiting Filters Fast online to purchase your water filter today. We have a huge selection of refrigerator water filters, faucet water filters, undersink filters, pitcher filters and countertop filters to suit your needs.

Bottled water is convenient. This is one of the points the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) makes in one of its most recent videos, “Bottled Water: The Big Picture.” We’ve engaged in the bottled water vs. tap water debate in many blog posts, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that bottled water is convenient.

After all, you can walk into any grocery store or gas station and take your pick from a sea of bottled waters. You have at your disposal “spring, purified, mineral, sparkling, artesian and distilled.” It may cost you more per gallon than gas, but hey — it sure is convenient, right?

Filtered tap water isn’t for people who only want convenience. No, it’s for people who recognize that they can filter out any off flavors or contaminants from their water for a fraction of the price of bottled water. Filtering your home’s water is for people committed to truly sustainable practices, and it’s for people who are willing to put in just a little work if it means saving both their world and their wallet.

That being said, some might argue that filtering your water at home and carrying it with you in a stainless steel water bottle might actually be more convenient.

What about you? Are you willing to pay for the convenience of bottled water?

As we know from previous posts, the International Bottled Water Association has made multiple efforts to save face in the wake of environmentalist criticism. Two recent lawsuits, one against Eco Canteen, and one against ZeroWater, may be the organization’s most desperate attempts yet. In fact, these might even deserve a spot next to Nestle Waters as some of the most ridiculous lawsuits of all time.

IBWA has accused both companies of making “false and misleading claims” in their advertisements. These include the claim that plastic bottles contain harmful chemicals like BPA that leech into water, or that bottled water is unsafe and the act of recycling single-use bottles releases toxic substances into the environment. IBWA was victorious in its lawsuit against Eco Canteen, a distributor of reusable, stainless-steel water bottles. ZeroWater, maker of a 5-stage ion exchange water filter, has agreed to settle peacefully by retracting any and all false claims.

Perhaps the IBWA simply can’t handle all of the bad press it has received from bottled water critics – which could explain their recent back-to-back release of several online videos that advocate bottled water as a “safe and healthy alternative.” While it is certainly an alternative to less healthy sugary beverages, some might argue that the presentation of bottled water as “safe and healthy” in and of itself is just as “false and misleading” as some of the advertising claims made by the defendants in both lawsuits. A quick glance at our list of the “Top 10 Most Disturbing Things in Our Water” reveals that not all bottled water is as “safe and healthy” as  companies claim. (Pay special attention to #5 and #1 on this list, and you’ll see what we mean.)

In defense of the IBWA, it is true that the claims made by ZeroWater and Eco Canteen were indeed misleading. Though BPA and phthalates are used in the manufacture of many reusable plastic bottles, they are not contained in the single-use varieties.  Moreover, not all bottled water is unsafe or unhealthy, and it is certainly healthier than soda. Still, we can’t discount the negative environmental effects of the tons of plastic waste that go unrecycled each year – of which, single-use plastic water bottles are a part (albeit small). Nor can we ignore the ridiculous costs associated with this supposedly more convenient product. Bottled water is expensive, and in many cases is nothing more than purified tap water – a natural commodity that can easily be obtained from the kitchen sink with the use of a faucet water filter, or a reverse osmosis filter, if you’re looking for more advanced filtration. It’s not rocket science; mere common sense will persuade the average consumer that filtered tap water is a safe alternative that is both tasty and eco-friendly.

Frankly, such desperation on the part of the IBWA just makes me sad. Who’s next? Annie Leonard?

Daniel Tosh, the edgy comedian and host of Comedy Central’s video clip show Tosh.0, has become such a celebrity that he now has his own signature drink, the Toshtini. Here is how you make Daniel Tosh’s Toshtini:

1. Pour half a bottle of expensive bottled water down the drain.

2. Fill the half-empty bottle up with tap water and shake it up.

3. Pour the water into a martini glass and serve at room temperature with a garnish of limon, “the active ingredient in Sprite.”

I didn’t think it was possible for bottled water to be even more wasteful, but I think Daniel Tosh has come up with a way. While we appreciate that tap water makes up half of the Toshtini, we want Daniel Tosh to revise the Toshtini recipe. That’s right, we’re calling for an all-tap Toshtini!

If you want Daniel Tosh to drop bottled water from his Toshtini, let him know on the Tosh.0 Facebook page or via Twitter (@DanielTosh) with the following message: “@FiltersFast and I want @DanielTosh to drop bottled water from the Toshtini! #alltapToshtini”

Order your four bottle Filtrete Water Station at FiltersFast.com!

Google Analytics is a funny thing sometimes. If you’re unfamiliar, Google Analytics allows blog owners to see the search terms that bring surfers to their blog. Upon searching through some of these keywords this morning, I noticed that many of you are looking for a “4 Bottle Water Filter.”

Others were looking for the four bottle water filter, four bottle water purifier, Filtrete water bottle system, 4 bottle water filter system, 4 bottle water purifier, filter water four bottle, filter with four water bottles, filtered water bottle filler, four water bottle filler — I could go on and on.

Whatever you call it, you guys are all searching for the new 3M Filtrete Water Station, which allows you to filter and fill four water bottles in just seconds. Just fill the Filtrete Water Station with water from your sink, and the Fast Flow Filter reduces sediment and the taste and odor of chlorine from your water.

We just added the 3M Filtrete Water Station to the site, and we’re really excited about it. Up to 40 percent of bottled water is nothing more than filtered tap water, so why pay an arm and a leg for it? With the Filtrete Water Station, you can bottle your own water at home and take it with you wherever you go. Save yourself cash and save the environment from the many water bottles that go unrecycled every year.

If you’ve got a family that loves drinking water and would like a few extra bottles to have on standby, you can purchase replacement water bottles for the Filtrete Water Station. These reusable water bottles hold 16.9 ounces of water and are BPA free water bottles. They are also dishwasher safe.

Unlike many water filters, the Filtrete Water Station filter is recyclable.

So whatever you call it, the 4 bottle water filter — I mean the 3M Filtrete Water Station — is a great choice for anyone who wants to filter and bottle their own water at home. Here’s a quick video explaining how the 3M Filtrete Water Station works:

Akinori Itu, CEO of the Japanese company Blest, has created a machine that converts plastic back into oil. Akinori admits that when he was a child, he didn’t care about the environment. Since then, the places where he used to play as a child have disappeared, due in part to plastic pollution. In Japan and elsewhere, there is very little space for trash disposal, and Itu hopes that his machine can help solve the problems that arise as a result. Since plastic is made from oil, Itu concluded that it must not be very difficult to convert it back. It was this conclusion that birthed his machine.

So how does it work? You simply fill the compartment with plastic trash, cover with the lid, and tighten. When the machine is turned on, the temperature rises enough to melt the plastic which produces a gas. This gas travels upward through a thin tube into a container filled with tap water which cools the gas, turning it into oil. One kilogram of plastic makes one liter of oil, which can then be processed further to create gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

Burning plastic results in harmful CO2 emissions, but converting it into oil has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 percent, lessening our environmental impact. Itu takes the machine into developing countries, where the dangers of plastic are less known, and uses it to raise awareness about the value of plastic. With this machine, according to Itu, plastic is no longer trash or waste, but “an oil field,” and a “treasure.”

Could this be the solution to our bottled water problem? Large amounts of oil and water resources are depleted in the production and transport of plastic water bottles and other plastic products; however, if the plastic can later be converted back into the liquid that was used to make it, our carbon footprint may be significantly reduced. But does this machine serve to enable and to justify our wasteful habits?

I’m still convinced that the best cure for any disease is prevention. While this machine could serve to recycle the plastic that is currently stored in our landfills, the only way to eradicate the future threat of plastic to the environment is to stop producing it in the first place. What do you think?