Water & Air – Filter Systems News

Thanks to students, Brian Boler, Andy Whitaker and Reid Schilperoort, we can now officially say goodbye to vending machines full of plastic bottles. This team of entrepreneurs has managed to make reusable water bottles even more convenient with their recent class-project-turned-business-venture:

Ecowell. A vending kiosk that dispenses hot, cold or carbonated water with a choice of over 20 fruit juice flavors, two sweeteners and five vitamin supplements. This eco-friendly alternative to vending machines allows you to create your own beverage, dispensing it straight into your own reusable Klean Kanteen. None of the fruit juice flavors contain high fructose corn syrup, and the kiosk can dispense any combination of flavors, light or full, depending on your preference. Both of these features allow you to create a healthier beverage than those which are normally available in standard vending machines. Moreover, with Ecowell’s convenient Tap-Tag system, patrons can create an account right at the kiosk and use their Tap-Tag to select and pay for their drinks at each visit. Ecowell is a great invention for office buildings and schools where bottled water and soda are consumed on a regular basis.

Beverages ordered and filled at the Ecowell kiosk are less expensive than the average bottle of water, juice or soda purchased from a conventional vending machine. A 16-oz. cold glass of purified water is $0.55. Add three fruit flavors and pay only $1.50. Considering that a Vitamin Water is usually at least $1.75, and a Snapple beverage can cost around $2.50, students and workers are getting a great deal for a customized, healthy, eco-friendly beverage. For example, instead of buying a Focus Kiwi-Strawberry Vitamin Water, you can simply create your own mix of fruit-flavored water and add the “StudyBoost” vitamin supplement for added focus and retention.

Ecowell truly leaves the consumer with no excuses to drink bottled water. At home, you can make your own flavored water with the PUR flavor options pitcher or PUR faucet mount with flavor options. With the Ecowell kiosk, now you can make your own flavored water and even soda. This new invention might just make more schools consider banning bottled water.

Vapur recently partnered with jovoto, Dwell Magazine and Opportunity Green to launch the “Thirst For Design” competition, a graphic design contest allowing artists to contribute creative ideas for a new “Artist Series” of anti-bottles. These bag-like bottles will make carrying tap water more fashionable among a wide variety of age groups. Vapur anti-bottles are foldable and reusable, making them easy to carry anywhere you go. They are also BPA free, dishwasher safe and freezable. The company believes in putting an end to the harmful plastic waste that is bottled water, and the winning designs embody this belief. They were so impressive that we decided to feature them on our blog. Visit jovoto’s “Thirst for Design” website for more information.

Design Contest Winners

First place: “Water is Fun”

The designer’s overall goal was to create something sexy and fun that would target all age groups. This anti-bottle features a series of cartoon characters (including a monkey that resembles Paul Frank) involved in a variety of activities that will make you sweat. After running, dancing, lifting weights, or doing anything “fun,” you’ll need some water, and what better source is there than a Vapur anti-bottle depicting the reason behind your thirst in a fresh, unique way. Perhaps the most impressive thing about this submission is the design’s easy adaptability to other media such as t-shirts, posters and stickers.

Second Place: “Bottle Inhabitants”

This design is simple, unique and humorous. The egg-shaped “bottle inhabitants” are annoyed by the filling of the anti-bottle, but who can resist these cute characters?

Third Place: “Fantastic Tap Water”

Implied by its title, this design promotes “fantastic tap water” through a series of depictions, including: “the sea snake and Robinson Crusoe”; “the dangerous deep sea fish”; “the octopus and the stranded pirate”; “the little mermaid”; “the crab and the walker”; and “the black shark in the pouring rain.” The artist calls them “freaks of the Caribbean.” And if you’re ever stranded on an island surrounded by salt water like the creatures in these depictions, you’ll need a taste of refreshing, healthy tap water from your Vapur anti-bottle.

Fourth Place: “World Changers Collection”

This design features a series of halftone portraits of people who have changed the way the world thinks, including: Mahatma Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln, Charlie Chaplin, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Theresa. The back of each bottle features a typed quote by the person depicted on the front. The idea is simple, yet revolutionary, as the quotes are relevant to positive future change, which is the whole reason behind the Vapur anti-bottle as a product.

Fifth Place: “Relation Between Plants and Water”

This double-faced design features two main types of plants – a cactus and a leaf. The cactus bottle design represents a source of water, while the leaf bottle design represents a need for water. The water level in the bottle can be seen through the leaf’s transparent veins or through the cactus’s prickly spines.

Sixth Place: “Small World”

The artist has included three different, yet related designs in which the front of the bottle features a creature (either a fish, a deer or a plant) surrounded by a globe-shaped cloud of plastic waste, underneath the text: “My World is Getting Smaller Every Day.” On the back of the bottle, the creature has been freed from this cloud, and sits underneath the text “If Your YOU Changes, its World Changes.” Once again, the world-changing impact of the Vapur anti-bottle in general is a part of the bottle design itself. Nice work.

The “Artist Series” bottles will be available in 2011. In the meantime, purchase the Vapur anti-bottle in one of five different colors from Filters Fast for a discounted price.

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:

The family of a woman in Central Indiana who died when a 4,100 pound pallet of bottled water fell on her at a Kroger store is suing Nestle Waters, arguing that the reason for the accident lies in the water bottles’ “eco-shape” design.  According to the family, these bottles use less plastic, and therefore, can’t support as much weight as previous bottles.

Now, I’m not a huge fan of bottled water, and Nestle’s motives behind this supposed “eco-friendly” water bottle design are questionable (is this simply more green washing to boost profit?) But this might just be good enough to make it onto the list of the “10 Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of All Time.” Right up there with the one that started it all… (how dare McDonald’s serve hot coffee without a warning label?!? And how dare Nestle serve water in a bottle that might be better for the environment!) Apparently, “Nestle Waters didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.” Honestly, though Nestle might be among the worst corporations of 2010, and although they might fully deserve to be sued, I can’t say I blame them.

Bottled water is clearly dangerous, on multiple levels. But manufacturing bottles with more plastic is not the solution, as it only leads to a worse fate for our planet – and the billions of people living on it. This incident is just one of several recent incidents which underscore the dangers of bottled water -  providing even more incentive to drop the bottled water habit, altogether.

Last week, we did a post on pairing premium fine bottled water with food – an experience termed by some diners as “epicurean.” Premium bottled water is made for rare consumption and is likely more expensive than your average bottle of Dasani or Evian. Just how expensive, you ask?

Well, that depends on the water. The suggested retail value of Fillico Jewelry Water is $150 per set of two bottles. This is not just any bottled water, however. I would venture to say it goes beyond most premium bottled waters in several ways. Each bottle is decorated with Swarovski crystals and has a shiny (king or queen) crown cap. The bottles and caps are hand made piece by piece, so production is limited to no more than 5,000 bottles per month.

Are you impressed yet? It doesn’t end there…

The crystals aren’t the only thing you’re paying for (though they probably make up a large part of the reason for price). The water inside the bottles is natural spring water from Kobe, Japan – a location famous for the Japanese wine, SAKE. In fact, Fillico shares the same source with SAKE winery. (While we’re on the subject of pairing premium bottled water with food, perhaps this water would pair well with Kobe beef.) Fillico recommends the water for special occasions such as anniversary dinners or wedding receptions. Or if your teen has expensive taste, you may want to invest in the Hello Kitty collection. This special edition Fillico water comes in five different bottles, each with its own set of colored crystals which represent a different theme: yellow (heartful), pink (cute), lavender (sweet), green (wish),  and red (friendship).

When we last saw DePauw University (in early May), the Student Government had voted to ban the sale of bottled water on campus. But that wasn’t quite the end of the story. As of May 24, the sale of bottled water is officially banned, and filling stations have been installed with the start of this school year.

According to an article in The DePauw, there have been mixed reactions to the ban. The General Manager of Dining Services has said that the ban will be the “end of a money-maker” as students will no longer be able to purchase bottles of water. Tyler Hess, the leader of the movement, however, is elated. Tyler worked very hard to solve the problem of plastic bottle waste on campus, and has strongly believed since day one that an all-out ban was the only true solution. DePauw promotes the use of the new filling stations by providing all incoming freshmen with a reusable water bottle.

We at Filters Fast would like to congratulate DePauw University for their success so far. If you haven’t already, please check out our article, “Should Universities Ban Bottled Water,” and let us know what you think of a campus bottled water ban.

With all of the recent talk about celebrities and bottled water, perhaps it comes as no surprise that teen heartthrob, Justin Bieber, has been frequently seen drinking Vitamin Water, which is rumored to be his favorite drink. Perhaps he will soon join the ranks of other celebrities featured in bottled water ads. Last year, during one of his concerts, one fan made it very clear to him how she feels about this possibility:

Bieber retains his composure in spite of being hit in the head with a full bottle of water. Still, the message is clear – this is what happens to celebrities who endorse bottled water. Bieber and Ellen fans – join us in our efforts to stop the madness! Let’s put an end to the devastation of our planet by harmful plastic waste!

Last month, we wrote about the International Bottled Water Association‘s video, “The Real Story of Bottled Water,” a quirky rebuttal to Annie Leonard’s film – “The Story of Bottled Water” – on the bottled water industry’s dishonest marketing tactics. In their latest film, “The Inner Workings of a Bottled Water Plant,” the IBWA resorts to such tactics again:

While the intentions of the video are clearly to make the process of bottling water seem  both interesting and necessary, the tactics used just aren’t that convincing. From the beginning, it becomes obvious to viewers just how wasteful the bottled water industry really is.

The tour guide in the film emphasizes the fact that the source of the water bottled in his plant is a “natural spring,” which “flows year round.” He says, “If we were not in the bottled water business, it wouldn’t make any difference. It would still be flowing. It’s a natural spring.” This statement – likely unintentionally – makes the activity of buying bottled water seem ridiculous.  Since it flows naturally and freely from the ground all year long – why pay for it?

The plant admits to producing 150,000 gallons of water and up to 30,000 bottles of water a day. Filtered water and plastic, moreover, are not the only materials used in production – the plant houses thousands of product labels, which are placed on the bottles once they are filled and capped. The girl featured in the film compares the myriad of labels to the layout of a fabric store – and this is hardly an exaggeration. The tour guide mentions that labels establish the “brand identity” of each bottle, but fails to point out that the same water goes into every bottle, no matter which label is placed on it.

It seems that the only real selling point for bottled water is the fact that it  eliminates unwanted chemicals, like chlorine. But even that could be achieved with an in-home water filtration system, which is better for the environment and saves money.

Near the end of the film, the girl states: “I know I’m always gonna drink bottled water for the rest of my life.” After seeing all of the plastic and energy wasted in the production of bottled water – will you? Just like IBWA’s previous film, once again, I think this one’s a no-brainer.

iPhone users no longer have an excuse to buy bottled water. A new iPhone application called “Oasis Places,” created by Thermos, allows users to track locations, ratings, and photos of water fountains across the U.S. The best part? It’s FREE  (unlike expensive plastic bottled water.)

Proponents of plastic bottled water argue that it is the most convenient source of water while on the go; however, this application makes it easy for travelers to do away with plastic bottles, in favor of reusable stainless bottles that can be refilled at any of these various fountains. What’s more, registered users of the iPhone app can add new fountains, comments and pictures, and can rate the water on several criteria, including coldness, location, cleanliness and flavor.

Thermos is sponsoring random giveaways of hydration bottles to registered users in the months of August and September to celebrate the launch of “Oasis Places.” Using these bottles in lieu of plastic disposables will cut down on bottled water waste significantly. The app is now available for free download on iTunes.

Ellen's Caught Up in Vitamin Water Criticism

You can add talk show host Ellen DeGeneres to our list of celebrities who promote bottled water. Ellen is the newest sponsor of Vitamin Water, joining the ranks of other celebrities like 50 Cent and American Idols Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

It’s hardly surprising that yet another celebrity is promoting bottled water, but it has come as a shock to many of Ellen’s fans, who temper their criticism with kindness.

For instance, Beth Terry over at Fake Plastic Fish began her article thusly: “I love Ellen, but I want her to dump her bottled water advertising contracts.”

Juli Borst, a self-confessed fan of Ellen DeGeneres and blogger at PlasticlessNYC , formed the Facebook group Tell Ellen Degeneres To Dump Bottled Water Advertising! On the group’s page, Juli writes, “We love Ellen Degeneres. But we hate that she is lending her personality to advertisements for bottled water–an industry that is damaging to people, animals, and the planet.”

Stephanie Soechtig, the director of the film Tapped, wrote a piece for the Huffington Post just yesterday entitled, “I’m Done with Celebrity Endorsements“. Having extolled the environmental dangers of bottled water waste in her film, it wasn’t long before Stephanie turned her attention to Ellen DeGeneres and her newfound promotion of bottled water: “We’re so quick to condemn the big corporations that pollute our natural resources, yet we glamorize the very people that endorse the product those corporations are selling.”

From all of the comments in the Facebook group and these articles, it’s obvious that many people do glamorize Ellen Degeneres. She’s not glamorized in the same way as the rest of her Vitamin Water compatriots, nor is she a sex symbol for the brand, like Jennifer Aniston is with SmartWater.

No, Ellen’s fans idolize the talk show host for her kindness, quirkiness, and her compassionate voice. Perhaps they see her as a more down-to-earth celebrity, and for that reason they are dismayed at why she of all people would sponsor Vitamin Water. They want Ellen to use her voice for good.  

If you want to make your voice heard, Juli has composed a list of ways you can contact Ellen to urge her to stop promoting bottled water.