Water & Air – Filter Systems News

IMAGE CREDIT: oliveventures.com

On April 22, 2013 the world will celebrate Earth Day, an annual day in which various events are held around the world to show support for environmental protection. One of the best ways you can protect the environment is by going reusable. Many have switched to using reusable bags and more, but what about making the switch to reusable water bottles? I may be preaching to the choir, but there are serious disadvantages to drinking bottled water. Reusable water bottles are more environmentally friendly and save you the long-term cost of paying extra money for plastic water bottles. There are three main reasons for you to start (or continue) using reusable water bottles.

Reduce waste: Did you know that the materials used to package bottled water takes hundreds of years to bio-degrade? It is believed that more than 80% of all plastic water bottles are simply thrown away and becomes litter. An estimated 2 million tons of discarded water bottles clog our nation’s landfills.

Save Money: The above graphic says it all when it comes to saving money. We pay much more for bottled water than we do for tap water. You are paying around 5 cents an ounce (when you consider the price per ounces in the average plastic water bottle) versus about a cent per gallon for tap water. Regardless of claims, the regulations surrounding plastic water bottles are less stringent than the regulations surrounding your local water supplier. The US public water system is monitored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which requires numerous daily tests for toxins and bacteria.

Be Healthier: Many plastic water bottles contain BPA (Bisphenol A) which studies have shown to be harmful to your health. It has been connected to cancer and hormonal issues. By switching to a reusable BPA-free water bottle, such as the Klean Kanteen water bottle, you are keeping your body protected from the harmful effects of BPA.

Many do not drink tap water because they question its safety or don’t like its taste. While these are concerns are understandable, there are solutions to this problem.

If you are weary about the taste or smell of tap water, carbon filters are the way to go. By reducing harmful bacteria and odors, you are left with filtered water that is free of smells, bad taste and chlorine. By installing a carbon filter inside your home (or even replacing your refrigerator water filter) you are reducing the amount of possible contaminates in your water supply and reducing bad taste and odor as well.

Reliable construction. Great fit for your house!

So are you ready to make the switch? If so, we suggest the Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel water bottle. Made from BPA free, food-grade stainless steel, this is an ideal alternative to bottled water. One of the best features of the Klean Kanteen bottles is found in its construction. These stainless water bottles will not impart or retain any odors or flavors. Unlike many plastic water bottles, the Klean Kanteen will not leech harmful chemicals into your drink. This water bottle is 100% recyclable, dishwasher safe, and is available in many sizes such as a 27 oz. capacity (pictured).

If you have already made the switch to reusable water bottles, congratulations! Urge your friends to do the same and drop the bottle! We offer a wide selection of reusable water bottles such as Vapur water bottles, and Brita water bottles. Browse through and choose which you prefer. In honor of Earth Day, let’s make an effort to go reusable! What is your favorite reusable water bottle? Don’t be shy and let us know in the comments below.

(L-R) Ed Elley, Filters Fast Local Service Key Account Rep; Kym Moore, Filters Fast Brand Marketing Lead and Devin Hatley, Environmental Educator for the Office of Waste Reduction & Recycling (Photo Credit: Steven Miller, Filters Fast Media Marketing Specialist)

Each year, the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, sponsors an Earth Day Environmental Festival on campus. This is an educational-packed day with representation from various sectors of the college and commercial communities, falling within the categories of sustainability, waste management, environmental awareness and global water issues.

Subsidiaries from Filters Fast LLC, FiltersFast.com and Filters Fast Local Service, exhibited and shared information about water testing, the cost effectiveness of using water hydration stations, eliminating the waste of plastic water bottles that pollute highways and landfills, along with increasing awareness of the global water crisis through our W3 Project with TrekDesk and Wine to Water.

Photo Credit: Steven Miller

We were deeply touched and literally brought to tears during a conversation by a young lady who is a student attending UNCC. Her name is Anna and she is from Africa. As we discussed our commitment to increase awareness about the global water crisis with our W3 Project, she painted a very real picture of personally experiencing such challenges. This was a very emotional dialogue, but nevertheless, one that touched our hearts and injected us with greater momentum to do everything we can to eradicate our global water crisis and save millions of lives from drinking contaminated water. So often it takes a heart-wrenching story like hers to make us really appreciate how fortunate we are.

Students, administrators and staff from the university strongly represented the turnout for this 20th Annual Earth Day event. We want to thank Devin Hatley, Environmental Educator for the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, for inviting Filters Fast to participate in this important community event. The Earth Day Environmental Festival is a free event that is also open to the public. UNCC students volunteered to assist with this event which was held at the CHHS Plaza across from the Student Union.

With an event like the annual UNCC Earth Day event, we are inspired to continue protecting our environment by taking action to learn, teach and share our knowledge with others. Our hats off to the UNCC Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling for a successful event. Keep up the good work by helping to increase our social consciousness to save our environment!

Today we are celebrating World Water Day. World Water Day is an internationally recognized day that is held annually on March 22 as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), the first World Water Day was designated on March 22, 1993. Each year this day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater.

In recognition of World Water Day, FiltersFast.com, Filters Fast Local Service and the W3 Project is teaming with Indian Trail Elementary School in Indian Trail, North Carolina for a month-long celebration of walking for water. Beginning today and ending on April 22, 2012 which is Earth Day, the 800 member student body at Indian Trail Elementary School is challenged to walk as many miles as they can in this 1-month time-frame and donate the miles they run or walk to the W3 Project. The W3 Project is a partnership that includes FiltersFast.com, TrekDesk and Wine To Water. Together, the W3 partners are building a community of people who walk in pursuit of health and wellness for everyone. By raising awareness about health and the global water crisis, W3 is giving everyone the ability to either “Donate” or “Sponsor” miles in which 100% of all proceeds go to Wine To Water.

This video was especially produced to educate and increase the awareness about the global water crisis for elementary and middle schools, which is used as a template for other schools who want to implement the same type of event at their school. 3M Filtrete, a leader in home filtration systems is sponsoring up to 3,000 miles of the total miles that the students walk at Indian Trail Elementary for their month long initiative. Thank you 3M Filtrete for becoming an important sponsor for Indian Trail Elementary School that will certainly help the school, community and deliver the message about the importance of filtration while helping others in the United States and abroad obtain access to clean drinking water.

Ever heard the phrase, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em?” Well, we couldn’t think of a truly original topic to blog about this Earth Day. For the last forty years, people have talked about Earth Day and ways to preserve our planet. In the Internet age, it’s even tougher to think of something truly unique, truly mindblowing.

So rather than telling you once more to purchase a water filter to filter your tap water and a reusable water bottle to carry it with (which is astonishingly good advice), we figured we’d point you to some writers who have provided an interesting, fresh take this Earth Day.In no particular order are a few blogs that made quite an impression on us. The first, from the Huffington Post, especially had us thinking green blue. 

Is Blue the new Green?

The folks over at the Huffington Post think so, and they give nine reasons — each accompanied by a breathtaking photo – that Earth day is as much about our planet’s water as it is our greenery. Gazelle Emami at the Huffington Post explains why we need to “Go Blue,” too:

“Earth is often seen as synonymous with land, but our planet is overwhelming dominated by water. Which is why this Earth Day, we’re going blue. Taking care of our oceans and other sources of water is critical to sustaining our planet, but the attention they get often doesn’t reflect that. While 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, 95 percent of the oceans have not even been explored. We’re taking a look at nine reasons why water and the life within it is vital to life on Earth, and how celebrating the earth means celebrating our most precious resource — water.”

Eco-friendly Bottled Water

Jill Fehrenbacher of Inhabit wrote about the Top Five Dumbest Greenwashed Earth Day Gimmicks. First on her list were “eco-shaped water bottles,” which the manufacturer Poland Springs touted as using 30% less plastic. Be that as it may, Fehrenbacher is quick to point out the hypocrisy involved in putting tap water into “eco-friendly” bottles.

Water for People

If you pledge to Save Your Water this Earth Day, UL Worldwide has promised to donate a dollar to Water for People, a program that helps bring clean water to some of the places on Earth that need it most.  

Blue Link Bonanza

Oceana, the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation, published an Earth Day Blue Link Bonanza. The link bonanza included several links to celebrate Earth Day through water, including links to senators and suggestions to tell them to stop ocean acidification and offshore drilling.