If you purchase bottled water because you like the taste, by all means, keep doing your thing. If your fridge is filled to capacity with those bottles because you appreciate the convenience, more power to you. But if you’re spending your hard earned duckets because you reckon it’s healthier to do so, not so fast.

When I’m on set at FOX, I’ll occasionally grab a cup, walk over to the sink and pour myself a cold one.  This is often followed by the “what on earth is wrong with you?” stare. I emphatically make my case that I’m not going to die from drinking the same water that millions of Americans enjoy on a daily basis and cringe as I get the “ewwww” response.

Tap water isn’t perfect. From Katherine Patton, registered dietician:

In the U.S., tap water is already treated to remove particles, chemicals and bacteria. During the process of treating public water, chlorine is added as a disinfectant, and fluoride is added for its dental health benefits.

The trace amounts are probably not enough to adversely impact our body, but I’m not crazy about the idea that my pool and my drinking water are treated with the same chemical. I don’t view bottled water as the answer, however. The giant corporations have successfully perpetuated the myth that drinking the same tap water filtered through a different process and poured into plastic bottles is somehow better for our health. The plastic housing our H20 has negative effects on hormones, ends up in landfills and is littered throughout our gorgeous communities.

From livestrong.com:

Plastic drinking bottles contain many chemicals, some of which interfere with hormones in the body. These chemicals include bisphenol-A, or BPA, and phthalates, among others. Chemicals in the plastic can leach into bottled water, especially when exposed to heat or when the bottle is old.

Ughh, another conundrum.  What we’ve been taught by the media isn’t really the truth, but sometimes there is no perfect answer. In this particular case, I opted for a water filtration system in my home. Some are more extravagant than others, each with a different price tag and set of features. Over time, however, you’ll unequivocally save money if you drastically reduce your bottled water purchases. From Daily Finance:

These filters screw directly onto your faucet, filter more water than a carafe and easily supply water for cooking… The cost of a faucet mount filter and its replacement filters will range from $55 to $100 for a year’s worth of drinking water, Kuperszmid-Lehrman estimates. “How easily can you blow through that kind of money buying bottled water?”

When I want cold H20, I fill up glass containers with my filtered water and keep them in my fridge.  If I’m at somebody else’s home, I’m happy to drink from the tap. On days when I’m out running around, I try to buy bottled water in glass containers. My solution isn’t perfect, but I won’t be offended if you choose my route. It won’t be the first time I’ve been followed off-course (kidding). Come along, we’ll figure this out together.

Kap