The following is a reprint from an earlier blog. I’m on a mini-vacation at the moment, and yes, I brought my own water bottles.
Enjoy.
Dearest Beloved Tap Water,
We’ve known one another since I was but a mere babe, sippy cup in hand.
No more can I keep our love quiet. One. Minute. Longer.
I love you, Tap Water!
If only I could write it across the skies, yell it from the tallest mountain, whisper it in your ear.
With each caress of my lips, you quench my desire and soothe my parched soul.
Yet others spurn your unconditional love. They purchase entire cases of bottled water, tainting the innocent beauty of your selfless gifts. Why, why would they reject you?
You have zero packaging and cost only one cent per gallon.
Do they not know that 40% of bottled water sold in the U.S. is tap water anyway? That 86% of bottles never get recycled? That the U.S. manufacture of water bottles uses 1.5 million barrels of oil annually?
I’m so lucky to have your delicious presence in my life. So many world citizens cannot simply twist a faucet to receive the safe clarity of your divine beauty.
Each bottled water purchase plants a seed of doubt.
We all need to show our love and trust of you, my sweet, sweet tap water. To drink you in our homes, serve you to our guests, and pour you into our own bottles when we venture out.
I love you Tap Water — You are my safe and clean savior! Without you, I would wither away.
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.”
To read more about bottled water issues, click here.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Our city has rotten nasty tap water. It has a pH of 8.5 and filled with flouramine, a chemical that doesn’t dissipate like chlorine. We bought gallon jugs of distilled water for 87c at Wal-Mart until we realized how much we were spending and how many plastic jugs were just lying around. We bought a water distiller and it has already paid for itself with less waste and trips to recycling.
I love are well water on tap. It upsets me that I have to give my H.S. student $ to buy water at school because the staff is afraid that students are sneeking in alcohol. It’s not just the money that ticks me off but the thought of all those plastic containers. Somebodies making a lot of money and desecrating the environment.
Amen! We’ve had great tasting water in 2 of our 3 dwelling places, and in the one with bad-tasting water, a simple Brita pitcher took care of the problem. I seriously do not understand why people keep buying bottled water.
Hi, I just ran into your blog yesterday after looking around for frugal ideas. Amy Dacyczyn mentioned in her Tightwad Gazette that she carried around a thermos full of ice water when she went anywhere with her kids. What an excellent idea! Duh, so simple and yet I’ve bought tons of bottled water for thirsty kids.
Also I read somewhere that many times when we’re thirsty, sometimes we misinterpret it as hunger. I’ve also bought many fast food meals on the road that were probably thirst related. Not anymore! Viva la themos!