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| One of the many hydration stations located on UW-Green Bay's campus. Each hydration station has a number showing how many it's been used to save a plastic bottle from being used. |
I am all about transparency of the organization, so to be clear, the resolution to support the ban of sales in campus dining locations (excluding the Club located in the Union, the athletic building and other dining locations not within the academic building of campus, which would sell water bottles as normal) did pass the senate. Unfortunately, it did not pass further along in the process from higher administration...yet.
So, where does your water come from? An important topic, because what is a person's life without water? You cook with it, shower in it, brush your teeth with it, and of course drink it on the daily. But what if it wasn't that easy...what if you had to walk miles to find a drinkable, but less than adequate drinking source. I'd say the majority of people reading this have it very easy, you can go to the store and buy a case of bottled water for a very cheap price. But why do people still do this when you can get a much better value at your home or a water fountain found in many public areas, with a one-time-buy water bottle. If I had to guess why most people buy bottle water it is for three reasons.
1. Most obvious, and probably most accurate: it extremely convenient. You can buy a single bottle or case for a very cheap price (or so you think) and it can be bought pretty much anywhere and everywhere.
2. Fear. You fear water not from a bottle is not pure enough. That tap water is unsafe to drink.
3. It tastes better. Water is water. Can it really taste that much different?
Personally, none of the three reasons are strong enough for me to choose bottled over tap, honestly I prefer tap water because it is cheaper, safe to drink and tastes great.
I'm sure you've all seen the commercial for the Brita filter that explains why drinking from your faucet is better than drinking a new water bottle every time you finish the last, and how many times you could wrap the world in plastic water bottles if we cut them out of our daily use. It's a great commercial if you haven't seen it, puts the environment in perspective. What the commercial doesn't mention is why it's better for yourself to drink tap or filtered water opposed to drinking bottled water.
Just to touch the environmental problems of bottled water: it takes a lot of materials and oil to make a plastic water bottle. And even assuming you do recycle the water bottle (props to those who do), not even all of it can be recycled. Also, a misnomer, I thought plastic water bottles were recycled into more plastic water bottles...unfortunately, no they are not. What ever can be recycled from the plastic water bottle (which is not a lot) is recycled into another product. And don't be fooled by the bottles of water with the smaller cap saying this is a "green" alternative to a regular water bottle, it still uses materials and takes energy to make nonetheless. Essentially it's the same thing.
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| Plastic water bottle "Phoenix." UW-Green Bay is EcoU and partners with athletics to host a Go Green Game to promote recycling. #EcoU |
Now what are the benefits of drinking tap water? Well to start off with, it's much cheaper. Second, unless you're on well water, the EPA regulates the water quality, and they have high standards to ensure your drinking water is safe. Many people I know, including myself, feel that tap water tastes the same or better than bottled water. Tap water also contains a safe amount of fluoride that is beneficial to your dental health (which in turn, helps out your cardiovascular system) so your overall well being is being helped greatly!
Tip: Instead of buying bottled water all the time, make a one time investment in a reusable water bottle!
My hope is that this idea to decrease the use of the plastic bottle is not just for UW-Green Bay's campus, but everyone can go beyond recycling and do their part to decrease plastic usage.
