Decades ago, you will never go thirsty while strolling down the park or traversing the vastness of a train station. You will see water fountains that provide potable drinking water everywhere.
Today, if you are thirsty, the first thing that will come to mind is to buy bottled water from a nearby kiosk or from a vending machine. Indeed, bottled water can be bought anywhere and they are handy, too.
But are bottled water truly safe?
Bottled water comes in different kinds -- distilled, purified, mineral and spring water. These types of water went through a meticulous process of sterilization. Water bottle companies make sure that their products are safe and free of impurities. However, the use of plastic bottles is a different story.
Plastic bottles used for water contain Bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an organic synthetic compound that may cause adverse effects to your health over time or when consumed in large doses. This compound may seep into the water, especially when they are exposed to direct sunlight or stored in hot areas. This also means that you are most likely consuming BPA as you consume your bottled water.
So, what should we do?
Bring back and reinstate the glory of drinking fountains. Reinstalling public water fountains provide a variety of benefits. Drinking fountains are cost-efficient. Accordingly, each person consumes about 30 gallons of bottled water per year. With the rebirth of drinking fountains, this may be reduced if not eliminated. The cost in treating, filtering and delivering tap water to drinking fountains is only 0.2 cents per gallon. This is roughly around 750 to 2,700 times less expensive than the cost of bottled water.
This water source provides safe and clean water to anyone at any time and anywhere. Drinking fountains are also a good alternative to soda and other beverages with high sugar content. Thus, healthier for both kids and adults.
The best benefit we can get from drinking fountains is helping our environment breathe better. Lesser plastic means a more eco-friendly environment.
Don't you think, it's time to say goodbye to plastic bottles and say hello to drinking fountains?
Drink healthier! Live healthier!
