More reasons to filter water

Yahoo published a list with just another reason of why you should filter your tap water. The list contains the cities with the best and worst tap water. I was shocked and pleased to see my city is in the top three listed. To view the entire article and a link to the list of cities, click here.

Directly from Yahoo's article, "Experts still agree that drinking tap is preferable to drinking bottled water. Bottled water is much more expensive than tap, it takes a huge toll on the planet, and it's not necessarily any safer than tap. "Bottled water is not regulated in the same way as tap water," says Olga Naidenko, a senior scientist at EWG. "With bottled water, consumers often do not know what they are getting, and 25 to 40 percent of bottled water on the market is simply tap poured into a bottle."

Knowing what's in your water is the key. Once you know which contaminants are present, you can find the best filter to get rid of them. EWG put together a thorough buying guide to help you find an affordable water filter that works for you. You can read the guidelines or search for products based on contaminants you want to get rid of."

Here is also a direct link to the National Drinking Water Database that provides details of what is in the tap water of your city.

2009 Resolution continued

I am not a fan of coffee but I do enjoy drinking chai tea. I know it can be costly to purchase these drinks from large coffee chains so I have found one that I can make at home that is made by Oregon Chai. I found the chai concentrate at Super Target in the tea section. Oregon Chai offers several varieties of the chai that are organic, vegan and sugar free. It tastes great when you just add milk and heat or even if you prepare it as a cold treat.

Even though I will make the tea at home, I still enjoy going to the local Starbucks with a friend to just sit and relax. This is where I started to think, just like all the water bottles I was using, about all the cups that Starbucks goes through in a day. Not just paper cups but lids, paper sleeves, plastic cups, plastic lids, etc. When I started to think about the amount that one Starbucks goes through, let alone ALL of their stores...wow. This goes for any beverage or food chain that is giving you something in a disposable container.

I decided to purchase a reusable tumbler while I was there. It doesn't take much effort to wash it out and then I put it back in my car in case I stop for an impromptu drink. I found out that Starbucks also has a program called Shared Planet where they are helping to reduce their carbon footprint and you can sign up as a participant and reuse your mug or tumbler each time you get a drink at Starbucks. For each drink you purchase and use your own tumbler for Starbucks will give you a $0.10 discount.

Starbucks is currently researching to create a cup that is 100% recyclable but until that happens I will be sure to take my reusable tumbler with me.

2009 Resolution

It is almost that time of year where everyone starts to make resolutions for the new year. I have already started on a few more this year and have some others I would like to try for the next.

One of my resolutions this year came from watching the Biggest Loser. I realized that even though I did recycle all of those plastic water bottles I was using, I still went through a lot of bottles. At the beginning of 2009, I went out and purchased a Brita pitcher and began to filter my tap water and was using a reusable bottle to take with me to work each day. Prior to doing this, I would go through at least three bottles of water while at work each day. I usually also carry a bottle with me everywhere I go, so I have purchased different reusable BPA-free bottles to fit in my lunchbox and different bags so that I will always have one with me.

To help others get started using reusable water bottles Brita also began a Filter for Good campaign where you are able to join the campaign and receive coupons towards purchases of Brita products. Sign up today to help reduce bottled water waste.