Bottled Water Rises: Is This Good or Bad?

There's no question about it, sales of bottled water are on the rise. According to Lauria's bottled water association, in 1990, 2.2 billion total gallons of bottled water were sold worldwide. In 2007, it was 8.8 billion. In just the last year, wholesale dollar sales for bottled water grew 7.8%, to $11.7 billion in 2007, according to the bottled water trade group. Increased purchasing of bottled water is a good thing, Lauria said, because allot of the sales growth is coming from people who are making a health-conscious decision not to buy unhealthy drinks such as soda and sugary juices. "We're finding that most of that growth is in category switching," Lauria said, citing consumer research. "People are making a decision at lunch to buy bottled water as opposed to something else." The Container Recycling Institute found that between 1997 and 2005, sales of carbonated drinks remained relatively flat while sales of noncarbonated drinks, including bottled water, almost tripled. The plastic water bottles that are produced for U.S. consumption take 1.5 million barrels of oil per year, according to a 2007 resolution passed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. That much energy, if conserved, could power 250,000 homes or fuel 100,000 cars for a year, according to the resolution. Cornell University professor and environmentalist Doug James said the irony of bottled water is that it's marketed as clean and healthy when its production processes contributes to unnecessary ad unwanted environmental degradation. "Fiji water, for example," he said. "A one-liter bottle is taken out of the aquifer of this little island, and shipped all the way across the world, producing like half a pound of greenhouse gases so you can have this one-liter bottle of water."

There is a way we can still drink water without using all the energy, damaging the environment, or even going to the store! As a matter of fact, there is an option of water out there that is 6 times more hydrating than even the most expensive bottled water as well as containing high amount of disease fighting antioxidants as well as containing age reversing properties! Even though it sounds too good to be true, you can rest assured that this water is just a phone call away from being yours. Ionized alkaline water comes from an ionizer machine that is connected right to your very own sink. All you have to do to get a delicious glass of water is go right into your kitchen and pour. No more trips to the store, no more CRV taxes on the bottles, just one payment and the best water on the market is you’re to keep forever. The best argument in comparing this water to bottled or tap isn’t that it’s much better for the environment, (even thought that’s a wonderful thing), the bottom line is this water is way better for you! During the ionization process the water’s molecular foundation is reconstructed so that it’s smaller, making it easier to penetrate your cellular system at a much quicker rate. This in turn gives you more energy, detoxifies your body, flushes your system and prolongs life. It’s an easy decision to make; Ionizers are the way to go.