The water. Nearly all municipal water systems in the U.S. provide water that is safe to drink straight from the tap. You can filter your own water at home using a simple activated carbon filter that will get rid of any bad tastes or odors, and will remove chlorine and other chemicals that may be in the water. Brita and Pur offer these type of filtration systems in pitchers or faucet attachments. The Natural Resources Defense Council offers a comprehensive consumer guide on water filters. If you have questions regarding your water supply, contact your local water district or public health office.

Your bottle. There are a lot of reusable water bottles out there, many of which are plastic. However, not all plastics are created equal, and there is debate about the safety of plastics leaching into water. PET, what soda bottles (and water bottles) are made of, is food safe and is easily identified by the #1. HDPE, or #2 plastics are also relatively safe. Steer clear of polystyrene, #6, for water bottles, and always stay away from PVC or #3 plastics.

Nalgene makes a durable plastic water bottle that come in different colors and sizes. Most have a screw top lid attached to the bottle so you don’t lose it. Another popular water bottle maker is Sigg. Sigg bottles are lightweight, aluminum bottles that won’t taint the taste of your water. They come in all sorts of fun designs and have a special line just for kids. These two companies also offer customizeable water bottles for promotion of your business, or as a fundraiser for your organization or school.

Whatever bottle you choose, make sure to keep it clean and avoid the build up of bacteria by washing your bottle often.

More information:

Grist - Bottle Racket: On Plastic Water Bottles

Grist - Nalgene Therapy: On Plastic Water Bottles, Again

Go Ask Alice - Is Reusing Water Bottles Safe?

NRDC - Consumer Guide on Water Filters

Green Options - Lighter Footstep: 5 Reasons Not to Drink Bottled Water

Green Options - Daily Tip: BYOB (Bottle, that is)

Green Options - School Bans Bottled Water…Where Do I Sign Up?

Got a tip for Jennifer and Amy? Send it to them!

You know that the second you walk out that door you’ll get thirsty. That means you’ll want to stop somewhere to pick up a bottle of water or maybe a soda or coffee. Unfortunately, each of these drinks will come in their own container, be it a plastic bottle, aluminum can, or paper cup.

Recycling is good, but it still uses a lot of energy, water, and resources. BYOB is the best.

Bring your own bottle of water with you when you leave the house (reusable, of course). If you go to a party where you know there will be disposable cups, think about bringing your own glass.

Rebecca says: I love my Sigg bottle. I used to die of thirst everywhere I went, or wind up with lots of plastic water bottle waste. Now I fill ‘er up every time I leave the house! It takes a beating and never leaks.