Back to the Tap: Filtered Water Bottle
by Jenna Watson, Barcelona on 08.29.08
After writing about the benefits of tap water over bottled water, we received some info from the folks at Back to the Tap™. They have a serious movement going on to get people, as their name indicates, "back to the tap." Citing the benefits of kicking the bottle, like reducing plastic waste, and shrinking your carbon footprint, this organization encourages people to stay away from bottled water and use the EPA-regulated clear liquid that flows from your faucets.
In light of this important step in greening your drinking water, the Back to the Tap people created a water bottle with a carbon composite filtering mechanism that will last approximately 3 months before it needs to be changed (or the equivalent of approximately 80 gallons). They estimate that it will effectively eliminate an average of 300 water bottles from going to landfills and as many as 1000 bottles per person per year. The end goal – reducing global plastic waste.
Additionally, every time you buy one of their water bottles, a $1 is donated to the Earth Share which supports environmental and conservation organizations that work in protecting the environment. Their vision is to engage individuals and organizations in creating a healthy and sustainable environment.
This looks like an interesting alternative to the big, bad bottle. It seems to work like a Brita water filter jug, but in a smaller version that you can take with you all the time. Good for the office and the car. And for places where tap water just doesn't taste as good (as many people have told us ) this should help make it a tastier option.
Have you tried this type of filtered water bottle? Tell us! We’re curious to here what you do.
More on Bottled Water:
Great Chefs Prefer Tap Water
Tap Water or Bottled Water: Which is Better?
A World of Reasons to Ditch Bottled Water
How to Go Green: Water on PLanet Green
Back to the Tap Website
Earth Share Website
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Enjoy Bottled Water with the Competitive Enterprise Institute
- Know Your Green Spa Treatments
- The Future of Fridges: Tall, Narrow with Water Filter Built In
- Save $1,400 a Year By Drinking Tap Water
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Well, here in NYC we have some of the best tap water around. In fact we just won a "best tasting tap water in the state of NY" contest held recently.
I always keep a tall bottle of cold tap water in the fridge.
I understand this reduces the amount of bottles going to a landfill but this is still a plastic bottle. Why not go all the way and have it be some form of metal (like a cantina)?
I love Treehugger and think that many of the great offers to buy eco gear like this are fantastic, however I live in Italy and it probably wouldn't be a good thing to buy this over the internet (carbon foot print for shipping) but it is a great thing.
By the way is CA the greenest state in the USA, as they seem to have the most progressive ideas, or is it just that they have to?
Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes.
I looked everywhere before a trip to Europe this summer for just this very thing. From my previous trip I knew that London's tap watter was very, very hard, and I wanted a bottle sized Brita to filter out as much as I could. With the exception of a poorly built model at K-mart, I couldn't find anything that would do the trick and be packable. Assuming this design is better constructed and allows filter removal for cleaning the top as well as the bottle, sign me up.
is the plastic used to make the bottle toxin-free and leach-free? does the company use recycled bottles to make their bottles? I wonder...
I think this is a good idea in terms of getting the naysayers on board with tap water again (which, frankly, is what we all grew up on, so I still don't know what the hoopla is all about...just seems like proof that slick marketing campaigns can change a whole society's subconscious).
However, it's still a plastic bottle. Wouldn't the better idea (if the company truly wants to llive up to its name and get people back to the tap) be to make just the screw on top that can fit over standard size bottles people are already using? Less plastic production and more reuse going on...
But I second the questions from others - what is this bottle made of that makes it so much better?
according to their website, the bottle is comprised of an FDA approved #4 plastic which can be safely refilled at any Residential or Commercial tap source. Each bottle features our unique Carbon Composite filtering mechanism which will treat up to 80 gallons of water and effectively reduce chlorine, lead, mercury, copper, as well as pharmaceutical impurities.
There have been bottles like this on the market for many years. I have one that was made by Brita. It was discontinued a few years ago, but I can still find both bottles and filters on ebay. It's very handy for when I travel, though I wish it could also filter out fluoride!!! There are others available on the market, and also different technologies, such as a filter straw. Just do a google search. Katadyn (sp?) has one that filters out either bacteria or viruses, or both, great for use when traveling to places where the quality of tap water is questionable. yes, I wish the bottles weren't plastic, but it's a good start. Perhaps the filter straw with a Klean Kanteen? And, yes, these things are difficult to find in stores, so one most likely will have to buy it online and have one shipped. Do check with local outfitters first, though, like REI.
Tap water quality is not the same as it used to be. There has been a steady decline in water quality in most North American ground and surface water.
That said bottled water is by and large just filtered tap water and rarely properly regulated.
So the best thing you can do is keep your own portable container and filter the tap water yourself. This bottle does that handily.
Although, I wonder if the filter itself is very good. Mass produced filters themselves often add contaminants (cadmium for instance) or allow bacteria to fester.
The FDA approved refillable #4 plastic of a Back To The Tap bottle is not made with the chemical Bisphenol-3 which is what most disposable plastic water bottles are produced with. The durable Back To The Tap container is meant to last for at least a year, and the safe components of the bottle combined with the convenience of a portable carbon filtration feature is what makes this product different. The company is set up to affordably ship overseas as we plan to offer our new biological bottle to those regions and people who are without safe drinking water. The staggering costs of current oil reserves that are used in producing billions of disposable plastic bottles, far outweigh any shipping costs of a product designed to save 1000 bottles per consumer a year.
Back To The Tap has chosen to produce its products with a safe plastic rather than metal to keep the costs affordable to all - since providing a carbon filter feature is more important to those that are seeking to find a safe, convenient, and quality drinking experience as an alternative to global plastic waste.
Thank you for your comments! We look forward to your decisions in helping us to Heal The Planet....One Bottle at a Time!
Sincerely,
Faith Paulus
President - BACK TO THE TAP....FOR A HEALTHIER PLANET
www.backtothetap.com
LOVE this bottle. I have 2 of those and use them everywhere. I understand some comments that this bottle is also made of plastic, but you can use the same bottle for over a year... comparing to 3-4 OTHER BOTTLE WATERS a day x 365 days = 1,095 less bottles that will be a waste.
This is very easy to use and EARTH FRIENDLY!!!! LOVE MY BOTTLES!!! And even has give them as gift to family members as a contribution to HELP THE PLANET. FInd out more how you can help the planet by going BACK TO THE TAP.