Photos
Are you one of those people trying to be healthy by attempting to drink at least eight glasses of water a day? Well, unfortunately this commonly accepted dictum was recently debunked by the medical community, but not before it contributed to the environmental havoc of single-use plastic water bottles.
What is the truth behind those convenient little bottles of well-marketed H2O? According to the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council, the environmental impact of bottled water is pretty hard to swallow. Did you know that the energy required to produce and import Evian bottled water from France, including transportation and use of fossil fuels, is 2,000 times greater than drinking tap water right here at home? Research also demonstrates that tap water is as healthy and as safe as bottled water.
At the Mar Vista Farmers' Market, you can quench your thirst for free by filling up at the water station located next to the MVCC Booth. I am among many who marveled at the delicious taste and asked market manager Diana Rodgers where she bought it. Rodgers couldn’t resist smirking as she pointed to the sink sitting right outside of the Top Tomato Gallery. “It’s Mar Vista tap water,” she chuckled.
Tap water can be purified further, but sometimes systems are harder on the environment. Reverse osmosis is one of the few systems touted as a way to remove Chromium-6 from water but these machines can waste as much as 18 gallons of water for every one gallon that is purified.
MVCC Green Committee Co-Chair Sherri Akers, who has long championed the need for wise water use, continues to wage a battle against single-use plastic water bottles and wasteful reverse osmosis machines. In a recent Facebook call to arms, she rallied a public outcry that caused local food cooperative Coopertunity to modify its reverse osmosis machine.
Ironically, because of the way water is absorbed into our sytems through our skin and lungs, the water you shower in should be of greater concern than the water you drink. You can stay healthier by simply spending less time in the shower (always a plus for the environment).
Adrienne Stein, who sells water purifiers for LifeSource Whole House Water Systems, is passionate about making clean, safe water available to as many people as possible. Dubbed "The Water Lady" by customers in Mar Vista who remembered her message but not her name, Stein has made it her goal to bring the issue of world-wide water shortage to public attention.
Bring your thirst for knowledge to the MVCC Green Booth on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and pump Stein for information.
It’s easy to become part of the solution. Just say “No” to bottled water. And don’t forget to click here to support SB79, legislation that would keep Chromium-6 out of everyone’s water supply.
Susan Black-Feinstein
10:45 am on Friday, February 18, 2011
missed you Jeanne last night. Hope to see you on Sunday. I'm using Stainless Steel water jugs. I have a question regading the bottled water. Should a big plastic water bottle be left in the light of the Sun? (Rather than in the shade?) Is there any possibility that bacteria could grow in in plastic containers left in the sunshine?
Love, Susan
Sherri Akers
12:39 pm on Friday, February 18, 2011
Jeanne - thank you for writing about this! So many people know to avoid plastic bottles but have no idea that the water they are buying was processed using reverse osmosis with so much wastage!
I clicked through to support SB79 - thanks for the link!
Melissa Stoller
3:22 pm on Friday, February 18, 2011
Jeanne--thanks for the article. I banished disposable plastic bottles from my home several years ago, and won't accept free bottles offered.
Plastic water bottles should not be in the sun if the plastic contains BPA.
Sherri Akers
3:24 pm on Friday, February 18, 2011
The Mar Vista Farmers Market puts an awning up over the water bottles :)
hat
3:34 pm on Friday, February 18, 2011
You leave me with a few questions...how much water does any given person absorb in the shower or is it the trace elements in the water that is absorbed? Is a bath then more worrisome or hottub/swimming pool/the ocean/standing in the rain?? Also I know plastic water bottles are wasteful for everyday use but what about earthquake/disaster supplies? Can I please feel good and safe at the same time??
Jeanne Kuntz
9:32 am on Saturday, February 19, 2011
hat, thanks for you insightful comment. Regarding, "Can I please feel good and safe at the same time?" Our world has never guaranteed absolute safety, but as far as feeling "good", that's a personal choice. If you try to educate yourself about the issues (as you obviously do) sooner or later you will find conflicting information about the best, safest or greenest choice. At that point, you will have to decide what makes sense and then feel as "good" about your decision as you can. Sunday, Feb 20, we will have an expert at the MVCC Green Booth who will be able to answer your questions more precisely than I can.
BTW, I imagine that soaking in a hot tub is more worrisome than standing in the rain.
Julie Ray
1:25 pm on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
We've been drinking tap water for a number of years. No plastic bottles to haul around, no expensive filters to replace. So far so good.
Jeanne Kuntz
2:50 pm on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
I have stopped using my reverse osmosis filter and begun to drink tap water that I leave out over night. I am looking into a whole house filter.
Christopher McKinnon
3:08 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reverse osmosis is wasteful in a home situation using potable water but when it is used in a Sewage treatment plant, such as the LA Bureau of Sanitation's Donald C. Tillman facility in Van Nuys advanced water treatment pilot, the waste from R.O. is put back into the plant for re-treatment before it goes into purple pipe for irrigation or downstream to Hyperion where it was going to go anyway.
Jeanne Kuntz
6:12 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Thanks Chris. You are Mar Vista's best resource for water information. I appreciate your comments.
Sherri Akers
6:37 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
I hope everyone comes to the DWP presentation on recycled water Tuesday night! 7 PM at the start of the MVCC Board meeting - Mar Vista Rec. Center Auditorium: 11430 Woodbine Street, Mar Vista, CA 90066. We are always lobbying them to choose us for pilot projects as the city did with the rain barrels. A strong turn out at this presentation will have a pay off - they'll know that Mar Vista cares about this!
Jeanne Kuntz
8:55 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Yes, MARCH 8, TUESDAY NIGHT...SEE YOU THERE!
Jeanne Kuntz
2:55 pm on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
After discontinuing the use of my Reverse Osmosis filter, I bought a Mavea (like Brita) water pitcher. I just learned that Whole Foods will recycle the old filters which cannot be dumped into the green bin because they contain sand, etc. The same holds true for Brita filters, corks, and batteries. Thanks Whole Foods.