MyGourmetConnection

 

Did you know?

• 74% of Americans drink bottled water
• 20% of Americans drink only bottled water
• More than 4 billion pounds of PET plastic bottles end up in landfills annually
• Making enough bottles to supply Americans' demand for bottled water in 2007 required more than 17 million barrels of oil and created more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide

Bottled water has its own benefits, though: it's portable and it offers a consistent taste. On the other hand, tap water can vary from city to city, and it is often treated with fluoride, which helps maintain healthy bones and teeth.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of bottled water available to you, here's a quick guide to the most common water "varieties":

Spring water - Water collected directly at the spring from an underground source that flows naturally to the surface

Artesian water - Water collected via a well or hole in the ground; this variety of underground water is isolated by layers of rock, clay, soil or sand

Mineral water - This term applies to artesian or spring waters with naturally occurring minerals, including calcium, magnesium, sodium or potassium

Purified water - Any spring, artesian or municipal water that is processed by distillation, deionization or reverse osmosis

Sparkling water - Naturally carbonated spring, artesian or mineral water

If you'd like to find out more about Think Outside the Bottle's efforts, visit their website or read more at the EPA.

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• bottled water
• varieties of water