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It's funny. In the states, they're arguing about taxes on water bottles. Here in Canada we're already paying extra taxes on them.

  I admit, I have water bottles at home for emergency purposes but after hearing the damage they do to the environment, I don't use them as much any more. I carry my own water in a container with me.

  What do you folks think about water bottles in general? Necessary or no?

No....not necessary.

  When I heard that it takes FIVE litres of water to make ONE bottle of water, it made me realize how wasteful it is. (not that I didn't already think it was wasteful.....)

Anything to substract money from consumers pocket. Next step, Diet Air, lose weight while breathing !

  (//vny!://www.engrish.com/image/engrish/diet-water.jpg)

Speaking of the extra bottle taxes we have here, did you know that in Toronto, ON they don't charge this extra bottle levy?  I found out that they don't even have Bottle Depots like we do here.

  So to answer Lise's question, I think we need to limit them but charge more.  I, too, carry my own water bottle and have some bottled water in the car when I need them.  I help the environment by recycling the bottles and sometimes, I reuse them.

Lise wrote:
It's funny. In the states, they're arguing about taxes on water bottles. Here in Canada we're already paying extra taxes on them.

  we pay a deposit call the California Redemption fee.  Other states have this fee of varying amounts

extremely harmful to the enviroment. For example a french water company. Bottles made in China, then flied to France then filled up with tap water, then flown over here.

Bottled water is only good for emergency situations.
 

Obviously a sino-french plot against Uncle Sam... Call Rambo !

I carry my own water with me, but I still have bottled H2O in the car.  I recycle all the bottles, and reuse them sometimes.
 
 Perhaps I'm missing the issue entirely, but I don't see why water bottles are any worse than plastic pop bottles or juice bottles.  Most people recycle them.  If they get thrown in the dumpster, someone (including me sometimes) will fish them out and recycle them.
   

I don't think you're missing the issue......I think that's a good point.  

  Although you can't get pop out of your tap.  I suppose that's one issue.  Plus there is something ironic about it taking 5 litres of water to make make one 500ml bottle of water.  Another issue is that a great percentage of bottled water comes out of a tap.  Studies have also shown that of some of the brands of water available for purchase are of the same or sometimes lesser quality than what's coming out of our taps.

Its the only way to get and drink water you know is safe in africa and other third world countries. I wouldnt be safe working there otherwise..

  That being said they are thrown around everywhere and theres islands of them floating on the oceans over there.

Oh.....they definitely have their place.  Where you go is surely one of them.  We also keep several flats in our earthquake kit.      

I tend to use the big ones when going camping or have two for our earthquake thingy.

  Individual bottles of water seem wasteful to me.    

Russ wrote:
 I tend to use the big ones when going camping or have two for our earthquake thingy.

  Individual bottles of water seem wasteful to me.

 

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I've seen these water bottles that are less than 500ml, ie at 250 ml.  

  I don't know why there are so many sizes to a water bottle.  250ml, 500ml, 750ml, 1L, 1.5L, 2L!  WTF?

I bought a good filter that attaches to my sink. I love it. All my drinking water tastes great.  I just change the filter every season, adn the ceramic filter once a year.

Our water here is so yummy....we're VERY lucky.  We also have the water dispenser on the fridge door that filters also.

  I better log off.....I'm sure the power is going to go again.  It's scary out.(//vny!://discoverseattle.net/forums/richedit/smileys/Shocked/1.gif)

Hi folks. Thanks for all the feedback.

  I hear you on the emergency bottles. I have several in our kit. (not to mention several 4 litres) Russ does have a good point too. I would NEVER drink water in 3rd world countries but then again, you can't trust the bottle water source there. I remember just drinking soda pops when I was in Malaysia because I didn't trust bottle water or tap water.

  I have another question..... does bottle water ever expire? Is it ok to leave water in bottles for a long period of time?

 I have another question..... does bottle water ever expire? Is it ok to leave water in bottles for a long period of time?

  That's a really good question Lise.  We searched high and low for an anwer to this, and came out none the wiser.  Most info just said 'indefinite'....which really isn't that comforting.  Just to be on the safe side we replace the water every couple months, although I'm guessing you'd still be safe for doing it every 6 months.[/DIV]

 [TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0] [TBODY] [TR] [TD vAlign=center width=25][/TD] [TD vAlign=center] [H1]Shelf Live of Water[/H1][/TD] [TD colSpan=2][/TD][/TR] [TR] [TD vAlign=top] [/TD] [TD class=maincopy vAlign=top width="80%"]
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  by Michael Mascha

In general a product's shelf life or safe storage time is affected by a number of variables, including intrinsic parameters, such as pH and moisture content, and extrinsic parameters, such as environmental factors. Understanding these variables is key to maintaining a safe food product.

 Bottled Water - indefinitely shelf live  under optimal conditions
The FDA has not established a shelf life for bottled water. In the United States bottled water's shelf life is date stamped for two years. This acts as a SKU number and is mainly for stock rotation purposes. It does not imply that the product is compromised after that date. As long as bottled water is packaged in accordance with FDA processing and good manufacturing practices, 21 CFR, Part 129, and is meeting the FDA quality standard provisions as outlined in 21 CFR, Part 165, the product's shelf life should remain intact for an indefinite period of time.

 Properly stored bottled water has indefinitely shelf live. However, long-term storage of bottled water may result in aesthetic defects, such as off-odor and taste. IBWA advises consumers to store bottled water in an unopened container at room temperature (or cooler), out of direct sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint thinners and dry cleaning chemicals.

 Bottled water is an excellent choice for emergency water storage. FDA Good Manufacturing Practices mandate that bottled water be produced in a sanitary environment and bottled in sanitary, safety-sealed containers.

 Tap Water – rotate every six month under optimal conditions
The recommendations are different for water (tap water) that is filled in containers and  stored for an food and water emergency. FEMA recommendations for water that is self bottled are to store the water in thoroughly washed plastic, glass, fiber glass or enamel-lined metal containers. Plastic containers such as soft drink bottles are considered a good choice. The containers need to be sealed tightly, labeled and stored in a cool dark place. The recommendation is to rotate water every six month.

 

 

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Funny fact : The dinosaurs used to piss in the same water that we drink today... yummy !

And we all know what fish do in it.  [img style="CURSOR: pointer" onclick=url(this.src); src="vny!://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/more/bigs/a093.gif" border=0]

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHH........

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Hmm. Interesting. Thanks for the feedback, PC. I think I will throw out all our water (we used tap water in our 4 litre containers for washing/whatever purpose) but I'll keep the bottled ones (not open) in the kit, away from sunlight.

I remember reading once that it was a good idea to add a drop or 2 of bleach to stored tap water.  (even if it's purpose is for drinking.)  A drop in a large container is non detectable in taste, but ensures against contamination from unsterile containers.

I was going to reply to Lise's questions but Miss PC has beat me to it! lol.

  YEah.. after time the water could have an off odour and change colour. This is mostly cause of the clear plastic containers they are stored in, not being aereated for odours and because the water has been sterilized so theres no preservatives and minute organics can grow back. Just store it out of sunlight and if its tap water rotate it once in a while.

Just in case you miss doing that, go to an outdoors store and buy some water purification/sterilization tablets. They are like 4 bucks a pill, just buy a bunch and then even if you are unsure you can use em. They work on stagnant water as well if you cant boil it, backpackers use em.