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Summary:
According to Corporate Accoutability International, the House of Representatives spends at least $860,000 a year on bottled water. Some are saying this is completely unnecessary and needs to come to an end. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton quoted, "Congress is spending almost a million dollars annually on bottled water for itself that often carries misleading claims of purity, when water of equal or better quality is available through the public drinking water system installed here in the House." Studies show that about 70% their tap water cost a penny a gallon and bottled costs a dollar a gallon, that's a hundred times more! Also, some are saying the bottles that are purchases are compostable. However, this is not guaranteed and the bottles could just end up sitting in landfills producing one of the worst emissions culprits: methane.
Reflection:
After reading this article I was completely shocked! It is ridiculous how much money is spent on bottled water and I 100% agree with Norton that the change needs to be made. Tons of plastic, water, and money would be saved just by doing this! Also, after having the classroom discussion about tap water vs. bottled water, tap water seems safer to drink just because it is more filtered and closely watched for contaminants! This discussion was brought up at the dinner table not too long ago, and from the sounds of it, my family is going to make the switch too!
Questions:
1.) Do you think they should make the switch from bottled water to tap?
2.) What other alternatives are there?
3.) If you had the choice, would you make the switch?
Reflection:This is completely ridiculous. How can our congress live with themselves. I am so shocked that they would do this when that money could be spent on our own people. I don't want to get the skin leccions like in the water video we watched. That money should go to conserving water quality. I am truly upset and mad. To answer rachel's question 3, I am definitely going to make this switch to tap water. Bottled water is a waste and the tap is almost healthy for you. Our water in this area is great and it tastes great too.
ReplyDelete1. I think they should definitely make the switch from bottled water to tap water, it is much better for our environment.
ReplyDelete2. Other alternatives are recycling the plastic bottles that we currently have, and try to not waste the tap water we use.
3)I would make the switch because it is cheaper,more reliable and better for our future
Reflection: Its unbelievable that congress can spend this much on bottled water when they live in an area where the water is well monitored. As Phil said the money they spend on bottled water could be put toward something more productive or helpful for the nation. As we mentioned in multiple class discussions tap water is perfectly fine, and actually gets tested way more than bottled water. Every one needs water and I see no point in getting it in a bottle when tap water is readily available and Americans have the ability to get clean water.
ReplyDeleteQuestions:
1) I think they should switch because if the House switches then it will provide an example for the nation. It will also just cut the spending for the House.
2) Actually recycling the bottles. For years I have wondered if things actually get recycled or they just go to the same place the trash does. My family and I saw a report on computer recycling and the computers weren't really recycled. All the computers went to Asia and poisoned the area there. I think the government should work on ensuring that things actually get recycled when they are meant to be.
3) We do have this choice and I am going to make the switch as best I can. Tap water is definitely better in this area and after learning about all the people that don't have access I have learned to appreciate tap water a whole lot more.
Expansion: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=bottled-water-ridiculous-waste