Our house has a reverse osmosis filter system for the kitchen, which I thought was a cute feature when we were looking to buy.  Now I realize it's much more than that: it's my defense against poorly regulated chemicals that flow out of my faucet.  The Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested water in 45 states and the District of Columbia, culling through almost 20 millions papers and reports in the process. You can read the report's findings here.  The results were extremely disheartening: Over 300 chemicals are currently in most  our nation's water supply.  Many of these chemicals are unregulated, meaning water districts do not legally have to do anything to prohibit their existence.  The result?  Water that may not be safe to drink.

Unfortunately, EWG says bottle water is no better than tap.  In fact, in many places it is simply tap water poured into bottles.  Then, there's the costs associated with bottled water and the lack of flouride in some brands. EWG says reusing plastic water bottles isn't a good idea because they can harbor bacteria that may cause the plastic to break down (a little extra BPA with your bottled water, anyone?). Add to those detriments the number of water bottles that go to land fills (as opposed to the recycling center), and it's clear bottled water is not a viable long-term solution to our hydration woes. 

This leads me back to my reverse osmosis filter system.  What I once saw was a gimmick I've now come to rely on as the only source of water for drinking and cooking.  Yes, the system uses charcoal, which some say isn't a safe method.  But when I think about drinking arsenic, nitrates - known to be harmful to infants - or "cancer-causing disinfection byproducts" such as  trihalomethanes....well, I'll deal with the charcoal. 

For those of you who want to drink healthier water but can't afford a reverse osmosis system (which can set you back a few hundred bucks), buy a filtered water pitcher.  EWG recommends Brita. 

Once you have a filtered water system in your house, be sure to use it for all drinking and cooking needs -- especially if you have young children.  Purchase stainless steel water bottles (not aluminum!) that can be re-used without the worry of bacterial buildup.  But most importantly, be sure to change your water filter within the recommended time frame.  Old filters do not work efficiently and may breed some of the bacteria you've been trying not to drink. 

Safe sipping, everyone!