5 GALLON JUGS, DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE
In the past 15 years bottled water sales have grown exponentially, especially in Europe and North America. Driven by tremendous profits, bottled water companies utilize a natural resource that is virtually free and use clever advertising and designer labels to convince you that drinking their water is good for you.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba alone there are over 40 companies that produce reverse osmosis (RO) or steam distilled water that compete for your water dollars, hoping to make regular visits to your home or office to deliver 5 gallon jugs of de-mineralized water and either rent or sell you a water cooler. Most bottled water companies use reverse osmosis or steam distillation to purify and de-mineralize water.
In a local survey of Winnipeg, MB companies selling purified water in 5 gallon jugs;
• The average cost per gallon is between $1.20 and $2.00 per gallon
• Except for two companies, all water sold by water purification companies in is de-mineralized, using either reverse osmosis, or steam distillation. One company that sells spring water transports their water in large stainless steel tanks, then stores it in plastic holding tanks before it is used to fill the 5 gallon plastic jugs that are delivered to your home or office.
• A World Health Organization report indicates that drinking de-mineralized water can cause a variety of adverse health effects.
WATER CHOICES: GLASS OR PLASTIC SINGLE SERVE, 12 OUNCE TO 1 LITRE
There are hundreds of companies marketing “designer” water in plastic or glass bottles, including Aquafina, Perrier, Dasani, Evian, Volvic, Poland Spring, Nestle, and the most expensive of all, BlingH20, at $40.00 US for less than a quart (litre).
Many designer water products cost more than gasoline, and some of the most expensive are simply filtered tap water. Here are some interesting facts about bottled water:
• In a recent taste test, 75% of New York City water tasters chose tap water over expensive bottled water.
• 1/3 of the bottled water products sold, when tested, exceeded industry standards for bacteria and arsenic.
• In the United States there are no regulations for bottled water quality if the water is sold in the same state in which it is produced.
• Fiji, a bottled water from an Artesian well in Japan, sells for over $12.00 per gallon. One third of the population in Fiji does not have safe, reliable drinking water.
• BlingH20 sells for $40.00 US for a 25 ounce (750ml) bottle, or about $200.00 per gallon. BlingH20 is from Tennessee.
• A Toronto Star article in November 2007 suggests that the bottled water industry is one of the least regulated industries in the country.
• Approximately 80% of water bottles are not recycled. Two out of ten plastic water bottles are recycled in the U.S.
• 38 billion plastic bottles are disposed of in landfills every year, the equivalent of 50 million barrels of oil per year, leaving an enormous carbon footprint.
• Approximately 18 million barrels of crude oil were used in 2005 to replace the 2 million tons of plastic bottles that were wasted instead of recycled. This represents enough fuel to run a million cars for a year.
• The manufacturing process to produce a plastic water bottle, cap and packaging consumes twice as much water as is contained in the final bottle of water.
• Over $100 Billion dollars annually are spent worldwide for water that may not be purer than municipal tap water, and in many cases, may have higher levels of bacteria and contaminants.
• 20% of Canadians and Americans now use only bottled water for daily hydration.
• Chemicals from phthalates, known to disrupt testosterone and other hormones can leach into water stored in plastic bottles. There are regulatory standards limiting phthalates in tap water, but there are no legal limits for phthalates in bottled water.
• Antimony, a cancer causing heavy metal, has been found at higher levels in water that is stored in plastic bottles at room temperature for six months. Antimony is a catalyst used in the production of plastic water bottles.
OPUS HEALTHY WATER SYSTEM – ECONOMICAL, HEALTHFUL, BETTER TASTING, GREEN
• While bottled water is superior to alternative beverages, chlorinated and fluoridated tap water, studies have proven that de-mineralized (RO, deionized and steam distilled) water increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, goiter, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, gastric and duodenal ulcers, chronic gastritis, cholecystitis and nephritis.
• Installing a water purification system in your home and office that retains or adds minerals while removing contaminants including chlorine, fluoride and heavy metals provides superior water quality, is kinder to the environment, and is health enhancing.
• With a water purification system and a safe (i.e. not made of plastic, aluminum or stainless steel) refillable drinking bottle you can have health promoting mineral rich alkaline water in your home and on the go for a fraction of the cost of bottled water.
• We recommends reusable ceramic lined or glass water bottles that can be washed or sterilized, and continually re-filled with alkaline, mineral rich, contaminant free water.
• Many health professionals believe that increasing the alkalinity in the body brings many health benefits, lowering the risk of disease and slowing down the aging process. This can be accomplished by consuming primarily plant foods, avoiding acid forming foods (dairy, sugar, carbonated soft drinks, refined foods) and drinking alkaline water.
• OPUS Healthy Water Systems include five models. The Advantage and Ultrapure remove all chemicals, contaminants, heavy metals, chlorine, and fluoride, while retaining healthful minerals. The Alkaplus and PURE models add additional healthful minerals including calcium, magnesium and potassium, increase alkalinity, and lower the Oxidation Reduction Potential, transforming ordinary tap water into mineral rich, healthful, great tasting antioxidant water. The CottagePure is specifically designed for lake or well water, with germicidal ultraviolet sterilization to kill bacteria and other microorganisms.
• OPUS Healthy Water Systems can be easily customized. If your municipal water supply does not add fluoride, the fluoride filtration component can be removed. All OPUS systems can have the Ultraviolet Sterilization (UVG) component added to ensure your water is microbiologically safe.
• OPUS Healthy Water Systems include Point of Entry systems that filter all the water in your home, however POE (Point of Entry) systems cannot filter the water as effectively as Point of Use (POU) drinking water systems. Quality drinking water systems are recommended even if you have installed a POE whole house system.
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