In the February 2008 issue of Reader’s Digest, journalist Janet Majeskit Jemmott reports that Americans consumed over eight billion gallons of bottled water in 2006. You may be suprised to learn that more than a quarter of bottled water comes from municipal sources, and bottled water is often more contaminated than tap water.

The plastic bottles themselves constitute a major problem.

Most plastic bottles are made from polyethylene terepththalate (PET). In certain conditions (such as warm temperatures,) these bottles can leach chemicals into the water.

PET bottles contain antimony, a potentially toxic chemical that can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. German scientists recently found that the longer a bottle of water sits around, the more antimony the water collects.

In 1999, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that two brands of bottled water were contaminated with phthalates in excess of EPA standards for tap water. Phthalates make plastic softer; they’re also endocrine disruptors and possible carcinogens. While phthalates should not be in PET bottles, the chemicals somehow made their way into the water during processing.

So, if you do drink bottled water, do so at your own risk: Don’t let bottled water sit around for a long time, and don’t store it in warm environments.

Why is it that government standards for tap water are higher than those for bottled water?

According to Reader’s Digest, the EPA regulates tap water, while the FDA oversees bottled water But FDA regulation does not apply to water that’s packaged and sold within the same state, so 60 to 70 percent of bottled water is free of FDA regulation!

Another dangerous chemical commonly found in drinking water is bisphenol A (BPA). While PET bottles should not contain this chemical, it is found in containers made with harder plastic – like water cooler jugs and sports bottles. BPA affects the nervous system, reproductive system, and immune system.

Plastic water bottles also take a big toll on the environment. Since PET plastic is a petroleum product, the manufacting process burns fossil fuels. The energy used to manufacture water bottles for U.S. consumption equals more than 17 million barrels of oil – enough to fuel over 1 million cars for a year.

And the vast majority of water bottles – over 80 percent – are NOT recycled. They end up in the environment, where they could last for a thousand years.

The only sensible solution: If you must drink bottled water, then bottle it yourself in non-toxic glass water bottles using a home water filter.