The documentary Tapped is being featured in select cities.

“Tapped” is one of those movies that you should see but probably don’t want to, because of its “inconvenient truth” elements.  It is a documentary that exposes the health and environmental dangers of bottled water.

Some of the issues the movie takes on:

1. The health risks of Bisphenol-A, or BPA, the substance that is found in hard and clear plastics. 
2. The alarming growth of the North Pacific Garbage Patch, a stew of discarded bottles and other plastics that is twice the size of Texas, and located between California and Hawaii.
3. The presence of pharmaceuticals in bottled water.
4. The world water crisis that pits nations against each other in the competition for clean, safe water.
5. How corporate bottled water interests have exploited consumers and the environment.
6. The lack of government regulation of this huge industry.

Tapped is from the same producers who made “Who Killed the Electric Car” and “I.O.U.S.A.”  The documentary premiered July 12^th but is on limited release, and is still scheduled to play in many cities.  See the Tapped screening schedule or pre-order a DVD on the official Tapped movie site.

The makers of Tapped dedicate a page of their site to recommending the purchase and use of reusable bottles, particularly stainless steel water bottles and glass decanters.  They say they don’t feel comfortable using any type of plastic water bottle, even one that is certified BPA-free.

The water in plastic bottles may harbor toxic chemicals

It’s generally assumed that bottled water is better than tap water.  Actually, many times it is tap water.  Pepsi’s Aquafina is taken from municipal water supplies.  Dasani, a Coca Cola product, is tap water that’s had minerals like magnesium sulfate and potassium chloride added to it.  In the United Kingdom, Dasani had to be recalled due to contamination with bromate, a suspected carcinogen, produced by the treatment process used on the water.    

Even if the water is pure going into the plastic water bottle, it may not be pure coming out.  When certain plastics are exposed to warm temperatures, chemicals from the plastic may leach into the container’s contents.  Small amounts of chemicals from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottles such as antimony – a toxin in large doses – can accumulate when water is stored in a hot garage or car trunk.

In a 4-year study that tested 1,000 bottles of plastic water, the National Resources Defense Council found that about 22% of the brands tested contained chemical contaminants at levels above state health limits.

On the other hand, if you refill your stainless steel water bottle with municipal tap water, then you can be sure it meets strict national and local water quality standards going into the bottle as well as coming out.  Food-grade stainless steel will not leach dangerous chemicals into the beverage.

Stainless steel water bottles are portable - and BPA-free

Bisphenol A, or BPA, has been in the news a lot lately.  According to a new article in USA Today, the National Institutes of Health will spend $30 million to study the safety of BPA, which is found in many water bottles.  Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to release its own assessment of BPA’s safety by the end of November.

Animal studies link bisphenol A with infertility, weight gain, behavioral changes, diabetes, and prostate and breast cancers.  Although its presence in plastic water bottles has not yet been outlawed in the U.S., it may soon be.  Some states, like Minnesota and Connecticut, have outlawed the presence of BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups. 

Not to worry – not all reusable water bottles contain BPA.  Following are the primary types of reusable water bottles, and the risks they carry.

Plastic Water Bottles
This type of water bottle is the most common carrier of BPA.  Bisphenol A is commonly used to harden plastic to make it durable.  Bottles with the recycling code 7 may include polycarbonate plastics, made with BPA.  The most well-known manufacturer of these bottles in Nalgene, which has discontinued many of the BPA-containing bottles.

Aluminum Water Bottles
Aluminum water bottles are typically lined with plastic or epoxy which can contain BPA.  Recently, Sigg and Laken aluminum bottles have been found to harbor BPA.  Sigg especially has come under heavy fire from consumers because the Swiss company knew since June 2006 that its bottles contained BPA, but didn’t announce it until August of this year.

Stainless Steel Water Bottles
Stainless steel water bottles like Urban Canteen sells are BPA-free.  They are made of food-grade 18-8 stainless steel and will not leach toxins or chemicals into the contents of your canteen.

Glass Water Bottles
Glass water bottles are also BPA-free.  The Urban Canteen glass water bottle is also phthalate-free and lead-free.  The bottle cap is made from a BPA-free plastic (recycling code 4) that is completely safe.