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Ocean

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Submitted By sarahcarbo
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Transforming Ordinary Water to Extraordinary Water

For my project, I wanted to focus on an issue that is current in today’s society. Much of the world lives without access to clean water, this is something most people forget and take for granted. This semester I decided to stop buying cases of bottled water, and start to only use a Brita.
Buying a bottle of water is something that I have never thought twice about. During my day when I am on campus I will normally buy at least two-three water bottles. I was unaware of all the harmful effects plastic has on the environment. Bottled water produces up to 1.5 million tons of plastic waste per year (Baskind). Assume that every empty bottle makes its way to a garbage can. Plastic waste is now at such a high volume that vast eddies of current-bound plastic trash now spin endlessly in the world's major oceans (Baskind). This issue holds a great risk to marine life endangering animals such as birds and fish, that accidentally mistake our garbage for food. Nearly 90% of plastic water bottles are not recycled, instead take thousands of years to decompose. After researching and learning this information, my activity is to give up plastic water bottles. I will no longer buy any kind of plastic water bottled drinks. Instead I have purchased the Brita pitcher, which I will be committed to using. After exploring Brita’s website, I found out, “Over the course of a year, the average Brita pitcher filters 240 gallons of water or about the same as 1800 standard 16.9-ounce plastic bottles.” By purchasing a Brita I am also saving money. One filter can replace 300 bottles of water. That is saving over $600 a year. When I am on campus I will no longer purchase water at Starbucks when I get my daily coffee. I instead will be using my Brita filter to fill my reusable water bottle. One filter can replace 300 plastic bottles, saving over $45 per month. Since the filter comes straight in the bottle you can refill your water bottle up practically anywhere.
This activity will help make the world a better place, as I take part in the action of no longer purchasing plastic water bottles. This will not only benefit the environment but also myself by saving money and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Citations

"About Brita." Brita® History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

Baskind, Chris. "5 Reasons Not to Drink Bottled Water." MNN. N.p., 15 Mar. 2010. Web. 08 Feb. 2014.

Knoblauch, Jessica A. "The Environmental Toll of Plastics." — Environmental Health News. N.p., 02 July 2009. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.

Sources

http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/5-reasons-not-to-drink-bottled-water https://www.brita.com http://thecollegejuice.com/2012/07/brita-filtering-bottles-–-save-money-and-the-planet/
http://www.50waystohelp.com

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