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The word is out – bottled water sales are drying up.  Depending upon which study you refer to, sales are down between 1 and almost 10 percent globally in 2009, a first in nearly 40 years.  In July 2009, the rural community of Bundanoon in Australia turned off the tap for bottled water, banning its sale completely.  And several U.S. cities (like Seattle and San Francisco) are no longer buying bottled water with city funds.

That’s good environmental news because most of the plastic used in bottled water containers never gets recycled.  And the costs (fiscal and environmental) involved in making the plastic and distributing the bottled water border on astronomical.  Further, more than 25 percent of bottled water sold in the U.S. alone is simply treated and purified municipal water.

There is also a health and safety consideration.  In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates public water.  The EPA requires multiple daily tests for bacteria and makes results available to the public. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water.  The FDA only requires weekly testing and does not share its findings with the EPA or the public.

The scenarios described above are similar in other developed countries around the world.

Enter the Brita pitcher and faucet filtration system with its carbon filter and ion exchange resin.  The Brita filter helps remove the taste and odor of chlorine, while capturing much of the mercury, lead, copper, cadmium and zinc found in water treatment system water.  The filter only removes small amounts of Fluoride so it doesn’t negate good dental hygiene.

The Brita system works.  Nine out ten people surveyed in a 2005 study favored Brita water filter pitcher system water to tap water.

But the real savings are in one’s wallet.  Brita Pitcher filters cost about $4.  And each one can process about 40 gallons of water (equivalent to the water in 300 16.9 ounce bottles).  That means it costs less than two cents to create water that tastes and smells better than municipal tap water.

If one were to buy a case of 16.9 ounce bottled water from a warehouse store (such as Costco), the price would be twelve cents per bottle plus shopping costs.  That means that filtered water via Brita filters costs significantly less than bottled water.

Although there is a cost involved in buying a water filter pitcher and associated, long-lasting Nalgene water bottles (for taking water with you, wherever you go), that cost would be offset fairly quickly by recurring savings.

Environmental soundness, better taste and cost savings all translate into a very realistic approach to keeping hydrated.  But Brita hasn’t stopped there.  The internationally-based company is working on recycling its carbon filters (reusing the carbon and recycling the plastic housing).  It’s also creating lots of content rich, educational material at its web site with a focus on maintaining and/or improving ones health through enhanced water consumption.

Zachus J Winstone is a health enthusiast who has researched the positive impacts that water filters has on health. He suggests that water produced from a Brita pitcher system is pure and great for health and well-being. For more FREE information on his valuable findings check out his resourceful website now.