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Is Bottled Water Better?

Dear Green America,

Is it true that bottled water isn’t necessarily healthier than tap water?
— Oscar, Boulder, CO

That’s right: Bottled water may not be any better for your health than tap water, and in some cases it may be worse. Tap water must conform to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, while bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A 2001 study commissioned by the World Wildlife Fund found that the FDA’s rules for bottled water were less stringent than EPA rules for tap water – for instance, unlike those for tap water, bottled water regulations called for less-frequent testing and didn’t ban phthalates (which are carcinogens and endocrine disruptors) or fecal coliforms.

According to government and industry estimates, as much as 40 percent of bottled water is actually tap water, sometimes with additional treatment, sometimes not. In a four-year study published in 1999, the Natural Resources Defense Council tested 103 brands of bottled water and found that one-third had levels of chemical or bacterial contaminants that exceeded state or industry standards. In addition, bottled water consumption can waste resources as bottles are manufactured, filled, transported, and discarded.

For drinking water needs, tap water is often your best choice. To check the quality of your tap’s output, ask your local water department for its latest “consumer confidence report,” or consult the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800/426-4791. You can further purify your tap water with a carbon carafe or a faucet-mounted filter from companies like Common Sense Solutions (888/324-4175, www.multipureusa.com/commonsense), Global Environmental Technologies (800/800-8377, www.terraflo.com), and GAIAM (800/869-3446, www.gaiam.com).

When you do need to buy bottled water, check the label or the cap and see if it says “from a municipal source” or “from a community water system.” Both of these terms mean you’re essentially drinking tap water, which may or may not have undergone additional purification. Water labeled “spring water” comes from a natural source, though much of it may be mechanically pumped to the surface. If you want more information on the water’s source, call or write the bottler.

Dear Green America,

I’ve just moved from an apartment to a house with a yard. Any advice about how to care for my new lawn?
—Lisa, Minneapolis, MN

As a starter, don’t buy conventional gas-powered lawn mowers – they pollute air and contribute to global warming. Cutting your grass with an electric or manual push mower is a great way to reduce your lawn’s environmental impact. Besides being the best environmental option, push mowers are great exercise; they’re available from companies such as SunLawn Imports, Inc. (970/493-5284, www.sunlawn.com) or Real Goods (800/919-2400, www.realgoods.com). If you are using a gas-powered machine, keep it well-maintained to minimize pollution. Warren Schultz, author of The Organic Suburbanite (Rodale, Inc, 2001), recommends the following steps: change the spark plug each spring, setting the gap as recommended in the manual; clean the engine housing and air vents; clean or replace dirty air filters; and change the oil and sharpen the blade twice a year.

If you decide to use fertilizer, opt for an organic one from a company such as Gardener’s Supply (888/833-1412, www.gardeners.com). Avoid toxic chemical pesticides and herbicides, and pull weeds by hand.

Dear Green America,

Our infant son suffers from cradle cap. Are there natural ways to treat it?
— Sara and Enzo, e-mail

Apply a natural baby oil that’s not petroleum-based to the scalp, and shampoo the affected area with a gentle, natural, and preferably organic shampoo. Mom’s Natural Solutions offers an all-natural cradle cap remedy made from organic essential oils in a base of almond oil (www.momsnaturalsolutions.com). The Baby Mine Store (877/314-5437, www.babyminestore.com) stocks Little Forests’s Cradle Cap Treatment system, consisting of all-natural baby oil and shampoo, a sponge applicator, and a comb.

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