Well Jessica, it sounds like a great and worthy thought, perhaps you would like to visit San Diego for 1 month and drink the water out here. In fact it is so terrible we are moving to the Palm Springs Desert Valley as the water "from the tap" is so much better. Why is it better? Well in San Diego they take all the water used in the home, even the tolet paper and everything else that goes into there, and recycle all of it into water that comes out again from your tap.
So let me ask you Jessica, as you try to save the Earth do you feel drinking poopy water and water that has pills and meds in it and who knows what else such as viuses, hidden contaminants in it, is that ok with you?
The answer is a state or even federal law I thought of, that is charge more for bottles CRV (currently .05 cents in California) and this should be at least a dime. Then make it a ferderal law, that if a store is going to charge you the recycle fee then they "by law" must allow you to return the bottles to their stores. People may start to innitiate this law by returning the bottles to the stores now and demanding their money back. And not have to go to these recycle centers where homeless people hang out getting beer money, and then they don't even count your bottles, they weigh them and guess at how many you have!

Thanks if you took time to read, what's your thought?
Trevor

Hi Amy...have you considered a whole-house water filter? Or is your tap water not even potable once filtered? I know of some great companies, most of which offer whole-house filters and about a million other types of water filtering products. Here are a few I'd check into:
www.ecowater.com
www.lifesourcewater.com
www.waterwise.com

Let me know if one of these works out or if you need any further assistance!

I find that taking an empty plastic bottle through airport security has never been a problem - I use a Camelback bottle which has a great drinking valve and is safe to drink from. I usually drink it dry in line, go through security, and fill from a water fountain on the way to my gate.

My problem is that we cannot drink the tap water in our house. I have been trying to find some kind of a water cooler that we can get in our house that we can refill ourselves. They are expensive and ugly. If you know of one that would be great. Currently we buy gallons of water for cooking with and my MIL buys flats of bottled water to drink. If I can get a water cooler in the house we won't need to buy the flats any longer. She buys the bottled water because it is easier than filling all the gallons of water every week.

Looking for ideas. (Preferably specific product suggestions)

I've never been a big user of bottled water either, but sometimes I'm tempted. I try to bring a water bottle everywhere I go. I agree that the industry of bottled water is unnecessary!

Kim: A faucet water filter for bottled water-addicted mothers might just be the answer.

Hey Jessica,

I've never been a fan of bottled water. I remember when that craze started years ago, and my frugal switch went on: Why pay for something I already pay for? My only requirement for drinking water is that it is ice cold.

I am in the midst of convincing my mom that she is wasting money on her bottles of Ozarka. Maybe for Christmas I will get her a faucet water filter!

I have brought my Sigg through security (empty) and attempted to fill it up at water fountains...but sneaky airport planners don't like to put those past security! And filling up in the bathroom kind of grosses me out. So bottled water it is then :(

Kim

Jessica,
I too have tried to stop drinking bottled water. I have a stailess steel jug that I carry around almost everywhere and it has been great on my budget as well as the environment.
My major difficulties are the airport issue you mention, and the fact that some people try to to be nice by getting you a bottle of water while out and about. I don't want to be rude, since they have made the nice gesture to get something for me but at the same time I don't like to be wasteful.