Lucid Food_ Cooking for an Eco-Conscious Life - Louisa Shafia [55]
The more we protect our public water, by urging legislators to enforce and strengthen the Clean Water Act, the less there is a need for bottled water. For example, the New York–based clean water watchdog group Riverkeeper is pushing the city to restore public water fountains. This simple act would reduce the need to consume bottled water, thus reducing litter, lightening dependence on foreign oil, and shrinking the city’s carbon footprint. With growing pollution and population levels, and urban sprawl encroaching on water tables, speaking out and taking action is essential to preserving a healthy public water supply.
ALTERNATIVES TO BOTTLED WATER
You might find that drinking tap water is quite an appealing choice once you know all your options—and there are quite a few. Here I’ve outlined several methods of breaking the plastic bottle habit that range in price and level of effort required to implement them.
Straight from the Tap
If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where the tap water quality is high, like San Francisco or New York City, use tap water with as little fuss as possible. To improve the taste, add a dash of lemon juice, a slice of orange, or a fresh berry. Chilling water can also do the trick.
Boiled
Boil tap water for a few minutes, let it cool, then shake it up in a sealed container. The movement helps to incorporate air back into the water, as it can taste flat after boiling. I’ve found that this process makes the water taste mild and pure. This method can be time consuming, but you could turn boiling the water into a nightly ritual, letting it cool overnight.
Filtered
There are many ways to filter water, including point-of-entry filters, which treat water before it gets distributed throughout a home, and point-of-use filters, like the ones that fit in a countertop pitcher, on a spigot, or under a sink. The array of choices is surprising, and the more advanced the system the higher the price tag. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) website contains a detailed description of different filter types and which substances they remove from the water. See the NRDC website, www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/gfilters.asp, for the “Consumer Guide to Water Filters.”
Because of the efforts of a citizen group called Take Back The Filter, the water filter manufacturer Brita now recycles the plastic filters used in its pitchers, so you don’t have to feel bad about throwing them in the trash after they’ve expired. If you want to save money and you’re not afraid of an electric drill, you can reuse those same plastic filters with a relatively easy DIY solution: hack into your countertop water purifier. I found clear, simple directions for this process online at www.instructables.com/id/How-to-refill-a-disposable-Brita-brand-water-pit/.
Bubbly
Seltzer used to be a staple in many homes. It was delivered to the door in reusable glass bottles, like milk, and empties were picked up and used again. A few companies have revived this system and are delivering door-to-door in New York and San Francisco. If you’re a seltzer devotee, that’s one way to get around the plastic bottles in which fizzy water is usually sold.
Another option is to make seltzer yourself, using water from the tap. Several online stores sell siphon bottles that fit a single-use carbonation cartridge that charges the water with carbon dioxide.
A home soda fountain can be installed by a plumber under a kitchen sink or in a cabinet. These can make up to 30 gallons of seltzer before the cartridge needs changing, but the high price makes them better suited to a business than a home. To see all of the different seltzer options online,