5.27.2012


A water-tap-point in the North of Italy providing you with (cold) sparkling or still water. Bring your own bottles!
It’s hot. Summer has not even arrived but Europe suffers/enjoys high temperatures. And these make us thirsty.

For over a decennium it is widely accepted that people walk around with small plastic bottles carrying water or any other thirst-quenching liquid. The small bottles fit in any bag and are therefore very popular. Each shop selling any kind of food ware or touristic stuff now has at least a small fridge where cold (soft) drinks are available. Sometimes for incredibly high prices.

It is important to drink a lot. It helps you to process your food and keeps your mind active. I do get a headache as I do not drink enough. It is my personal warning system telling me I need to fill up. Liquids keep your system functioning the way it should.

Although the plastic bottles seem to be very handy they are an enormous source of waste. If you throw away your bottle after you’ve finished it, you cause are one of those people causing a big belt of rubbish. Even though plastic can be recycled relatively easily it costs many energy to make it and transport the full bottles to the shop where you will buy them.

In almost all European countries tap water can be drunk without causing you to become ill. The Alps and the Pyrenees bring cool and fresh mountain water to nearby cities, the Dutch coastal areas use the water from the dunes while other countries have developed good cleaning systems. In some countries, like Italy, they do even sell the water right from the source. So actually there is no need to buy bottled water when you are in normal health circumstances.

Water and other sources might become scarce soon. We should be careful using them and create priorities to what is more important to us. It can be very easy to become more friendly for the environment. If you don’t do it yet then you should start to re-use your plastic water bottle. It can be filled by one of the water taps in your city or – when taps are not available – in the nearest (public) toilet. There now is even a bottle made for reusing which is easy to clean too.

If we all start to do this there might be lines for these public water taps soon.  And while you’re waiting why not talking to the ones around you sharing suggestions how to be good on the environment.