As the summer heat rises, so does our consumption of bottled water. Americans are thirsty! As a nation we consume nearly 50 billion plastic bottles of water each year. While that number may not be surprising, some of the other facts about bottled water may leave your mouth dry.
The National Resources Defense Council has compiled some statistics on bottled water, as well as the impact it has on our environment.

• Bottled water is not necessarily any purer than tap water.

• Production of the plastic for water bottles produces about 800,000 tons of global warming pollution each year. That's the same amount as 8 power plants or 140,000 cars.

• Only about 13% of water bottles are recycled by being made into other products.

• It takes 26 times more water to make the bottle than the bottle itself contains.
• About 300 million gallons of bottled water were imported into the United States, creating tons of harmful air pollution.

Bottled water isn't doing America any favors. In most cases, it isn't any better than tap water, and in some cases, it IS tap water. The pollution caused by the production of the plastic is further clogging our air with chemicals and other harmful substances. And, while the water bottle may be a convenient way to take your libations on the go, those bottles are filling up our landfills at an alarming rate.

Why not take your water on the go in a reusable, phthalate-free bottle that won't do more harm than good.

If you can't break the water-bottle habit, at least recycle them at a center near you. Fort Sill's Recycling Center is open 24-hours, and the money they earn recycling goes right back into on-base programs.

The Fort Sill Recycling Center is located at 3334 Sheridan Road, on the corner of Moway and Sheridan Roads.