Are You Drinking Plastic? We’ve all heard about the dangers of plastic pollution, but did you know you might be drinking plastic every time you sip from a plastic water bottle? Here’s the good news: while observing National Drinking Water Week this week, you can learn how to avoid drinking plastic by investing in a water dispenser. This piece answers: “why?” and “how?” It is a water dispenser that can and will protect your health and the health of others from plastics.
The Growing Need For A Water Dispenser
“For more than 40 years, the American Water Works Association and its members have used Drinking Water Week as a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives.”
Not only because it is National Drinking Water Week, but it has become apparent that there is a growing need to invest in a water dispenser if you are to gain access to clean water, devoid of plastic contaminants. After all, research has shown that plastics are not just an environmental issue—they pose potential health risks to both humans and other animals, like bottlenose dolphins. Whether drinking from a plastic bottle, 5-gallon jug, or tap water, there’s a great chance you’re consuming these tiny plastic particles, called microplastics. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), microplastics are small plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters in size, which come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items like water bottles, bags, and packaging. According to the EPA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), microplastics are now present in our oceans, rivers, and tap water. Consuming microplastics may have long-term adverse health effects, including the following:
1. Adverse Health Effects In Humans:
Early findings suggest that microplastics in drinking water might harm the health of humans, infants and even unborn embryos. Specifically, ingesting microplastics is hypothesized to disrupt hormone levels, be related to neurodevelopmental changes in infants and children, as well as inflammation, obesity and diabetes in adolescents and adults.
2. Health Risks for Dolphins in Our Waters:
A 2024 study on bottlenose dolphins shows that bottlenose dolphins exhale microplastics out of their blowholes, suggesting that they may be more vulnerable to the health impacts of microplastics than humans; after all, “dolphins have a much larger lung capacity than humans, and take really deep breaths…[and may] inhale much higher doses of microplastics than humans.
3. Our Pets Aren’t Safe from Microplastics
According to EarthDay.org the water that we put in our pets’ bowls contains microplastics and plastic fibers; while pets need to stay hydrated, just like us, giving them tap water we could be jeopardizing their health. Unfortunately, giving them bottled water is not a solution, since it also contains microplastics.
How a Water Dispenser Can Help You Avoid Microplastics
1. A Purified Water Dispenser Eliminates Microplastics
A modern water dispenser comes equipped with advanced filtration systems designed to remove contaminants from your drinking water. These systems can filter out and purify drinking water that contains harmful particles, including chlorine, heavy metals, bacteria, and plastic. By using a water dispenser with high-quality reverse osmosis filters, you can enjoy clean, safe water that’s free from potentially harmful plastic particles called microplastics. A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that microplastics were present in 93% of bottled water samples tested! By using a water dispenser, you eliminate the risk of consuming these microplastics from plastic bottles, ensuring that you are drinking only pure, purified water.
When you switch to a high-quality water dispenser, you no longer rely on single-use plastic bottles. We already know that plastic water bottles are a major source of microplastics in the water supply; after all, as plastic bottles break down over time, they release tiny plastic particles into the water. Fortunately, by using a water dispenser that works without plastic jugs, you’re significantly reducing your exposure to microplastics. In fact, some systems can remove up to 99.9% of contaminants!
2. A Water Dispenser: An Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Solution
Aside from helping you avoid microplastics, using a water dispenser is a more environmentally friendly choice. Not millions, but billions of plastic bottles are consumed globally each year, contributing to wasted space and pollution. By opting for a water dispenser, you can significantly reduce your reliance on plastic and make a positive impact on the environment, just in space savings alone. How? Since the most advanced water dispensers use large, steel holding tanks, there is no need to rely upon plastic jugs or bottled water; instead, your steel tanks are connected to and refilled using your municipal or well water source, providing unlimited purified water.
3. Why A Water Dispenser Is Cost-Effective
Not only do water dispensers help protect your health and the planet, but they are also cost-effective. The price of buying bottled water regularly can quickly add up, while a water dispenser provides an affordable solution. Once you set up the dispenser, you have untethered access to purified water, which is much cheaper than continuously purchasing bottled water. This makes staying hydrated more affordable while avoiding plastic at the same time.
Try A Water Dispenser in the Workplace First!
Are you drinking plastic? With microplastics infiltrating our water, it’s time to take control of your hydration! Take action this week, through May 10th, to join this ever-important initiative, set forth during National Water Week.
A water dispenser is an effective way to ensure that you’re drinking clean, purified water while avoiding the dangers of plastic pollution; by investing in a high-quality water dispenser in the workplace, you give yourself and your coworkers the ability to collectively improve health, save money, and greatly reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. Make the switch today or in the very least, consider giving it a try by signing up for a free (zero-obligations) trial. Make the switch today or in the very least, consider giving it a try by signing up for a free (zero-obligations) trial. You’ll enjoy cleaner, healthier water that is free of microplastics! Clearly. Pure. Water.
