Civilization can survive without bottled water

28 billion - Number of plastic water bottles purchased in the U.S. annually.

1.5 million barrels - Amount of oil used to make those bottles.

$11 billion - Amount Americans spend on bottled water annually.

16 percent get recycled annually.

2.5 million - Number of plastic water bottles Americans discard hourly.

Reprinted from Women's Health Magazine. I found it in Solid Solutions spring edition newsletter. Put out by Whatcom County Public Works Solid Waste Division.

I never felt good about paying for "just water," but I probably don't drink enough water anyway. I drink lots of juices and chocolate milk. It comes in cartons and bottles also, so I don't mean to call all you "water bottle yuppies" hypocrites.

If I do cut back on my habit of juice bottles and milk cartons its going to be just water. Yes, plain water from the tap. Tap water is good enough, it's just a bit boring.

Still, if it's going to be boring, I'd rather not pay for it in the store.

Sometimes I do pay for bottled water at the start of a bicycle trip through dry country. I reuse the water bottles as bike water bottles. Refill them with free tap water from parks and businesses along the way. Then I toss them after the trip.