Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Checking our water


We turn on the tap, fill our glasses and drink down what comes out. The water looks clear and if we've chilled it or put in the fridge to get cold it refreshes us like few things can. But most of us don't wonder just how clean our water is.

A scan of the label on some of the top brands of bottled water shows that the stuff is just tap water poured through a filter, bottled and sold for many times the cost of production. That's capitalism, and I have no complaints about that.

But we assume the water we drink is as clean as that which we buy in bottles. But you don't to have to assume, the water authorities around Virginia are required to provide an annual report on their water quality.

And, these reports are on-line. Fairfax County, Virginia's largest county by population has its drinking water report here, while Loudoun County's water report is here.

Both counties and the other jurisdictions around the state report on their water supplies. A simple web search using your county's name and the words "water authority" should turn up the latest report.

The fact is, the water that flows out of your tap is as good as the water a lot of people pay more than $1/quart or liter. It's just not worth it.

Just about every non-clothing department store (Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart) and national chain drug store sells stainless steel or aluminum water bottles. I advise against plastic bottles because of potential leaching if the bottles are left out in the sun. That goes for the pricey bottles, too. Keep it chilled, drink it right away. The trade association of plastics manufacturers has its own website debunking some of the things we've heard about plastic bottles. I'm no scientist, but I'm always leery of what a trade group says about its products. What are they going to say, "Don't use our stuff."

Bottom line is this: Check out your local water quality report, back it up with some additional research and save some money and buy a reusable metal bottle.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Local Grocer Says it Does Well By Environment


Safeway, Inc., one of the dominant food stores in Virginia, recently published its Corporate Social Responsibility report. According to the company, it purchases 90,000 hours of wind energy, making it one of the largest users of renewable energy in the U.S.

The company should be applauded for all that it does, but here in Northern Virginia it is one step shy of Giant Foods, which makes a big deal out of collecting plastic shopping bags. The ubiquitous bag is a major danger to marine life and takes just about a day less than forever to biodegrade in the land fill.

That said, Safeway's website does a much better job of marketing the company's green credentials than Giant. Of course, Whole Foods, another grocery competitor in the Northern Virginia market also stands tall in the green area, but that's been the Whole Foods tradition since its start. That Safeway executives have taken sustainability seriously and do such a good job of informing customers about the grocery's progress and short comings -- is good to see.

The stores near me do a pretty good job of bringing locally grown foods into its stores, mindful of the carbon emissions that accompany long distance trucking of food, not to mention the emissions from air transport.