Schools, Water, and Plastic

Most people agree that schools shouldn't feed kids soda or other sugary drinks. But what about bottled water?

National Geographic's Daily News site published an article on Wednesday about children, health, and water. And it sounds like drinking fountains have some stiff competition.

Pipes are old and chipping. Water supplies are contaminated. And some schools - like the Baltimore City public schools - have switched entirely to bottled water.

But plastic bottles are a big environmental worry, and some experts, like Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, think the companies selling bottled water are overstating the dangers of drinking from the tap:

There's more demand for bottled water now in schools, and the beverage industry says they have public health in mind. But we're hoping to do a big campaign to encourage consumption of tap water instead.

GREENandSAVE's LINKandLEARN:

Speaking of the wet stuff: water pollution of is quietly becoming a bigger and bigger worry.

Speaking of plastic: there might be situations in which it reduces pollution.

And, if you like what you're reading: Sign up for the GREENandSAVE Monthly Newsletter - stories, tips, and discounts, direct to your inbox.