Water: Myths vs Facts

Submitted by Emily on April 13, 2017 - 11:51am

It’s easy to understand how certain misunderstandings about water have turned into cultural myths. Check out the three common misconceptions and learn what you can do to protect our water and stay healthy!

Drink Eight Glasses of Water Each Day.

MYTH

While the health benefits of swapping soda for water are innumerable, scientists say there is no clear benefit to drinking 8+ glasses each day.

WHAT TO DO:

Listen to your body! When you’re feeling thirsty, be sure to reach for a big glass of water, but don’t feel like you need to force yourself to hit an arbitrary number of glasses each day.

We’re Running Out of Water.

MYTH...AND FACT

There is exactly the same amount of water on earth now as there was thousands of years ago. It is impossible to create or destroy water on earth, it simply changes form as it moves through the water cycle. However, the distribution of water is changing dramatically as a result of global climate change and shifting weather patterns. For example, a drought in California is balanced out by an active hurricane season in Florida. Additionally, the amount of global fresh water is, in fact, decreasing. As the global population rapidly increases, fresh water sources are being used at a quicker rate than they are being refilled. And, water pollution dramatically impacts the amount of water that people, animals, and plants can safely use.

WHAT TO DO:

The earth has plenty of water, but we are running out of vital fresh, clean water. Be aware of the amount of water you use in your everyday life; try to cut back on your daily water usage by taking shorter showers, installing low-flow toilet and tap systems, and preserving our lakes, streams, and oceans by controlling household pollutants like oil and pet excrement.

Bottled Water is Better Than Tap Water.

MYTH

Tap water in the United States is among the safest in the world. The EPA, which regulates tap water, has much stricter oversight of tap water that the FDA, which oversees bottled water. Tap water is tested more frequently than bottled water, and because tap water is democratically controlled, people have access to reports on the quality of tap water. Bottled water regulation and reporting is much more opaque. In fact, much of the bottled water on our shelves (Dasani, Aquafina, Pure Life) is actually sourced from municipal water!

WHAT TO DO:

Instead of picking up a 24-pack of bottled water at the store, grab a reusable water bottle and turn on the faucet!

Emily Cline is a PEA volunteer and blogger currently working towards a Landscape Design Certificate at Guilford Tech Community College. She plans to become a Landscape Designer with a focus on natural and edible landscapes.