How to quit bottled water for good

By the NOMAD Editorial Team

The Bottled Water Illusion

Bottled water has long been marketed as the epitome of purity and convenience. But behind the plastic lies a different reality — one that affects not only the environment but also public health and global water equity.

A 2023 report by the United Nations University revealed that the bottled water industry is undermining efforts to achieve universal access to clean drinking water. The widespread perception that bottled water is safer than tap water discourages investment in public water infrastructure, especially in developing countries (UNU, 2023).

What’s Really Inside Bottled Water?

In 2018, an investigation by Orb Media, backed by the World Health Organization, tested 259 bottles of water from major brands across 11 countries. The result: 93% of samples contained microplastic particles — including polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), all byproducts of plastic packaging (WHO & Orb Media, 2018).

Bruce Gordon, WHO’s Coordinator for Water and Sanitation, explained that although no guidelines currently exist for microplastics in drinking water, their presence is cause for concern: “We urgently need to know more.”

Microplastics have since been found in human bloodstreams, lungs, and even placental tissue — with unknown long-term effects on health.

The True Cost of Bottled Water

Economic

The average person consuming two plastic bottles per day spends over $1,400 per year, compared to less than $10 annually for filtered tap water, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Environmental

The production and transportation of bottled water generate up to 2,000 times more carbon emissions than tap water, according to Pacific Institute research. Most bottles are never recycled. Instead, they end up in oceans and landfills, taking over 450 years to decompose (Pacific Institute, 2007).

Social

Multinational companies have extracted billions of litres of water from vulnerable aquifers, sometimes paying virtually nothing for access. In Michigan, Nestlé withdrew millions of gallons per year while local residents in Flint lacked clean water — a striking example of corporate overreach in water access.

How to Break the Habit

Abandoning bottled water doesn’t require radical lifestyle changes — just conscious choices and better tools. Here’s a four-step approach.

1. Filter Your Tap Water

Advanced filter technologies like those from Ahlstrom, used in the SafeSip™ bottle, remove chlorine, heavy metals, PFAS, and even microplastics — making tap water taste cleaner and safer.

2. Use a Reusable Filtration Bottle

Choose a bottle built for daily life: leak-proof, durable, and with high-performance filtration. It replaces thousands of single-use bottles without compromising on safety or taste.

3. Make Hydration Automatic

Build the habit by keeping your reusable bottle at hand — on your desk, in your bag, or in your car. The goal: make sustainable hydration easier than buying plastic.

4. Know Your Sources

Use tools like Tap App or EWG’s Tap Water Database to understand what’s in your local water supply — and what to filter out.

The NOMAD Commitment

At NOMAD, we believe that quitting bottled water is not just a personal choice — it’s a collective step forward. Each refill is a refusal to pollute, to overspend, and to compromise on health.

Our SafeSip™ bottle, powered by Ahlstrom’s trusted filter tech, delivers purified, refreshing water — no matter where you are. Whether you're refilling at a gym fountain, airport sink, or rural tap, you're choosing quality and sustainability.

By switching, you're not just reducing waste. You're joining a global movement that challenges the status quo — and protects what matters most: our health, our ecosystems, and our future access to clean water.