According to Crosscut bottled water is practical unpretentious old Seattle.  Hmm, I was sure that pure mountain water flowing downhill to our taps would win that honor.  I will leave it to the Stranger to unpack the cultural implications of defending bottled water.  As to the environmental and economic implications, here are some facts:

• Seventy-four percent of Americans drink bottled water, and one in five drinks only bottled water.

• Worldwide, consumers spent $100 billion on bottled water in 2005.

• Each year more than 4 billion pounds of PET plastic bottles end up in landfills or as roadside litter.

• Making bottles to meet Americans' demand for bottled water required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil last year – enough fuel for more than 1 million U.S. cars for a year - and generated more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.

• Bottled water is approximately two and a half thousand times more expensive than Seattle tap water.

The last fact was enough to keep this cheapskate avoiding bottled water since it started showing up in stores.  The environmental facts tell me we need to find a better way.

For the story behind the picture, check out the work of Chris Jordan.