SD has a point, you hardly see water fountains any more. In fact, at my work they switched them out for a RO filter system when the cooling unit went out on the last fountain.

Also, pitchers of water sitting on a table are seen as unsanitary. Thus, water bottles at meetings. Also, leaving a drinking cup sitting around your desk is also seen as unsanitary. Thus, drink bottled water at work.

The Demand for bottled water was at least partially created out of other concerns. However, those concerns have been forgotten.

Despite its not being the most academic source available, there is a sizable section of information on energy in the Wiki section on bottled water. It can give you an idea of the energy consumption of bottled water.

I try to refill water bottles too. But my family still consumes literally hundreds of plastic bottles a year, all of which end up in a landfill somewhere.

Really? I’m on board with the whole bottled water is inefficient idea, but that sounds like hyperbole to me. We got some stats to back up that claim?

I buy a bottle of water when I need the bottle. It often gets refilled and used multiple times before it gets recycled.

It just goes to show how crazy it is to depend on consumer demand for policies. Consumers demand what advertisements seduce them into demanding, even if it’s harmful or just ill; advised/