Happy Earth Day! For more than 40 years, April 22 has been marked on the calendar as a day in which we can all take a moment to celebrate the earth and renew our commitment to preserving it for future generations.

This Earth Day, give yourself and the planet a valuable gift—stop buying bottled water!

It may not seem like a very important act, but discarded plastic bottles are clogging the land and the sea all over the world. By switching to a water filtration system instead of buying water in bottles, you can make a big difference to your own health and the health of the planet.

Not convinced? Here are some startling facts to consider:

• America’s bottled water craze requires more than 17 million barrels of oil each year
• The energy used to produce America’s bottled water could fuel 1 million cars for a yearThe worldwide demand for bottled water requires 2.7 million tons of plastic
• 86 percent of America’s plastic water bottles are never recycled
• Incinerating plastic bottles produces toxic byproducts such as chlorine gas and ash containing heavy metals
• Buried water bottles can take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade1
• In the North Pacific Ocean, a mass of plastic water bottles and other marine debris occupies 700,000 square kilometers2

In addition to being unhealthy for the planet, bottled water is unhealthy for you. Despite the labels that sell an image of pure bubbling springs and crystal-blue waters, the water inside these plastic bottles is full of detergents, chemicals and toxins. After testing 10 different popular bottled water brands, the Environmental Working Group discovered chemical contaminants and toxic chemicals in every single brand. Types of contaminants included disinfection byproducts, fertilizer residue, and pain medication.3 Are these really things you want to be putting into your body? Of course not.

So do yourself and the planet a big favor. Invest in a water filtration system such as the Alkal-Life 7000sL Water Ionizer, which puts ordinary tap water through six layers of filtration to produce absolutely pure water. The water is then ionized to produce a de-oxidizing, high-absorption alkaline stream that stimulates a range of healthful effects, including better hydration and an improved immune system.

Good for the planet, and good for you!