Drinking water filters are becoming increasingly popular, due in part to recent news reports about drugs and hormones in tap water, along with everything else that's in there. But, if you currently drink bottled water, there are other good reasons to buy an at-home drinking water filter.

News agencies throughout the United States and Canada have been raising questions about the safety and purity of bottled water since the year 2000. But it appears that consumers are not paying much attention. The sale of bottled water since that time has grown exponentially, from millions of gallons in 2000 to billions of gallons in 2006.

The economical and environmental impact of all of those bottles is huge. Scientists and environment experts from around the world are recommending drinking water filters as a less expensive, safer and more environmentally friendly alternative.

First of all, the fact is that most bottled water comes from a tap. A major bottled water company was recently required to remove the words "spring water" from its label, replacing the words with "purified drinking water". In other words, with a good drinking water filter, you can make your own "bottled" water at home. It costs less, tastes better and you can be confident in the purity.

It has been estimated that 80% of the plastic bottles used for water end up in the landfills, most of which are reaching capacity. If we do not stop throwing away all of those bottles, we are going to have to find new places to put our trash.

Some of the companies that sell drinking water filters also sell reusable glass bottles. You fill them up from your own faucet, with its new drinking water filter. When they are empty, you pop them in the dishwasher. When they're clean, you fill them up again. The glass bottles typically come in packages of six, so you can store a six pack in the fridge and everyone will have fresh, chilled, pure drinking water.

Another problem with the plastic bottles is that it takes water to make them, six times the water that is in the bottle. It also takes oil to make them. The Pacific Institute estimates that in 2006, the production of plastic bottles for drinking water required 17 million barrels of oil.

Manufacturing the bottles produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, further threatening our water supply. Additional carbon dioxide is released by the trucks, trains and ships used to transport the bottles from the manufacturer to the marketplace.

You can help by switching from bottled water to a drinking water filter for your home. You might think that you alone cannot make a difference, but the estimate is that each of us is drinking about 22.6 gallons of water out of plastic bottles per year.

Since it takes water to make the bottles, each of us could save 135 gallons for the planet by switching. The bottom line is that drinking water filters protect the health of your family, while protecting and saving our natural resources. So, buy a good system and drink up.