Bottled water is convenient. This is one of the points the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) makes in one of its most recent videos, “Bottled Water: The Big Picture.” We’ve engaged in the bottled water vs. tap water debate in many blog posts, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that bottled water is convenient.

After all, you can walk into any grocery store or gas station and take your pick from a sea of bottled waters. You have at your disposal “spring, purified, mineral, sparkling, artesian and distilled.” It may cost you more per gallon than gas, but hey — it sure is convenient, right?

Filtered tap water isn’t for people who only want convenience. No, it’s for people who recognize that they can filter out any off flavors or contaminants from their water for a fraction of the price of bottled water. Filtering your home’s water is for people committed to truly sustainable practices, and it’s for people who are willing to put in just a little work if it means saving both their world and their wallet.

That being said, some might argue that filtering your water at home and carrying it with you in a stainless steel water bottle might actually be more convenient.

What about you? Are you willing to pay for the convenience of bottled water?