Cuisinart launches the CleanWater Countertop Filtration System to reduce dependency on plastic water bottles

The Container Recycling Institute reports that Americans will buy an estimated 34.6 billion single-serve (1 liter or less) plastic water bottles in 2009. More than 75 percent of those bottles will end up in landfills or incinerators, rather than being recycled. That’s 877 bottles wasted every second, according to the Institute.

In addition to creating unnecessary waste, the production of plastic water bottles also depletes natural resources. The Institute reports that it takes more than 15 million barrels of oil annually to produce the water bottles consumed in the U.S. in one year. That’s enough oil to fuel 100,000 U.S. cars for a year.

To help reduce this colossal waste and to promote consumer vigilance in water consumption choices, Cuisinart has launched the CleanWater® Countertop Filtration System, which provides an affordable and convenient means of obtaining healthier, filtered water without relying on plastic bottles. The unit’s GF-80 filter significantly reduces contaminants such as lead, mercury and copper, has a life of three months for average household use and is certified by the Water Quality Association.

Cuisinart’s 2-gallon capacity filtration system has two fast flow spigots for dispensing hot, cold or room temperature filtered water, as well as an Energy Saver mode that cuts energy use by 50 percent when the function is engaged. The new countertop unit can be used for everything from preparing hot soup and instant oatmeal to cooking items like rice or pasta that absorb water, or simply enjoying the water by itself. The company also offers another countertop filtration system with a 1.5 gallon capacity that dispenses cold or room temperature filtered water from a single fast flow spigot.