Tapping into the Bottled Water Debate

In the past thirty years, bottled water sales have grown faster than those of any other beverage worldwide. In 2008, US bottled water sales topped 8.6 billion gallons (about 29% of the total bottled beverages sold in the US). The year before, Americans spent over $15 billion on bottled water, with over 100 different brands available in the US (ISU, 2000; Finewaters.com, 2009; Lighter footstep, 2008). Why are we paying so much for something that, literally, falls out of the sky?

To start with, bottled water is convenient. Central to its success, however, are consumers’ worries about the quality of water from municipal or private supplies. Industrial by-products, agricultural chemicals and bacteria may make their way into water sources if proper care is not taken. Copper and lead were/are often used to make the pipes that carry water to our homes, and residues of both products may have toxic effects if consumed. In addition to health concerns, these factors can also affect the taste and color of our drinking water, making tap water a less appealing option (EPA, 2005).

So what’s the problem? If you can afford it, why shouldn’t you buy bottled water?

Firstly, consider the value of the water you’re buying. Almost a quarter of the bottled water sold in the US is produced by Coke (Dasani) and Pepsi (Aquafina) (Fishman, 2007). Yet, both brands are simply purified municipal water – that is, tap water, re-packaged and sold for a hefty markup (so hefty, in fact, bottled water is now more expensive than gasoline) (Lighter footstep, 2008). What we buy, of course, is the packaging, image, marketing and convenience. The water itself comes from the same source.

Secondly, consider the environmental impact of bottled water. Around 1.5 million tons of plastic water bottles are discarded each year. While the plastic used (mainly PET) is recyclable, over 80% of bottles are usually thrown away, often ending up, ironically, in waterways and oceans (Lighter footstep, 2008).

But this isn’t the extent of the effects of bottled water on the environment. In addition to waste, around 47 million gallons of oil are required per year to produce plastic water bottles (Lighter footstep, 2008). Adding to the cost is the transportation of bottled water. Fiji Water, for example, comes (not surprisingly) from Fiji. The plastic for the bottles is shipped to Fiji; they are filled, and then transported around the world. As such, half the wholesale cost of Fiji Water is related to transportation. We pay to drink something that is not local, at great cost to the environment. It is interesting to note that Fiji Water produces more than a million bottles of water a day for the US market. Unfortunately, more than half the people in Fiji do not have safe reliable drinking water (Fishman, 2007).

You may consider your health the most important factor, with good reason. Unfortunately, there is little evidence that suggests bottled water is any cleaner than water from municipal systems (Mitchell, 2008). Bottled water sources are still vulnerable to pollutants, and are not always sterilized, or dated. While bottled water is regulated by the FDA, this only occurs when it crosses state lines for sale– which rules out regulation of an estimated 70% of brands. On the other hand, tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency according to national standards. In addition, packaging in polyethylene of polyvinyl chloride may present a potential health risk, if plastic components leech into the water over time, or at high temperatures. (Lighter footstep, 2008; EPA, 2005; ISU, 2000; Food & water watch, 2009)

The US is the only nation out of the top four bottled-water buyers (Brazil, China, Mexico and US) which has reliable tap water available to all (Fishman, 2007).However, concerns about aging municipal supplies are not unwarranted. Safe drinking water is essential for everyone, and there’s no doubt that water quality in some regions is worse than in others. Unfortunately, bottled water markets have provided a diversion of funds from the public systems. If people who can afford to can switch to bottled sources, they are less likely to support upgrades to the municipal water infrastructures.

Of course, buying bottled water is healthier than alternatives such as soda, or sugary juices. Arguments could be made that if we weren’t buying bottled water, we’d buy other, less healthy beverages which have the same environmental impacts and import/export footprints, with worse consequences for our health. But there are cheaper, healthy alternatives to buying bottled water, with fewer detrimental effects: install carbon filters in the home; buy a thermos to carry water with you (without the possible toxic effects of polyethylene residues); check with your local council to find out about your local water supply; and if you do buy water, then recycle the bottle.

References

Iowa State University (2000) Bottled water – to drink or not to drink? Viewed online August 10 2009: http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1813.pdf

Fishman, C for Fastcompany.com (2007) Message in a bottle. Viewed online August 10 2009: http://www.fastcompany.com/node/59971/print

Finewaters.com (2009) Bottled waters of the world. Viewed online August 10 2009: http://www.finewaters.com/Bottled_Water/USA/index.asp

Lighter Footstep (2008) Five reasons not to drink bottled water. Viewed online August 10 2009: http://lighterfootstep.com/2008/05/five-reasons-not-to-drink-bottled-water/

Food & water watch (2009) Take back the tap: protect America’s water. Viewed online August 10 2009: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/

EPA website (2005) Water health series. Viewed online August 10 2009: http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/faq/pdfs/fs_healthseries_bottlewater.pdf

Mitchell, D (2008) Bottled water tapped out. Viewed online August 10 2009: http://www.thebigmoney.com/blogs/daily-bread/2008/10/15/bottled-water-tapped-out

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