As World Water Day approaches, this Saturday March 22, it seems fitting to talk about bottled water. Maybe the tide is starting to turn. Beverage Digest reported that bottled water sales in 2007 grew only 9% vs. 16% in 2006 (excluding vending machines and Wal-Mart). Let’s hope that some of this is attributable to more consumers just refilling their water bottles with tap water.
An article by Richard Brill in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin details all the reasons why we shouldn’t buy bottled water. The discarded bottles at the side of the road or in people’s trash are only the tip of the iceberg. Apparently 90% of the environmental impact takes place before the bottle is opened. Read the article for some startling facts.
“What’s wrong with tap water?” ask members of The Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s Environmental Stewardship project. They found that it’s actually permissible for water labeled “spring water” to come from a tap, and that 25% of bottled water comes from municipal water systems.
What can you do?
1. Stop buying bottled water. If you must, buy it in a large container, so the plastic to water ratio is lower. Try not to buy it from a local producer to reduce its carbon footprint.
2. Recycle any plastic bottles you do purchase.
3. If you try to do good by reusing your plastic bottles, be aware that over time plastic bottles leach chemicals into the water, especially if cracked or exposed to high temperatures (e.g. a hot car), so only reuse them a few times.
4. Reusable glass or stainless steel is best. Here are a few places to order reusable containers: kleancanteen.com & mysigg.com.
Lastly, remember how fortunate we are to have safe and convenient tap water. Celebrated since 1993, World Water Day is an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of the more than 1 billion people world wide that lack access to clean, safe drinking water. Major events and activities are being planned in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle as well as select local communities. Instead of buying bottled water in the week ahead, drink tap water and sign up for the Walk for Water in New York, Los Angeles or Seattle, or for the Virtual Walk for Water, this Saturday, March 22, World Water Day.
