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Bottled Water & Global Issues

Consumers throughout the world drank 53 billion gallons of bottled water in 2009 according to the annual report released by the International Bottled Water Association. The United States topped the list, gulping down 8 billion gallons, followed by Mexico, China and Brazil, which together drank another 17 billion gallons. Environmental groups throughout the world are working to raise awareness about the quality and cost of bottled water and environmental problems that have been created by the industry.

Privitazing Public Water
- Bottled water is often marketed as a fresh, clean alternative to regular tap water. In reality, about 40 percent of bottled water is tap water that's been filtered. One of the greatest concerns about the bottled water industry is its use of community water resources. In areas where bottling plants operate, other industries and residents have seen steep drops in the water table. Fishermen and farmers say the industry's excessive use of local water sources puts their livelihoods at risk.
Energy Use
- The bottled water industry burns a lot of energy and produces a lot of carbon dioxide. Plants that manufacture bottles use 2.7 million tons of polyethylene, a plastic made from crude oil. Not only are millions of barrels of oil used to make the plastic, millions of tons of carbon dioxide are generated in the process. Shipping water from Fiji and France to Ohio and Texas also burns significant amounts of fuel. And it takes water to make water. According to the Pacific Institute, three liters of water are used in the production of every one liter of bottled water.
Waste
- Plastic water bottles can be recycled, but only 20 to 30 percent make it to that path of the waste stream. The majority end up in the trash and are either dumped at landfills where they will spend the next 1,000 years decomposing, or they are burned in incinerators where they release toxins into the surrounding air. Those that are recycled are often downcycled into a lower grade of material. Water bottlers rarely use recycled plastics to make new packaging for their products.
Health Concerns
- Several environmental groups have challenged the bottled water industry's claim that their product is purer and healthier than municipal tap water. Several rounds of testing and analysis have shown the quality of bottled water is inconsistent. In some sampling, scientists have found traces of arsenic, nitrates and bacteria. Other studies suggest that when bottled water is exposed to sunlight or heat, the chemical contents of the plastic begins to brake down, and toxins leach from the bottle into the water.

Nature