We think that cutting out your bottled water habit is the perfect New Year’s goal for 2011. So does the Environmental Working Group (EWG). EWG recently posted their 2011 Bottled Water Scorecard, and the results show that most water isn’t as as crystal clear as most water companies would have you believe. According to the EWG report, most water companies are elusive about some common right-to-know questions — “Where is this water from?”, “Is the water purified? How?”, “Have tests found any contaminants in the water?” When water companies keep quiet about sourcing and purity, it kind of makes you wonder why you’re paying more for bottled water than gasoline right?
The EWG bottled water scorecard found that among the ten best-selling brands of bottled water, nine — Pepsi’s Aquafina, Coca-Cola’s Dasani, Crystal Geyser and six of seven Nestlé brands refused to answer at least one question about bottled water sourcing or testing, leaving consumers in the dark about what they’re actually drinking. One mainstream brand, Nestlé’s Pure Life Purified Water does disclose both its water source and treatment method on their label and offers an 800-number, website or mailing address where consumers can request a water quality test report. But this was a rare finding. Overall, 18% of all bottled waters fail to list the source, while a full 32% disclose zero facts about treatment or purity of the water.
Bottled water companies operate on a don’t-tell-consumers-jack system. This works well for them, because in spite of the secrets and lies that fuel water companies, consumers WILL still blindly purchase bottled water. Read on to see just how many consumers love bottled water.
What’s the impact of all this bottled water bliss? A planet full of trash and poor health consequences to boot. Although plastics are increasingly easy to recycle, only about 23% of people recycle their plastic water bottles. A family of four, who fails to recycle, will contribute a whopping 7,000+ plastic bottles to the landfill annually. The EPA estimates that 2,480,000 tons of plastic bottles and jars were tossed in the trash in 2008 and the Ocean Conservancy notes that plastic bottles are one of the most prevalent sources of pollution found on our beaches. Even if you do recycle, it takes lots of energy to make plastic water bottles and even more energy to recycle them. Additionally you’re wasting non-renewable resources, as it takes 3 fl oz of crude oil to make one plastic water bottle.
This is the year to stop drinking bottled water. It’s not healthier and plastic bottles are trashing the planet. Best of all, the typical family of four can save over $1,200 per year just by quitting bottled water – even if the family has to buy water bottles and a water filtering system! Here’s how to break the habit.
Source: Inhabitots
Related Posts: Is Bottled Water Bad for the Environment?; Plastic Bottles & Ocean Pollution; Kick the Bottle Habit; The Four Best Ways to Ditch Bottled Water
Bottled water is sometimes a necessity when travelling but even then, you cannot be sure that it is safer than the tap water, especially in developing countries. Rather carry a portable water filtration device that attaches directly to a faucet or pack a filtration jug (make sure these are good quality and that they are able to filter-out or kill bacteria). Unfortunately many aid agencies spend millions of dollars on bottled water for people in need; they should rather be spending that money on developing and repairing water services infrastructure in poorer countries.
Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems and Yes Solar Mpumalanga have combined (water and energy are linked!) to offer high quality water conservation systems and solar energy solutions.
Contact us for a free quote on a rainwater tank, rainwater harvesting system, grey water recycling system, Atlas Plastics & JoJo water tanks (we are authorised JoJo Tanks dealers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo – best water tank prices in the Lowveld!), green plumbing systems or solar water geyser (made by Solsquare in Germany).
All our water conservation systems are installed by qualified Water Rhapsody consultants and our Solsquare solar geysers are fitted by Eskom-approved solar installers (so that you can claim cash back from the Eskom renewable energy rebate scheme).