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Drink to Your Health: . The impact of your drinking water choice . By: Rhonda Jill Noriega PhD student Walden University PUBH 8165-2 Dr. Raymond Thron Spring Quarter 2012. CONTENTS. Introduction Water safety authority Tap and bottled water safety Other considerations
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Drink to Your Health: The impact of your drinking water choice By: Rhonda Jill Noriega PhD student Walden University PUBH 8165-2 Dr. Raymond Thron Spring Quarter 2012
CONTENTS • Introduction • Water safety authority • Tap and bottled water safety • Other considerations • Bottled water waste management • Disaster preparedness • Conclusion • References
INTRODUCTION • “The rights to water and sanitation entitle everyone to sufficient quantities of safe water and sanitation services that are affordable, accessible, culturally acceptable, and which are delivered in a participatory, accountable and non-discriminatory manner.” United Nations Human Rights Council special reporter, Catarina de Albuqerque (Albuquerque, & Roaf, 2012)
INTRODUCTION • 3 million people die every year from water-related causes…..most are children • John Snow connected water source to disease outbreak in London in the 1800’s • United States 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act – established federal protection for drinking water sources (Moeller, 2011)
WATER SAFETY AUTHORITY • United States municipal tap water safety is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Local water treatment facilities test and report their findings to comply with the EPA’s regulations • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over bottled water as a packaged food product (Hirst, 2011)
TAP & BOTTLED WATER SAFETY TAP • Regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Maximum Contaminants Levels (MCLs) • 96 contaminants included • EPA has standards for 11 contaminants that FDA does not • Public alerts for boil water orders or other advisories when contaminants exceed standards BOTTLED • Regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Standards of Quality (SOQ) • 91 contaminants included • FDA has standards for 4 contaminants that EPA does not • Water not allowed sold for consumption when SOQ not met or recalls mandated (Hirst, 2011)
TAP & BOTTLED WATER SAFETY TAP • Fluoride added to prevent caries • May be implicated in flouridosis and bone cancer • Filters available to remove by choice BOTTLED • Fluoride available as additive in some brands • Other additives available for designer waters such as: caffeine, additional mineral content, sweeteners (Moeller, 2011)
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS • 2007 – bottled water demand required between 32 and 54 million barrels of oil for production and distribution, 2000 times more energy intensive than tap water • Up to 40% of bottled water is filtered tap water for resale • U.S. citizens may spend up to $1,400.00/year for bottled water – the same amount of tap water may cost 49 cents. (Pacific Institute, 2009) (Carbon Conscious Consumer, 2012) (The New York Times, 2007)
BOTTLED WATER WASTE MANAGEMENT • 86% in U.S. are discarded as trash • Burning discarded plastic bottles releases toxic chemicals such as chlorine gas and ash containing heavy metals • Plastic does not biodegrade, it photodegrades – • exposed to elements it breaks down to tiny particles contaminating food and water sources often eaten by marine animals then killing them or contaminating the food cycle • The Great Pacific Plastic Trash Island http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4XzfR0FE8&feature=related (Carbon Conscious Consumer, 2012) (Moore, 2009)
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS &DRINKING WATER SAFETY • loss of power to water treatment facilities or flood contamination due to natural disaster can affect availability of drinkable water • The American Red Cross has suggestions for treatment of contaminated water • Personal solar desalination device by University of Alabama developers available to yield 4-6 liters per day of drinkable water (Country Farm Lifestyles, 2012)
AMERICAN RED CROSSWATER DECONTAMINATION • Filter water with cloth or coffee filter • Boil on camp stove or over fire for 1 full minute • Cool for 30 minutes before treating with plain household bleach • Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon or 8 drops per 2 liter bottle of water • Let stand for 30 minutes (American Red Cross, 2012)
CONCLUSION • Both tap water and bottled water in the United States have safety records substantiating each as a suitable drinking choice…but at what cost? • A responsible consumer choice clearly demonstrates the need to return to the tap
REFERENCES Albuquerque, C. & Roaf, V. (2012, February). On the right track: Good practices in realising the rights to water and sanitation. World Water Council. Retrieved from http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/wwc/Library/Publications_and_reports/O nTheRightTrackBook.pdf American Red Cross. (2012). Fact sheet: Post-disaster water treatment. Retrieved from http://www.in.gov/dhs/files/water_treatment.pdf Carbon Conscious Consumer. (2012). C3 campaign. Retrieved from http://205.153.117.210/c3/ Country Farm Lifestyles. (2012). Personal solar desalination device for clean drinking water. Retrieved from http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/solar-desalination.html
REFERENCES Hirst, R. (2011, October). Bottled water and tap water just the facts: A comparison of regulatory requirements for quality and monitoring of drinking water in the United States. Drinking Water Research Foundation (DWRF). Retrieved from http://www.thefactsaboutwater.org/uploads/BW%20PWS%20Just%20the%20Facts%20 2011%20Final.pdf Moeller, D. W. (2011). Environmental health (4th ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN: 978-0674047402 Moore, Charles. (2009, March, 17). Charles Moore: The great pacific plastic trash island [video]. Algalita Marine Research Foundation (AMRF). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4XzfR0FE8&feature=related Pacific Institute. (2009, February). New study reports bottled water use 2000 times more energy intensive than tap water. Retrieved from http://www.pacinst.org/press_center/press_releases/bottled_water_0209.html
REFERENCES The New York Times. (2007, August 1). In praise of tap water. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/opinion/01wed2.html