Bottled Water: Economic, Environmental And Public Health Concerns

1. Bottled Water: Economic, Environmental And Public Health Concerns Prepared By Ayokosok Enow Walden University MPH Student

2. What Is Bottled Water? • According to Wikipedia, it is drinking water packaged as a food product, regulated by national and local agencies that allow consumers to purchase and consume water at different locations. • The Princeton word press defines bottled water as drinking water that is put into bottles and offered for sale.

3. Bottle Water Industry • The bottled water industry is the fastest growing sector in the United States. • International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is an organization that represents the interest of bottle water companies. • Bottled water companies are growing all over the world. • Bottled water companies all together make about $15billion in sales every year.

4. Why Do People Prefer Bottled Water? • They taste better. • They are convenient. • They are pure. • They are safer. • Low sodium content. • Low nitrate content. • Source: Bottle your brand.

5. Who Regulates And Monitors Bottled Water and Tap water • In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors and regulates bottled water companies because bottled water is considered a food product. • The Environmental Protection Agency regulates tap water whilst the local departments monitor them.

6. FDA Regulation • The FDA requires bottled water companies to identify the source of their products. • FDA has set acceptable limits for organic, radioactive, inorganic and biological contaminants in the bottled water. • They have also set standards for current good manufacturing practices.

7. Types Of Bottled Water • Artesian • Mineral water • Spring water • Well Water • Municipal

8. Bottled Water Treatments • Distillation – water is boiled and the steam is collected back into water. • Reverse Osmosis – the water is forced through membranes to remove minerals in the water. • Absolute 1 micron Filtration – the water is passed through filters that remove particles greater than I micron. • Ozonation – which is an antimicrobial agent and it disinfects the water. This eliminates the use of chlorine.

9. Bottled Water and Its Effects • Bottled water provides challenges to mankind. These include : • Safety and Environmental impact • Cost • Social impact • Health

10. Impact Of Bottled Water On Health • Most minerals are taken out of bottled water. • Kids who drink bottled water have being found to have higher levels of decay than those who drink tap water. • Bottled water have long shelf lives makes it possible for individuals to consume staled water. • According to the Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW), tap water is tested 300times per day to meet federal regulation whilst bottled water supply sources are to be tested once a week according to FDA regulations.

11. Impact Of Drinking Water Cost To Individuals And The Community • 750 gallons of tap water cost about $1.39 whilst the same amount of bottled water cost about $4,800 (GCWW). • Recycling cost for plastic bottles

12. Environmental Impact Of Bottled Water • The production and recycling of bottles for bottled water produces polychlorinated compounds. • Only a small percentage of the bottles are recycled after usage. • Aquifers are depleted without recharge because of the high demand for bottled water. • Bottled water production and transportation increase the amount of green house gases in the atmosphere.

13. Impact Of Bottled Water On Society • Most bottled water companies are not major employers. • Some companies do not take into account the effect of their activities to the environment. • The demand for bottled water can reduce the availability of water in the company’s locality.

14. Reasons We Should Drink Tap Water • It is safe. • It is cheaper than bottle water. • It is environmentally safe. • It is healthier because no minerals are taken out of it. • There is constant monitoring by State and local authorities for impurities.

15. References • Sustianable Table : Water. Retrieved on 4/18/09 www.Sustainabletable.org/issues/water • World Health Organization : Fast Sheet on Bottled drinking water retrieved on 4/18/09 www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs256/en • Center For Disease control and Prevention; Tap water- where it comes from and is it safe to drink? http://www.cdc.gov/features/groundwater/

16. References cont. • Wikipedia: Bottled Water. Retrieved on 4/19/09 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_water • International Bottled Water Association. Retrieved on 4/19/09 http://www.bottledwater.org/public/environment_main.html

17. References cont. • Perils of Ground water Pumping (2002). Issues in Science and Technology. Retrieved on 05/02/09 from http://www.issues.org/19.1/glennon.htm • IBWA Bottled Water Reporter, A publication of the International Bottled Water Association (2008). Retrieved on 05/02/09 from http://www.bottledwater.org/buyersguide/pdf/BWRMediaKit_MC.pdf • Bottle Your Brand :Why Drink Bottled Water(2009).Retrieved on 05/02/09 from http://www.bottleyourbrand.com/bottled-water-info/drink-bottled-water.asp http://www.issues.org/19.1/glennon.htm

18. Reference • Greater Cincinnati Water Works : 2007 Water Report (2008). Retrieved 05/09/09 from http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/water/downloads/water_pdf15886.pdf