If your buying bottled water you cant complain about pain at the gas pump.

In the world today, 1 billion people lack access to clean drinking water. That means a theoretical room that represents the world, there are eight people, and one of these people does not have water to drink. And if you think that is shocking then also factor in that 2 of the people in the room do not have access to a toilet.

You would not see a room like this in America. That is because water is taken for granted here. In fact, although majority of Americans have access to clean drinking water, many prefer to drink bottled water. Bottled water, for those of you who are unfamiliar is water in a pre-filled, sealed, plastic bottle. The price of the bottle changes with how fancy the bottle is or where the water is supposed to have come from. As far as I know, there is only one kind of water, the one made of Hydrogen and Oxygen. But if that’s true then why are there so many different kinds of water, in different bottles, at different prices?

It seems it to be a needless energy, product, and trash. Plastic bottles result in 1.5 billion tons of waste every year, and use up 47 million gallons of oil to produce.

In Sydney Australia the residents have banned bottled water in an effort to cut the senseless spending, and wasting.

“I have never seen 350 Australians in the same room all agreeing to something,” said Jon Dee a supporter of the campaign.

The state departments called it a waste of money and natural resources, and the civilians agreed unanimously, cheering after the legislation banning the sale of bottled water was passed.

Also on the home front (America), in Concord Massachusetts has banned the sale of bottled water.

“”We only have one planet and I just don’t want to see it spoiled,” said Jean Hill, who introduced the measure at Concord’s Town Meeting.” (WCVBTV)

One water to rule them all one water to find them...

Yet just shortly after the ban was enacted there was an emergency in Concord. A malfunctioning water pipe cut potable water to the residents just 48 hours after the legislation was put to law.

“I think a lot of people are reflecting on the vote, and they’re asking, ‘How could 300 or so people at Town Meeting do such a thing?’’

A quote from an upset Concord resident. So perhaps a ban on bottled water is not the best answer because it can be extremely useful in some circumstances like emergencies and sporting events, but then how can we cut down on the un-necessary waste? Self-control, individual people need to cease purchasing bottled water unless they need to. People should not have to rely on the government to enact everything into law. Those who buy bottled water carelessly on a daily basis are the ones that need to change their ways if there is to be a real impact on waste and space in landfills.

Last year there was $10.6 billion spent on bottled water for 8.5 billion gallons a year. If your complaining about pain at the pump and are drinking water then your should understand the irony of paying a price that is more expensive per gallon, than gas, and you could get it for free out of tap.

If you have heard that bottled water is healthier than tap water. This is a myth. In fact the bottled water industry is mostly unregulated by the FDA, as 70% of bottled water does not cross state lines. While the water industry in developed country’s like America is very regulated, in part, by the Environmental Protection Agency, which consistently checks for bacteria, and other toxins in the water. Checks that may or may not be mandatory at all water bottling plants, whose pursuit is profit.

If you think that recycling could sustain our current consumption of bottled water, you would be naive as only 25% of bottles are ever recycled.

I hope this article inspires some of you to cut down on your consumption of bottled water, and perhaps buy a filtered pitcher if you want to be ensured your water is clean, that’s what I use.

If you have anything to add about water bottle consumption please feel free to add it as a comment.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/09/australians-ban-bottled-w_n_228678.html

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/23320994/detail.html

http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating/stories/5-reasons-not-to-drink-bottled-water

http://water.org/learn-about-the-water-crisis/billion/

http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-new-york/what-the-water-bottle-industry-doesn-t-want-you-to-know

Images:

http://www.friendsofwater.com/Bottled_Water.html

http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/bottled-water.htm

http://www.squidoo.com/worldwatercrisis