Research_Paper

Muhammad Al-Kadah Dr. Mitchell ENC1101-0000 December 3, 2009 Refill – Not Landfill In the past decade, bottled water has become a fast growing industry. It seems like everyone carries a container of bottled water on the go. In addition, concerns about the quality of tap water in the United States have grown. Moreover, many people use bottled water at home instead of tap water. There seems to be no limit to the brands. Consumers have their choices spring water, flavor water, purified waters, and filtered bottled water. Brands range from major drink distributors or producers such as Coca-Cola or Pepsi to store brands like Publix and Sam’s bottled water. For the moment, it seems unlikely that the bottled water phenomenon will end any time soon, and why should it' Bottled water is a healthy, alternative to caffeinated sodas and sugar loaded fruit drinks. However, recently questions have been raised about the environmental impact of bottled water. Moreover, some are questioning the cost and safety of bottled water. In recent years, the demand for bottled water has continued to increase. Brands like Aquafina, Dasani, Propel, Poland Spring, Arrowhead, Deer Park, and Nestle Pure Life, top sales in the United States where drinking bottled water is associated with health and wellness. As Nicole Cotroneo points out,(writing for the New York Times Upfront) “The United States is now the world’s largest consumer of bottled water, in 2008 Americans spent $11 billion to guzzle more than 8 billion gallons” of bottled water (26). In fact, the success of bottled water products continues to grow. A Chicago- based company that keeps track of new products indicated that in 2009 more than 269 bottled waters were introduced before the end of August in that year (Fuhrman 16). In December of 2008, Dasani bottled water, manufactured by the Coca-Cola Company; reported $423.1 million in United States sales while private-labeled brands posted 706 million in United States sales (Cirillo). In general, it would seem that drinking bottled water is a healthy step for Americans who are not typically known for eating and drinking healthy. However, the bottled water phenomenon is not without problems. While the economic impact for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers may even be great, the economic impact on the consumer may be something of a problem. In addition, safety concerns about the packaging and the quality of the water itself have arisen. Recently concerns about the environmental impact of bottled water have been making the headlines. American consumers “drank more than 8.25 billion gallons of bottled water in 2006,” says Bryan Walsh in a Time magazine article. For a family of four that purchases one bottled water per member per day, that represents a cost of at least $1,460 dollars a year; maybe more if the product costs more than a dollar. Considering that this very same drink can be gotten by simply turning on the tap, Americans are blindly throwing their money away. In an internet article that examines the cost of bottled water, author Amanda Woods reports that the cost of a gallon of tap water is less than a penny. In Wood’s article, Ian Kiernan, chairman of Clean Up The World, and environmental group, says, “People are paying more than $2.50 a litre for bottled water. Even with the latest petrol price rises, that makes bottled water more expensive than petrol” (qtd. in Woods). Instead of wasting money on bottled water, the average American could save thousands by drinking water that comes from their own tap. So what is wrong with tap water' Why do Americans insist on spending thousands of dollars for the very same water that could be theirs for pennies' Americans who drink bottled water gave various reasons for their decision. Some say they are concerned about the quality of their tap water. Others clam to prefer the taste of bottled water. Moreover, many say that they like the convenience of bottled water. Those Americans who like the convenience of bottled water should know that they are paying for that convenience. Most of the cost of bottled water is for the plastic packaging, the marketing and advertising of the water. The water itself is almost identical to tap water in terms of purity, minerals, and taste. Consumers that claim bottled water tastes better should know that “in blind taste tests, most people can’t tell the difference between tap and bottled” (Cotoni 26). Similarly, Amanda Woods reports that a consumer organization in Australia taste testers did not recognize the difference between Sydney tap water and two of the country’s leading bottled water brands. For those who are concerned about the quality of their tap water, they should realize that tap water quality is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Agencies, which tests tap water frequently for bacteria, pesticides, and other toxins. Bottled water, however, is regulated by the U.S Food and Drug Administration. According to an article by Food and Water Watch, water that is sold over state lines is exempt from any FDA regulation (Bottled Water, Bad for People and the Environment). The belief that bottled water is somehow safer than tap water is an idea suggested by bottled water advertisers. The truth is tap water in America is safer than bottled water, and costs far less than bottled water. During the current recession, most Americans can do themselves a favor and turn on the tap rather than shell out their hard-earned money for bottled water. Another issue Americans should look at is the health risks associated with bottled water. Most plastic bottles are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), all of which are made from petroleum or polycarbonate. In “Freshen Up Your Drink,” Lisa Cullen reports that many scientists believe these plastics pose risks. Consumer health advocate Gilles Coulombe warns that plastic bottles can leach potentially dangerous chemicals into the water if then left in hot areas. Storing these bottles near gas fumes or in a garage can also pose a risk and can change the smell or taste of the water. Risks like these should make consumers worry about the safety of bottled water. Probably the biggest concern with bottled water is its environmental impact. Water is being scarce around the world. The Food and Water Watch claims that “it takes more than 47 million gallons of oil to produce water bottles for Americans each year” “each one of the bottles requires nearly five times as volume in water to manufacturer the plastic” (Bottled Water, Bad for People and the Environment). In “Back to the Tap”, Bryan Walsh describes the environmental stress caused by bottled water: he reports that the “NRDC estimates that 4,000 tons of CO2 is generated each year—the equivalent of the emissions of 700 cars—by importing bottled water from Fiji, France, and Italy, three of the biggest suppliers to the United States.” Purchasing a product that has such a negative impact on the environment when that some product is readily available from a kitchen tap for fractions of a penny is irresponsible. When companies and individuals are trying to lessen their carbon footprint purchasing bottled water seems to be a move in the wrong direction. Probably the most negative impact bottled water has can be seen in America’s landfills. Billions of water bottles wind up in landfills. Bill sipper, a senior partner at Cascadia consulting in New Jersey, says that the possibility of landfills full of used plastic bottles is scary. He comments, “Ninety-seven percent of all bottled water sales are in plastic. It’s horrible to think about” (qtd. In Hein).with bottled water manufacturing and distribution contributing to greenhouse gases and global warming and discarded plastic water bottles filling up landfills, the phenomenon of bottled water hardly seems like a healthy alternative for America’s citizens. For many reasons, Americans need to reconsider purchasing bottled water. While it may be convenient, it is hardly a wise economic decision. The safety concerns posed by the bottles themselves are another reason to look seriously at bottled water. In addition, the environmental hazards that bottled water contribute to make the product a bad choice overall. Do Americans ever think about what all the waste means' All that wasting of plastics, oil, and water destroys the environment and also changes the environment. Instead of clean, green spaces, we are turning the land into landfills. Bottled or tap—the choice is a personal one. Americans can buy bottled water for its taste and convenience or they can save up their money and turn on their faucet. Nevertheless, before they buy their next bottle of water or put a glass under the tap, they should make sure they know what their choice means to themselves, the economy, and their environment.