BOTTLED WATER - the most expensive tap water on earth
CBS News has reported that American tap water is considered to be some of the safest in the world. Yet countless Americans shun the stuff that flows from faucets and fountains and buy bottled water instead.
What's really in the stuff and why does it cost 3,000-10,000 times more than tap water?
We hear now from Dr Peter Gleick, the author of "Bottled and Sold: The Story behind our obsession with Bottled Water." and he shares 10 of the most shocking facts about bottled water.
The most expensive tap water on Earth?
Bottled water comes only comes from pristine streams right?
NOt necessarily.
In fact, nearly half of all bottled water is reprocessed tap water sold at prices of up to 3,000 - 10,000 times higher than consumers pay for tap water. And even before the additional processing, the water meets the federal water quality standards.
Bottled water comes only comes from pristine streams right?
NOt necessarily.
In fact, nearly half of all bottled water is reprocessed tap water sold at prices of up to 3,000 - 10,000 times higher than consumers pay for tap water. And even before the additional processing, the water meets the federal water quality standards.
Crickets in your water and nobody told you?
Like any other products, water gets recalled but more often than not you don't hear much about it.
Like any other products, water gets recalled but more often than not you don't hear much about it.
There have been more than 100 recalls of contaminated bottled water, often months after the products were delivered to stores.
contaminants include Benzene, mould, sodium hydroxide, kerosene, styrene, algae, yeast, tetrahydrofuran, sand, faecal coliform and other bacteria, elevated chlorine, glass particles, sanitizer and crickets say, Gleick.
contaminants include Benzene, mould, sodium hydroxide, kerosene, styrene, algae, yeast, tetrahydrofuran, sand, faecal coliform and other bacteria, elevated chlorine, glass particles, sanitizer and crickets say, Gleick.
What does the Government test:
Think purity standards for bottled water are more stringent than those for tap water - not so.
Unlike tap water which is regulated by the EPA bottled water is regulated by the FDA - and, in addition to allowing for less frequent quality testing, the FDA doesn't monitor some contaminants that may be in the bottled water. What's more, the FDA doesn't insist that bottlers provide water quality reports to consumers.
Think purity standards for bottled water are more stringent than those for tap water - not so.
Unlike tap water which is regulated by the EPA bottled water is regulated by the FDA - and, in addition to allowing for less frequent quality testing, the FDA doesn't monitor some contaminants that may be in the bottled water. What's more, the FDA doesn't insist that bottlers provide water quality reports to consumers.
Drowning in Bottled Water
Americans buy, consume, and throw away the equivalent of nearly 100 billion 12-ounce plastic bottles of water every year. That translates into roughly 300 bottles for every man, woman and child. Laid end to end, these bottles would circle the earth more than 600 times - or reach from the earth to the moon and back 30 times.
Americans buy, consume, and throw away the equivalent of nearly 100 billion 12-ounce plastic bottles of water every year. That translates into roughly 300 bottles for every man, woman and child. Laid end to end, these bottles would circle the earth more than 600 times - or reach from the earth to the moon and back 30 times.
Bottled Water doesn't always taste better
Blind taste tests, consumers often cannot tell the difference.
Additionally, they can't tell the difference between tap water and the expensive bottled water and cheaper brands.
Blind taste tests, consumers often cannot tell the difference.
Additionally, they can't tell the difference between tap water and the expensive bottled water and cheaper brands.
Few water bottles get recycled
Most plastic bottles are recyclable. But few are actually recycled.
IN the states about seven of 10 plastic water bottles get incinerated, dumped into landfills or left as litter.
Most plastic water bottles could be recycled and made into new bottles but aren't.
Most plastic bottles are recyclable. But few are actually recycled.
IN the states about seven of 10 plastic water bottles get incinerated, dumped into landfills or left as litter.
Most plastic water bottles could be recycled and made into new bottles but aren't.
Where does it really come from?
Brand names are misleading.
"Arctic Spring Water" from Florida.
"Everest" from Texas
"Glacier Mountain" from Ohio.
"Yosemite" water from Los Angeles
Brand names are misleading.
"Arctic Spring Water" from Florida.
"Everest" from Texas
"Glacier Mountain" from Ohio.
"Yosemite" water from Los Angeles
Are bottles replacing fountains?
Bottle water sales have risen in the US and the public water fountains are disappearing. Apparently, in 2007 a brand new football stadium was built for 45,000 people and no water fountains. 78 people were treated for heat-related problems the first day and a Facebook backlash led to lots of fountains being installed.
Bottle water sales have risen in the US and the public water fountains are disappearing. Apparently, in 2007 a brand new football stadium was built for 45,000 people and no water fountains. 78 people were treated for heat-related problems the first day and a Facebook backlash led to lots of fountains being installed.
Bottled water isn't pushing aside soda.
The bottled water industry says drinking bottled water is good because it's leading us to cut back on our consumption of soft drinks.
In fact, bottled water and carbonated soft drink are both growing at the expense of tap water and whats more Americans now drink more bottled water than milk.
The bottled water industry says drinking bottled water is good because it's leading us to cut back on our consumption of soft drinks.
In fact, bottled water and carbonated soft drink are both growing at the expense of tap water and whats more Americans now drink more bottled water than milk.
It takes oil to make water bottles
It takes the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil just to make the plastic bottles for our bottled water consumption in the US. That brings pressure to the energy resources and dependence on foreign oil.
It takes the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil just to make the plastic bottles for our bottled water consumption in the US. That brings pressure to the energy resources and dependence on foreign oil.
******************************************************************
Comments
Post a Comment