The recent popularity of bottled water has brought about a multitude of interrelated environmental issues, of which most consumers are not aware. Bottled water costs $4–$6 per gallon when purchased over the counter, and is 500–1000 times more expensive than municipal tap water, with no guarantee that the bottled water is safer that tap water. Not only does it cost a small fortune to purchase bottled water, there are numerous associated costs in recycling PET(E). PET(E), or polyethylene terephthalate, is a plastic resin and a form of polyester. PET plastic is labeled with the #1 code on or near the bottom of bottles and is commonly used to package soft drinks, water, juice, peanut butter, salad dressings, and oil, as well as cosmetics and household cleaners. Primary issues related to the production and consumption of bottled water include safety, recycling, and groundwater.
Safety of drinking water is regulated by different agencies. Bottled water that is sold in states other than the state in which it was bottled (interstate commerce) is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and is considered a food product. Municipal tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974. This Act established health-based standards for drinking water to protect against both naturally-occurring and man-made contaminants that may be found in drinking water.
It is estimated that between 25–60% of bottled water is actually just municipal tap water. Bottled water from municipal sources is usually safe from bacterial contamination since it is chlorinated. Bottled water from non-municipal sources often lacks any treatment, in exchange for the ability to have an “all natural” product. Many producers of bottled water also add additional minerals or flavorings in the water to create a unique taste.
Bottled water that does not come from municipally treated sources may contain coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, Proteus, Salmonella, Serrati, and Shigella. Each of these bacterial contaminants represents potential human health risks. Other concerns have also arisen over protozoan parasites such as Cryptosporidium. These organismal contaminants potentially threaten immunocompromised individuals (the very young, the elderly and those with HIV/AIDS). Moreover, bottled water may contain heavy metals (e.g., lead and mercury) and/or organic pesticides (e.g., azatrine), often at levels in excess of state and federal standards.
While recycling is required in many states and strongly encouraged by others, the evidence suggests that adequate recycling is not occurring—in California alone, 19 million bottles each day are not being recycled. Recycling of PET plastic across the country has decreased over the past 5 years, and only about 19% of the bottles actually get recycled. The remaining PET bottles and containers end up in landfills.
Eleven states have “bottle bills” requiring deposits (usually $0.05/container; Michigan is the highest with $0.10/container) for each bottle purchased, but many states with a bottle bill exclude noncarbonated beverages such as water. While it is clear that these bottle bills are efficient at reducing roadside litter and increasing recycling rates, bottled water (and other noncarbonated beverages) falls into an administrative loophole.
Most of all, people generally have no idea where their water comes from. Municipalities generally get their water from surface water sources; companies that that do not get their water from municipalities get their water from below-ground sources. While all bottled water is not alike, the rate at which water is currently being extracted makes water a potentially non-renewable resource.
There are many different types of bottled water. These differences are based on the source of the water and types of treatments the water may receive.
The types of bottled water listed below often come from municipal sources.
Bottled water not coming from above ground municipal sources includes:
Many corporations, such as Perrier, have invested greatly in getting the highest quality water, usually looking for “artesian” wells from which to draw. Many scientists believe that there are indirect costs associated with the production and consumption of bottled water. The biggest issue is overuse of the aquifer, leading to reduced stream flow and habitat reduction in aquatic ecosystems. Perrier, for example, wanted to pump 500 gallons/minute over a 5-year period (about one cubic mile of water) from one Wisconsin aquifer—estimated to reduce local stream flow about 50%. This water, once removed and transported around the country, is lost to the local water cycle.
Aquifer recharge rates vary greatly, depending upon annual rainfall and the type of rock water must percolate through. But since this is an open system—water is being transported out of the aquifer—water becomes a locally non-renewable resource if the withdrawal rate exceeds the rate of recharge.
Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/bottled_water/bottled_water2.asp
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