Health and Environmental Risks of Bottled Water

Author:Gilles Coulombe

The bottled water industry is now a huge industry generating billions of dollars in annual worldwide sales. However, according to number of studies done on bottled water claims of purity could not be further from the truth enough to be skeptical of claims that bottled water is cleaner than tap water. For example, “distilled water” like Dasani, Aquafina or Nestle Pure Life extracted from city water is far from being healthy, since the oxidation is potentially harmful along with the fact that it can contain improper pH balances and ionization. There is also the plastic problem.

HEALTH RISKS OF PLASTIC BOTTLES

Most bottled water comes in plastic bottles and when stored in hot or warm temperatures, chemicals may be leached into the water. Storing the water into the garage or near gas fumes could affect the smell and taste of the water. Many people leave bottled water out in the car at high or low temperature facilitating the materials from the plastic to go into the water. Some people also use plastic juice bottles with tap water to carry around. It is better using safer container or simply glass bottle. For all those health risks and other considerations as well, it’s better to filter your tap water. Water filters are relatively inexpensive these days and for the best benefits, filters need to be changed frequently.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF BOTTLED WATER

With bottled water comes a whole lot of environmental impact that can be avoided with a turn of the faucet. While we struggle to cut down on our consumption of fossils fuels, water bottled increases them. Virgin petroleum is used to make plastic bottles; the more bottles we use, the more virgin petroleum is needed to crate new bottles. And more, fossil fuels are burned to fill the bottles and distribute them. Even more, it is not just bottled water, but juices, soft drinks and other beverages packed in plastic that had to this waste and the fuel used for shipping bottles. According to a study of the Oregon State University, it takes about 273 billion litre of water a year, worldwide, just to make empty bottles. Treating and filtering tap water for bottling creates even more waste. It takes about two litres of water to make every litre you see on stores shelves. Also, it is estimated that less than half of water bottles ever make it to a second life. The y are tossed on beaches, roadsides and into landfills, where they could remain for a thousand years. It is time to stop that waste for good. Take action and get a filter right now to save the future our planet. Everyone should stand up to stop this disgusting waste. It’s a MUST.