WHY CONSUMERS CHOOSE BOTTLED WATER
-Some groups have sought to frame drinking water issues as a "bottled water versus tap water debate" and that confuses consumers.
-Consumers are not uniformly replacing their public drinking water with bottled water; rather they are choosing bottled water over the other beverages available at the store and home. Consumers across the United States choose bottled water as an alternative to other packaged beverages because it does not include calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors, alcohol and other ingredients they may wish to moderate. Or, they choose bottled water because they are not always satisfied with the aesthetic qualities (e.g., taste, odor, color) of their tap water. There are thousands of public water systems across the US, most of which are succeeding; but others are faced with occasional "challenges," emergencies, or natural events that may cause service interruptions.
-Many consumers likely drink both bottled water and tap water depending on the circumstances. It does not, however, always amount to a tap versus bottled water choice.
Bottled Water Blog
"Talk" About Everything Bottled Water
BOTTLEDWATERBLOG.NET
Claims Agains Bottled Water Unfounded
One claim is that bottled water is no different than tap water. Well, it is different in a lot of ways. One being it is in a bottle so the delivery system is completely different, which makes it a convenient option for people who are on the go. The package also ensures that it is sanitary. It is different than tap water, which travels through pipes and has other issues.
Environmentalists have said that bottled water is simply bottled tap water, but in reality 75% of bottled water is from springs and natural sources. The rest of it, if it is bottled from municipal sources, is treated and has to meet certain standards and regulations beyond what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations are for tap water. The standards for bottled water are different—they basically meet EPA regulations plus packaging regulations, which are just as stringent, if not more.
Another claim is that bottled water is unduly wasteful, more wasteful than other products, but there is really no evidence for that. It is not a huge portion of solid waste, and putting taxes and bans on it is not going to have much of an impact on the amount of waste that goes into a landfill. Bottled water containers are recyclable and the part of the story that is not being told is that the 5-gal containers are recycled at nearly a 100% rate. They are used 30 to 50 times over, so they are an environmentally friendly product from that perspective.
There are also a lot of claims about the chemicals in the products, but a lot of times the chemicals referred to do not even appear in the bottles. BPA is not found in single-serving containers. It is found in the 5-gal containers, but at such a low level that it is inconsequential. There has never been a public health issue cited from [chemicals in bottled water containers], it’s just speculative and way overblown.
Just a Few Reasons Why We Love Bottled Water
Bottled Water, the fasted growing beverage category of the last 20
years is under attack. After being hailed as a natural healthy
alternative to soft drinks and other sugary beverages, it is being
maligned from environmentalists and those that seek favor in a "Green"
sort of way. But all this shall soon pass.
Why? Because bottled water fulfills our need to be mobile and hydrated. Or, if in a meeting, have a source of sealed safe water to quench our thirst. There are many ways bottled water serves as a convenience in our daily lives. One common way that comes to mind is the bottle of water in our car. Or maybe when taking the baby or dog or both for a long walk. On the way to work out or play a sport and forgot to bring your bottle from home, buy a bottle of water.
Do you coach kid sports? Do you fill 15 bottles in your kitchen sink or bring do you fill a 3 gallon jug, buy and bring them to the field for the kids? A case of bottled water costs less than $5 and fits in a cooler. Easy. Also sealed and safe.
Don't get the idea that I don't believe in bottling tap water, because I do. And I have been doing it for years. But that is because my tap water is filtered and dechlorinated and tastes great. Like bottled water. But most people do not have filters on their tap water and when tap water is not cold it often tastes bad as a result of the chlorine and organic content that is normally present.
Bottled water provides many other conveniences so I think that once the assault is over it will emerge as healthy and desirable as ever. Bottled Water is here to stay.
Purchase or learn more about bottled water.
Why? Because bottled water fulfills our need to be mobile and hydrated. Or, if in a meeting, have a source of sealed safe water to quench our thirst. There are many ways bottled water serves as a convenience in our daily lives. One common way that comes to mind is the bottle of water in our car. Or maybe when taking the baby or dog or both for a long walk. On the way to work out or play a sport and forgot to bring your bottle from home, buy a bottle of water.
Do you coach kid sports? Do you fill 15 bottles in your kitchen sink or bring do you fill a 3 gallon jug, buy and bring them to the field for the kids? A case of bottled water costs less than $5 and fits in a cooler. Easy. Also sealed and safe.
Don't get the idea that I don't believe in bottling tap water, because I do. And I have been doing it for years. But that is because my tap water is filtered and dechlorinated and tastes great. Like bottled water. But most people do not have filters on their tap water and when tap water is not cold it often tastes bad as a result of the chlorine and organic content that is normally present.
Bottled water provides many other conveniences so I think that once the assault is over it will emerge as healthy and desirable as ever. Bottled Water is here to stay.
Purchase or learn more about bottled water.
Redesigned Bottles for a Green Environment
Bottled water companies continue toward their goal of reducing the impact of plastic bottles on the environment. One way bottlers are making a contribution is by reducing the amount of PET content in each bottle. Brand owners are steadily taking advantage of an average 2-gram material savings on bottle and the cap achieved through moving to light weight closures and reducing wall thickness. Further work is being done involving the shape of bottles along with the development of ultra ight weight bottles such as Sidels "No Bottle" and Krones ultra light weight alternative.
This month Evian revealed its carbon footprint as part of Evian's new sustainable development initiative. It's 1 liter bottled water equals 198 grams (.436 pounds) of CO2. That's the equivalent of less than one mile driven in the family car. One liter of Evian consumed is less than .5 percent of a typical persons daily footprint.
An alternative to PET may be bottles made from plants. The increase in global input prices, energy prices and increased environmental concern has renewed interest inbio-polymers such as PLA,PHA and PGA. As costs increase these renewable pack types approch price parity and rapid technological advances in terms of clarity and rigidity has led to brand manufacturers taking incresed interest in these alternatives.
Another new alternative is Reverte oxo-biodegradable (oxo-bio) PET plastic preforms and bottles introduced by Norland Intl. and Planet Green Bottle Corp. These bottles break down naturally and in most cases turn to CO2 and moisture within 5 to 10 years. Reverte has been formulated for a two year shelf life and the degradation process is triggered by UV light, heat and moisture. Plastic bottles containing the Reverte technology will degrade in landfills, ditches, rivers and oceans.
This month Evian revealed its carbon footprint as part of Evian's new sustainable development initiative. It's 1 liter bottled water equals 198 grams (.436 pounds) of CO2. That's the equivalent of less than one mile driven in the family car. One liter of Evian consumed is less than .5 percent of a typical persons daily footprint.
An alternative to PET may be bottles made from plants. The increase in global input prices, energy prices and increased environmental concern has renewed interest inbio-polymers such as PLA,PHA and PGA. As costs increase these renewable pack types approch price parity and rapid technological advances in terms of clarity and rigidity has led to brand manufacturers taking incresed interest in these alternatives.
Another new alternative is Reverte oxo-biodegradable (oxo-bio) PET plastic preforms and bottles introduced by Norland Intl. and Planet Green Bottle Corp. These bottles break down naturally and in most cases turn to CO2 and moisture within 5 to 10 years. Reverte has been formulated for a two year shelf life and the degradation process is triggered by UV light, heat and moisture. Plastic bottles containing the Reverte technology will degrade in landfills, ditches, rivers and oceans.
City of Chicago Levies Tax on Bottled Water
I first learned of the tax several months ago when I received a letter from Tammy Steels, Executive Director of the Urban Sustainability Authority, based in Chicago.The Urban Sustainability Authority is a 5013c non-profit organization dedicated to environment and health.
The letter was sent to inform me that, effective July 1, 2008, the city had issued a special access tax on the sale of bottled water. The tax adds $1.20 to a case of bottled water purchased in Chicago. Urban Sustainability, www.urbansustain.org, is fighting to reverse this "misleading and unhealthy" tax. The group has created PROJECT H2GO as a way of saying no to Chicago's tax "on this planet's healthiest beverage".
It is assumed thast the tax was created to reduce the amount of plastic bottles in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cardboard and yard waste are the top trash in landfills, not plastic bottles.
There are great many reason why water, essential to life on this planet, is not taxed in most of the world, except Chicago. I believe they are very obvious and that water in any form should not be taxed. What do you think? I'd also like to know how the Urban Sustainability Authority is progressing with PROJECT H2GO.
The letter was sent to inform me that, effective July 1, 2008, the city had issued a special access tax on the sale of bottled water. The tax adds $1.20 to a case of bottled water purchased in Chicago. Urban Sustainability, www.urbansustain.org, is fighting to reverse this "misleading and unhealthy" tax. The group has created PROJECT H2GO as a way of saying no to Chicago's tax "on this planet's healthiest beverage".
It is assumed thast the tax was created to reduce the amount of plastic bottles in landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, cardboard and yard waste are the top trash in landfills, not plastic bottles.
There are great many reason why water, essential to life on this planet, is not taxed in most of the world, except Chicago. I believe they are very obvious and that water in any form should not be taxed. What do you think? I'd also like to know how the Urban Sustainability Authority is progressing with PROJECT H2GO.
We are Water! All Things Are Water!
More than
perhaps any other element of life on earth, water makes possible the existence
of all living organisms. When two hydrogen atoms fasten to one oxygen atom,
they create an asymmetrically shaped molecule. The hydrogen atoms are drawn
together slightly on one side of the oxygen atom, creating a positive charge on
one side of the water molecule and a negative charge on the other. The opposite
charges create an effect similar to a magnetic attraction that bonds water
molecules to neighboring water molecules and to other substances. This
remarkable chemical circumstance knits together the fabric of life.
The
aggregate accumulation of water molecules is a substance that flows at normal
temperatures. Most other fluids i.e. milk and blood are water-based. They are
made of non-liquids suspended in water.
Without
the motion and the distribution system that moving water provides, the elements
of life would never connect, their commingling under sunlight would not produce
the complicated carbon compounds that lead eventually to cells, cells would not
be able to gather as the moist organized and specialized cell colonies we call
tissue, their aggregation would have no exchanging processes, no supply systems
of food and breath, the eye would not see, the brain would not compute, the muscle
would not move.
By and
large, the characteristics of the water molecule that make it life-giving are
freakish properties. They are, more often than not, exceptions to basic
chemical rules.
Almost
every other substance becomes heavier, smaller, and denser as it changes from a
liquid to a solid. But water expands and grows lighter, so that ice floats. If
that does not seem remarkable, it should. If water acted like other substances,
its solid form, ice, would sink. The floor of the sea and the bottoms of lakes
would accumulate ice. Gradually, winter after winter, the ice would lock up
more and more water until there would be none running free on the planet. There
would be no life on earth.
More
substances can be dissolved by water than by any other material. The water
molecule, with its magnet like opposite charges, is able to carry other
substances suspended within itself, making it a nearly universal solvent.
Water is
able to climb of its own accord, a feat that results in capillary action in
soils and in plants. Without this characteristic, water would not travel from
the deepest root tip to the highest leaf. There would be no internal flow of
nutrients in complicated organisms, and thus no complicated organisms. The
trick occurs because the attraction of water molecules to themselves and to
other molecules is so strong that they are drawn upward from one foreign
molecule to another, always pulling along the adjacent water molecules. The
climb is halted only by gravity.
Great
amounts of heat can be absorbed by water, making seas, rivers, lakes, and
clouds vast energy storage banks. The release of stored heat from the ocean,
for example, moderates climates, making coastal winters milder than those only
a few miles inland.
Human
blood, excluding the cells and proteins, has the same general composition as
seawater.
Through
a fortunate accident, Planet Earth is the right distance from the sun to make
the existence of life-giving water possible. Closer to the sun the heat is so
intense that water would be vaporized; farther away, water would be permanently
frozen. Only Mars, of the other planets in the solar system, is in the narrow
temperature band in which water can exist in all three states. But only Earth
is blanketed by a living, water-built biosphere, in which the lifesource itself
seems to issue from water's evaporation, precipitation, runoff, seepage,
transpiration from plants, respiration from animals, melting, freezing, and
flowing. Earth, as far as we know, is the only water planet.
The Great Flouride Debate - again.
Gosh, the debate over
whether to add Fluoride, or not, into public water supplies seems to
have been going on forever. It is almost like if you have seen the
successful results then you are very much for it. If you live in a
water district where Fluoride is being considered, then you may be
against it. In the 50's antagonists called it a "communist plot". Since
then it has been argued and feared that Fluoride in drinking water may
cause almost every kind of malady.
Fluoride, in very very large doses, roughly four times the amount typically added to public water supplies, has been associated with dental Fluorosis, in which teeth become mottled and pitted, and could cause bone fractures. A separate study linked fluoride with a very rare bone cancer in boys.
But while a few isolated studies have raised such questions, there has never been any compelling evidence that fluoridation has any harmful health effects in over 60 years of research, according to the CDC. In fact, the ADA, AMA and WHO and also five US Surgeons General, have endorsed adding Fluoride to public water supplies because it cuts the rate of tooth decay 18 to 40%.
Personnel experience has me convinced. I was born in NYC before fluoride was introduced to the water supply. I had cavities all the time and going to the dentist was routine. No child should have to endure the procedures in that I had to. My father was macho and didn't believe in Novocaine. He insisted that I shouldn't use it either. That only lasted a short time and finally I was allowed the luxury of that big, really big needle inserted into my gums to inject the Novocaine. It was worth it. But by the time I was about 8 or nine years old, NYC began adding Fluoride to our drinking water. And guess what, "Look Ma, no more cavities".
I have since moved to Florida, Palm Beach County to be more specific where fluoride is added and kids get Fluoride applied to there teeth in school once a year. My kids have grown up without cavities. Loss of a revenue stream for dentists, big savings for me.
Here is a parting thought for your consideration. Why is there this fuss about fluoride and not the other chemicals added to our water by municipalities routinely, like Chlorine,sometimes added in great quantities, and Corrosion inhibitor which is added into the finished water to protect the pipes that serve our homes.
Fluoride, in very very large doses, roughly four times the amount typically added to public water supplies, has been associated with dental Fluorosis, in which teeth become mottled and pitted, and could cause bone fractures. A separate study linked fluoride with a very rare bone cancer in boys.
But while a few isolated studies have raised such questions, there has never been any compelling evidence that fluoridation has any harmful health effects in over 60 years of research, according to the CDC. In fact, the ADA, AMA and WHO and also five US Surgeons General, have endorsed adding Fluoride to public water supplies because it cuts the rate of tooth decay 18 to 40%.
Personnel experience has me convinced. I was born in NYC before fluoride was introduced to the water supply. I had cavities all the time and going to the dentist was routine. No child should have to endure the procedures in that I had to. My father was macho and didn't believe in Novocaine. He insisted that I shouldn't use it either. That only lasted a short time and finally I was allowed the luxury of that big, really big needle inserted into my gums to inject the Novocaine. It was worth it. But by the time I was about 8 or nine years old, NYC began adding Fluoride to our drinking water. And guess what, "Look Ma, no more cavities".
I have since moved to Florida, Palm Beach County to be more specific where fluoride is added and kids get Fluoride applied to there teeth in school once a year. My kids have grown up without cavities. Loss of a revenue stream for dentists, big savings for me.
Here is a parting thought for your consideration. Why is there this fuss about fluoride and not the other chemicals added to our water by municipalities routinely, like Chlorine,sometimes added in great quantities, and Corrosion inhibitor which is added into the finished water to protect the pipes that serve our homes.
Hydration Boosts Concentration Among UK Students
UK based bottled water manufacturer Willow Water has recently completed a joint initiative with Morecambe Community High School (MCHS) to provide free water for a school project to test the benefits of drinking water among pupils. The results showed that there was a statistically significant overall improvement in concentration levels, according to the company which also claims the eponymous branded water can improved the student’s skin conditions.
Students were asked to drink 1.5 litres of Willow Water each per day including weekends and to complete before and after questionnaires. Their parents and teachers were also asked to complete questionnaires both before the ‘trial’ started and at the end. These questionnaires were designed to monitor student concentration levels.
The project with MCHS ended recently and the results showed that drinking more (Willow) water definitely had a positive effect on concentration levels with 48% of the pupils noticing an improvement. A further 42% noticed a positive improvement in their level of excitability and 38% felt their anger control had improved. Throughout the trial several teachers reported that during the afternoon sessions the children were able to stay on task for longer periods of time. The school used the trial in a selection of lessons including statistics, science and math. The psychology students also looked at the effects of hydration and some of the teachers also participated.
Philip Sinclair, Chemistry and Science teacher at Morecambe School is delighted with the trial. “The trials went well although distribution of the water was hard work! There was a buzz in the whole school about it – in fact I had kids approach me in the corridor wanting to take part.” The results are in line with government recommendations which state that children should drink at least 1.5 – 2 litres of water per day. Water makes up about 80% of the brain and is an essential element in neurological transmissions.
Poor hydration adversely affects a child’s mental performance and symptoms include tiredness, headaches reduced alertness and ability to concentrate. Mental performance, including memory, attention and concentration, deteriorates progressively as the degree of dehydration increases.
MCHS is encouraging the children to maintain their water consumption so that this may reflect positively in their GCSE results.
Thirst Aid
The Royal College of Nursing has developed a tool kit as part of its Nutrition Now campaign to assist nurses, healthcare workers, caterers and other service providers with the implementation of good hydration practice and the promotion of the benefits of regular water intake. cooler innovation finds out more about how the document could impact on healthcare in the United Kingdom.
Carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins and minerals. What is missing from this list? It might come as a surprise to some, but water also fits into this group of six basic nutrients. Much is made of the need to ensure that hospital patients are meeting their nutritional requirements through food, but water is often overlooked, which can lead to dehydration among those who are most vulnerable.
The UK National Patient Safety Agency’s (NPSA) national reporting and learning system has cited dehydration as a patient safety issue as medical evidence shows that good hydration can assist in the management of diabetes, as well as helpprevent various ailments, such as pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, heart disease, low blood pressure, cognitive impairment and poor oral health.
As well as visibly promoting wellbeing and a better quality of life for patients, these benefits can also result in a reduction in medication, less time needed to care for patients suffering from common illnesses and the removal of the higher cost professional involvement that is required to prescribe and administer treatment.
“Encouraging the drinking of fresh water makes good economic sense for healthcare professionals on tight budgets,” reads the Water For Health Hydration Best Practice Toolkit for Hospitals and Healthcare. “It is not often that a healthy option proves to be a cheaper solution, but taking drinking water from the tap is highly cost effective.”
More About Bottled Water
Carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins and minerals. What is missing from this list? It might come as a surprise to some, but water also fits into this group of six basic nutrients. Much is made of the need to ensure that hospital patients are meeting their nutritional requirements through food, but water is often overlooked, which can lead to dehydration among those who are most vulnerable.
The UK National Patient Safety Agency’s (NPSA) national reporting and learning system has cited dehydration as a patient safety issue as medical evidence shows that good hydration can assist in the management of diabetes, as well as helpprevent various ailments, such as pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, heart disease, low blood pressure, cognitive impairment and poor oral health.
As well as visibly promoting wellbeing and a better quality of life for patients, these benefits can also result in a reduction in medication, less time needed to care for patients suffering from common illnesses and the removal of the higher cost professional involvement that is required to prescribe and administer treatment.
“Encouraging the drinking of fresh water makes good economic sense for healthcare professionals on tight budgets,” reads the Water For Health Hydration Best Practice Toolkit for Hospitals and Healthcare. “It is not often that a healthy option proves to be a cheaper solution, but taking drinking water from the tap is highly cost effective.”
More About Bottled Water
Why Consumers Choose Bottled Water
Why Consumers choose bottled water
Bottled Water Bottles Are Safe
Here is a follow up to the BPA story. It turns out that the bottles (cans) that you should worry about are the hard plastic kind usually with the recycle # 7 stamped on them. Bottled water bottles that you by and recycle are made of PET and usually have the #1 stamped on them. Cans have inner coatings that contain BPA also.
Here are some good rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA.
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars. Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA because the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from the lining of the can. Think beyond plain tomato sauce to any canned pasta—like ravioli and those fun-looking kids' meals.
2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh and frozen produce usually have more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning. Eden Foods does offer canned beans that are BPA-free.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles. Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA. You don't need to worry, though, about disposable plastic water bottles. Most don't contain bisphenol A, and those that do are usually marked on the bottom with a number 7 recycling code.
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid. A separate assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.
5. Think in terms of moderation. You don't need to avoid all canned foods. Just consult the chart below and follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are high in BPA. Click here for the full report on canned foods.
Here are some good rules of thumb for reducing your intake of BPA.
1. Buy your tomato sauce in glass jars. Canned tomato sauce is likely to have higher levels of BPA because the high acidity of the tomatoes causes more of the chemical to leach from the lining of the can. Think beyond plain tomato sauce to any canned pasta—like ravioli and those fun-looking kids' meals.
2. Consume frozen or fresh fruits and vegetables instead of canned. In addition to their BPA-free benefit, fresh and frozen produce usually have more nutrients, which often get lost in the process of canning. Eden Foods does offer canned beans that are BPA-free.
3. Purchase beverages in plastic or glass bottles. Canned soda and juice often contain some BPA. You don't need to worry, though, about disposable plastic water bottles. Most don't contain bisphenol A, and those that do are usually marked on the bottom with a number 7 recycling code.
4. Use powdered infant formula instead of ready-to-serve liquid. A separate assessment from the Environmental Working Group found that liquid formulas contain more BPA than powdered brands.
5. Think in terms of moderation. You don't need to avoid all canned foods. Just consult the chart below and follow a sensible approach, eating less of those foods that are high in BPA. Click here for the full report on canned foods.