essay about bottled water

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Bottled Water: United States Consumers and Their Perceptions of Water Quality

1 Department of Sociology, Iowa State University, 103 East Hall, Ames, IA 50011, USA; E-Mail: ude.etatsai@notromwl

Lois Wright Morton

Robert l. mahler.

2 PSES Department, University of Idaho, P.O. Box 442339, Moscow, ID 83844, USA; E-Mail: ude.ohadiu@RELHAMB

Consumption of bottled water is increasing worldwide. Prior research shows many consumers believe bottled water is convenient and has better taste than tap water, despite reports of a number of water quality incidents with bottled water. The authors explore the demographic and social factors associated with bottled water users in the U.S. and the relationship between bottled water use and perceptions of the quality of local water supply. They find that U.S. consumers are more likely to report bottled water as their primary drinking water source when they perceive that drinking water is not safe. Furthermore, those who give lower ratings to the quality of their ground water are more likely to regularly purchase bottle water for drinking and use bottle water as their primary drinking water source.

1. Introduction

Consumption of bottled water is increasing by ten percent every year worldwide, with the fastest growth seen in the developing countries of Asia and South America [ 1 ]. The United States (U.S.) is the largest consumer market for bottled water in the world. The U.S. consumption of bottled water in 2008 was estimated to be 8.6 billion gallons, or 27.6 gallons per person [ 2 ]. Despite the common belief that bottled water is safer to drink and has better taste than tap water, scientific studies have shown that the belief is not necessarily true [ 3 , 4 ]. Research also shows that the sales and consumption of bottled water can have environmental and social impacts whose consequences are yet to be fully understood [ 5 – 7 ]. After years of substantial growth in sales, the U.S. bottled water market is recently slowing down. The current economic downturn may have played a part in the drop; however, environmental concern is also an important factor. Some research has found that environmental awareness campaigns may have curbed consumer demand [ 8 – 10 ].

Previous studies about bottled water have focused on its production, regulation, sales and consumption, and criticism and concerns. However, few researchers have examined the relationship between consumer use of bottled water and perceptions of drinking water quality. In this article, the authors explore the demographic and social factors associated with bottled water users in the U.S. and the relationship between bottled water use and perceptions of the quality of local water supply. A brief discussion of bottled water and tap water and bottled water consumers is used to develop several hypotheses. These hypotheses are tested using a national dataset representing twenty-one U.S. states. Results and discussion are followed by implications directed toward educators and public policy makers as they fund and develop programs that promote knowledge about health and local drinking water.

1.1. Bottled Water vs. Tap Water

Bottled water has been used in place of tap water for its convenience, better taste, and perceived purity [ 1 , 3 , 11 ]. Perceptions of bottled water being of higher quality, however, are challenged by the increasing number of water quality incidents with bottled water [ 12 ]. A study showed that only five percent of the bottled water purchased in Cleveland, Ohio had the required fluoride recommended by the state, whereas the sampled tap water 100% met this requirement [ 3 ]. The same experiment also conducted bacteria count on both bottled water and tap water samples. The result showed that all of the tap water samples had a bacterial content under 3 CFUs/mL (colony-forming unit, a measure of viable bacterial or fungal numbers) and the bottled water samples' bacterial content ranged from 0.01–4,900 CFUs/mL. Although most of the water bottle samples were under 1 CFU/mL, there were 15 water bottle samples containing 6–4,900 CFUs/mL [ 3 ]. Another study focusing on the temperature and duration of storage for bottle water found that the bacterial growth in bottled water was markedly higher than that in tap water, especially at higher temperatures [ 4 ].

Many scientific reports on bottled water urge increased public awareness and development of guidelines/regulations on the industry of bottled water [ 1 ]. Incidents with bottled water quality are largely reported as associated with lenient regulations on bottled water. Bottled water plants are subject to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitoring and inspection. Despite specific inspection requirements, bottled water plants are given low priority for safety inspection compared with other food plants because of FDA’s staffing and financial constraints [ 13 ]. The “Nutrition Facts” label on bottled water usually shows only limited information about the water [ 1 ].

Despite the popularity of bottled water in the U.S., there are a number of environmental and social concerns. Plastic bottles are a waste problem adding to landfill overload when not recycled. Water bottling plants have impacts on local groundwater aquifers and streams [ 5 ]. Taking too much water can reduce or deplete groundwater reserves and reduce the flow of streams and lakes, causing stress on ecosystems. Although 75% of the world bottled water is produced and distributed on a regional scale, trading and transporting the other 25% bottled water also raises the concern for pollution and carbon dioxide emission [ 6 ]. The price of bottled water is on average 500 to 1,000 times higher than that of tap water [ 6 ], contributing to concern for affordable access to drinking water. Limited resource populations that use bottled water for drinking are least able to afford the high cost associated with bottled water [ 1 ]. Another issue associated with increased consumption of bottled water is that it can erode public tap water revenues and the capacity of governments to provide necessary improvements in basic water infrastructure [ 7 ].

1.2. Consumers of Bottled Water

Eighty-five million bottles of water are consumed in the United States every day and more than thirty billion bottles a year [ 14 ]. The adoption of a health preventive action like drinking bottled water is suggested to be influenced by perception of risk associated with drinking water [ 15 ]. The perception of risk is also thought to be closely related to the subjective assessment of drinking water quality [ 11 ]. This suggests that perceptions of drinking water safety and beliefs about the ground and surface water quality in a local area might be explanatory factors for a decision to select bottled water over tap water.

Another safety factor influencing consumer decision to select bottled water over tap water is the type of water supply system where the consumer lives. Small water systems (small town, tribal system, rural water district) [ 16 ] in the U.S. were found to have problems complying with federal/state quality standards. According to one study, due to inadequate funding and facilities, small water systems reportedly violated federal drinking water regulations more frequently than larger ones [ 11 ]. Although the number of public water consumers whose water does not meet current standards has decreased significantly over years, the task of water regulation is still challenging given both the financial limitations and increasing public concern about their drinking water [ 11 ].

Socio-economic status is also a factor affecting consumer decisions, particularly given the high cost associated with bottled water. Gender and education differences have been found to affect preference of bottled water over tap water because of their noted differences in perception of environmental risk [ 11 , 17 ].

Risk perception and preventive behaviors are the result of complicated social, cultural, and psychological factors as well as objective information [ 18 ]. This suggests that because of the differences in economic, social, and environmental contexts, residents of different regions might have different attitudes towards bottled water. In an earlier study, the findings showed that people in the Pacific region had more per capita consumption of bottled water than in other places of the U.S. [ 11 ]. In this article, the regional factor is examined and the popularity of bottled water is mapped across geographic regions.

2. Experimental Section

2.1. hypotheses.

Prior studies of bottled water consumption have identified a variety of explanatory factors for consumption behavior. However, these factors have not been considered together in one single model. For example, the regional differences found between the Pacific and the rest parts of the U.S. might be due to confounding factors such as differences in community size, local water quality problems, or water supply systems. Therefore, we propose to test these variables of interest simultaneously using a logistic regression. Hypotheses regarding use of bottled water are as follows:

• H1: Perceptions of poorer groundwater and surface water quality represent higher risk in drinking water and therefore are hypothesized to be associated with higher likelihood of purchasing bottle water as a primary drinking source compared to those reporting perceptions of higher water quality. Related, perceptions that drinking water is not safe are associated with higher likelihood of purchasing bottled water for drinking as a primary water source.
• H2: Based on the observations about small water supply systems, we hypothesize that small water supply (community well and rural district) users are more likely to use bottled water for drinking compared to public municipal water supply users. Community size is used as a control variable.
• H3: Because of the environmental impact associated with bottled water, we test the association between environmental attitudes and bottled water use. The association between the two is hypothesized to be that the more pro-environmental views a person holds, the less likely the person frequently uses bottled water for drinking.
• H4: We hypothesize a regional effect on the use of bottled water, although the specific pattern about such regional differences is not clear at this stage.

Other variables tested in the logistic model include age, education, and gender.

2.2. Methodology

Data used for this study were collected from a national stratified random sample mail survey about water issues conducted by Dr. Robert Mahler of University of Idaho. Our analysis used data from twenty-one states, which partially cover five out of the ten U.S. EPA water regions [ 19 ]. Data were collected 2004 through 2009 (region 8 and 9, 2004; region 7, 2006; region 6, 2008; and region 4, 2009). Sample sizes for each state were calculated based on the state population and targeted sampling error of four to six percent, with anticipation that the return rate would exceed fifty percent [ 20 ]. In each individual state, samples were either randomly selected from phone books or obtained from a professional social sciences survey company (Survey Sampling International, Norwich, Connecticut). The questionnaires were pilot tested, revised, and then mailed to sampled names and addresses. The final sample size was 5,823. Standard mail survey methods [ 21 ] were followed in all the regions and institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained from University of Idaho Office of Research Assurance prior to the survey process. Response rates of each state ranged from 37% to 70%, with median return rates reaching the targeted 50%. The questionnaires, generally about 50 questions, varied in their content and wording due to the regions’ differing priorities. However, there were a number of core questions that all states asked. It is these questions in common that make up our data set. These core survey items asked about respondents’ perceptions of water quality, use of bottled water, water supply type, general environmental attitudes, and demographic information.

Two sources of drinking water questions were of interest in this study. The first one was “where do you primarily get your drinking water.” Possible responses to this question included: private supply (private well, river, pond, lake, etc. ), public municipal supply, small water supply systems (including rural water district and community well), and purchase bottled water. If respondents chose “purchase bottled water” for this question, they were identified as primary users of bottled water.

The second question asked if the respondent “often use bottled water for drinking purposes.” If respondents answered “yes” to this question, they were labeled as regular users of bottled water. The above two questions were not mutually exclusive, which means that a primary bottled water user may be a regular bottled water user.

First, we tested hypotheses one, three and four on the primary bottled water users using a logistic regression model. The independent variables used in this logistic regression were as follows:

Surface and ground water quality perceptions. Respondents were asked to rate the surface and ground water quality in their area. Responses were coded 1 = poor, 2 = fair, 3 = very good/excellent.

Drinking water safety. The original question asked if the respondents felt their home drinking water is safe to drink. Response options were 0 = no, and 1 = yes.

Environmental attitudes . Respondents were asked to indicate where they stand on environmental issues by placing a mark on a line with numbers 1 to 10, where 1 represented preference for total natural resource use and 10 represented preference for total environmental protection.

Community size. Community size was measured by asking respondents to choose from the options which best described their community size, although no strict definition was given to the term “community”. Community sizes were measured with five categories. 1 was “less than 3,500 people”; 2 = “3,500 to 7,000”; 3 = “7,000 to 25,000”; 4 = “25,000 to 100,000”, and 5 was “more than 100,000.”

Age and gender . Age was a continuous variable measuring the ages of respondents, and gender was recorded as 0 = female and 1 = male.

Education . Five categories of formal education levels were provided to choose from, ranging from “less than high school” to “advanced degree.”

Residence region . The two bottled water questions of interest were asked in the following regions and states, which include several states of the southeast region (Region 4: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee); the southern region (Region 6: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas); the Midwest Heartland region (Region 7: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska); the mountain region (Region 8: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming); and the southern Pacific region (Region 9: Arizona, California, Nevada [ 22 ]). Figure 1 gives a visualization of the above states and regions.

Map of the Sampled Regions and States.

Secondly, we applied a logistic regression on the regular bottled water users. With this part of analysis, we focused on the respondents who used sources other than bottled water for primary drinking purposes but reportedly often used bottled water for drinking. The hypothesis to be tested with this model is the second one, and the independent variable of primary interest is water supply type, which has three categories: 1 = private supply (private well, river, pond, lake, etc. ), 2 = public municipal supply, and 3 = small water supply systems (including rural water district and community well). All the other independent variables used in the previous model were also included in this logistic regression model.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. descriptive summary of the sample.

The demographic distribution of survey respondents was similar to that reported for the general adult population based on the 2000 US census data for the demographic factors of community size, age (adult population), and formal education level. The only factor not in line with 2,000 census data was gender. Here, male respondents were much more heavily represented compared to the general population as a whole (about two thirds of the respondents were male, see Table 1 ). Even though 50% of the mailed surveys were addressed to females, it was apparent that the male adult in the surveyed household was more likely to respond to the survey [ 20 ]. The summary of sample statistics is shown in Table 1 below.

Summary Statistics.

Over 13% of all respondents reported that they used bottled water as the primary source for drinking water, while 45.4% of all respondents said they often used bottled water for drinking. The mean for surface water quality perception was 1.99 (fair), and the mean for ground water quality perception was 2.22 (slightly above fair), a little higher than that of surface water. About fifteen percent respondents said they felt their home drinking water was not safe to drink. This percentage corresponded well to the percentage of respondents that used bottled water as their primary drinking source. On a scale of 1 to 10, average environmental attitude score was 5.76, and responses tended to cluster in the middle of the 1 to 10 scale. Thirty-five percent respondents marked their environmental view as 5, midway between totally eco-centric and totally anthropocentric. Other responses with higher percentage are 4 (9%), 6 (15%), and 7 (16%). About 12% respondents responded with higher scores (8–10), and the lower extreme scores (1–3) are only 6% of the total responses. This represents a balanced, somewhat more pro-environmental view towards the relationship between protection of nature and human use of natural resources. Mean age of the survey respondents was 56.8, while average formal educational achievement was between “some college” and “college degree.” About two thirds of the respondents were male.

3.2. Logistic Regression Model 1: Primary Bottled Water Users

Our first model used a logistic regression model to examine the relationship between primary bottled water users and water quality perceptions ( Table 2 ).

Logistic Regression for primary bottled water users (N = 3,232).

We found that groundwater quality perception was a significant predictor. As the ground water quality perception increased by one ascending-ordered category, the odds of a person using bottled water as primary source of drinking water was reduced by 33%. Compared with a person who feels their home water is safe to drink, a person who does not trust their home drinking water safety was more than 4.8 times more likely to use bottled water as their primary source of drinking water. However, there was no significant difference in bottled water use among respondents with different surface water quality perceptions. Environmental attitudes were not a significant predictor for primary bottled water use.

Age and gender were also found to be significant predictors for bottled water use. When all other conditions were exactly equal, a respondent who was one year older in age was about 2% less likely to use bottled water as the primary source of drinking water. From a gender standpoint, the odds that a female uses bottled water for primary drinking source are 1.32 times as much as the odds for a male, with all other conditions being equal. Education level was not a significant predictor for bottled water use.

Place of residence was found to have important effect on the use of bottled water. For example, community size had a positive relationship with being a primary bottled water user. As the community size increased by one ascending category, the odds of the resident of larger community using bottled water for primary drinking purposes were increased by 0.116 times. The use of bottled water as primary source of drinking water was also closely related to where the respondents lived in the U.S. For example, a respondent in the Midwest (region 7), when compared with a respondent living in the southern Pacific region (region 9), was over 80% less likely to be a primary user of bottled water. Similarly, for a respondent in the mountain region (region 8), the odds of the person using bottled water as primary drinking water source were reduced by 53% compared with a resident in the southern Pacific region (region 9). Similar to the southern Pacific region (region 9), the southern region (region 6) and the southeast region (region 4) also have more residents primarily depending on bottled water for drinking (see appendix for detailed regional bottled water use comparison).

With logistic regression models, there is no equivalent r-squared statistics to show the explained variability in the dependent variable. However, the pseudo R 2 shows that the explanatory variables have moderate strength of associations with consumption of bottled water. The model non-significant chi-square test and likelihood ratio test statistics (1.0), which suggests good model fit [ 23 ].

Overall, this model shows that U.S. consumer perceptions about groundwater quality have strong associations on the purchase of bottled water for drinking. This suggests that bottled water use may be considered a substitute for other water sources when groundwater quality is perceived to be poor.

3.3. Logistic Regression Model 2: Regular Bottled Water Users

A second logistic regression model was used to predict regular users of bottled water ( Table 3 ).

Logistic Regression for regular bottled water users (N = 2,850).

These results show similar patterns as with primary bottled water users found in Table 2 . Groundwater quality perception, safe drinking water perception, age, gender, and region of residence were found to be significant predictors. Community size, however, unlike in the first regression model, was not significant. The likelihood of private water supply users being regular bottled water users was about 25% less than that of small water supply system users. There were no significant differences in bottled water use between municipal water supply users and small water supply system users.

The pseudo r-squared statistics are relatively small compared with our first model, which suggests that the same independent variables do not have particularly strong correlations with or explaining power for regular bottled water usage, although the chi-square test statistic is still non-significant.

3.4. Discussion

With findings of both logistic models, we confirmed the hypothesized negative association between perception of ground water quality and bottled water use. Given that an estimate of 49% of the U.S. population depends on groundwater for its drinking water supply from either a public source or private well [ 24 ], the groundwater quality perception seems to explain the consumers’ behavior regarding bottled water. Perception of drinking water safety is found to be highly associated with bottled water use. The findings about water quality perceptions generally confirmed that when public doubts about the safety of their tap water, they look for alternatives like bottled water [ 6 , 14 ]. No significant relationship, however, was found between surface water quality perception and bottled water use.

Our data do not include actual water quality or safety conditions so it is not known whether consumer’s perceptions of the condition of their local drinking water are accurate reflections of the real water quality or not. If perceptions are accurate, then community leadership along with regulatory agencies needs to act to correct the problems for public health to be maintained. However, one might ask why consumers have turned to bottled water purchases rather than voice their concern and pressure public water departments and elected officials for solutions. This is particularly relevant since it is public municipal and rural water system supply users rather than private water supply users that are likely to purchase bottled water. Public water systems are tax supported, regulated and maintained under much more rigorous monitoring and testing conditions than bottled water manufacturers. This suggests that if a large number of consumers purchase drinking water as a substitute for public tap water, they can undermine the water infrastructure investments needed to assure safe public water supplies. This has implications for community capacities to provide low cost, accessible, and safe drinking water for their entire population. Without safe public water supplies, limited income households’ health and well-being are at risk.

Our findings show that although municipal water supply users and small water supply users were equally likely to be regular bottled water users when every other condition is held the same, private water supply users (private well or surface water sources) were less likely to use bottled water than small water supply users. Consumers on private wells are often targets of public health campaigns reminding them to have their water tested regularly. To the extent this happens, private water supply users may believe they have more knowledge of and control over the quality of their water supply and thus trust it. Also, media coverage and increased headlines concerning problems with public water systems around the world can lead to high distrust (appropriately) of local water supplies [ 14 ]. The poor water conditions also increase the cost of treating water in public systems so that it is safe for consumption. This can lead to changes in water taste despite being safe to drink after treatments. While substituting bottled water for public tap water under these circumstances may be a short term “fix”, it does not address long term problems of water quality or the effect it has on escalating the cost of public water as increased treatments become necessary.

Residents of larger communities were found to be more likely to be primary bottled water users, which means that a higher proportion of population in larger communities tend to depend on bottled water rather than their tap water for drinking purpose. Note that this association is established when other conditions are controlled for. That is, for two persons in the same region, with the same perceptions towards their drinking water, surface and ground water quality, and having exactly the same demographic characteristics (age, gender, education), the person from larger community is more likely to depend on bottled water for drinking purpose. As some researchers have suggested, factors like media hype about water supply problems, commercial campaigns on bottled water, or even peer pressure for more fashionable ways of drinking all contribute to bottled water consumption [ 6 , 14 ]. And considering that these factors are usually stronger in larger cities, it is likely that people in larger cities have more negative feelings about their water supply systems and turn to bottled water for solution. However, if respondents were already using some sort of water supply for drinking purpose, then there is no significant association found between their community size and whether or not they regularly consume bottled water. With limited information in our data we were not able to fully explain the associations found between community size and bottled water consumption, and we suggest future research look at community level variables for possible answers.

Our data also show that younger people and females are more likely to purchase bottled water. Young people are generally believed to be more susceptible to marketing and advertising, which are essential keys held by the bottled water companies [ 6 , 14 ]. And the higher likelihood of female drinking bottled water is consistent with previous literature on gender differences in risk, especially health and food related risk perceptions [ 25 , 26 ]. The findings about more consumption in these two groups of people suggests a need to target these audiences with messages about the importance of learning about their local water quality as well as the costs and quality differences between bottled water and public drinking water supplies.

Our hypothesis about environmental attitudes was not supported by the data. The relationship between environmental attitudes and bottled water use was not significant. Consumers with stronger overall concern about the environment do not seem to transfer this concern to pollution and waste problems associated with purchasing bottled drinking water. But again, because of the relatively longer cycle of research using multistate data (data collection in some states were done back in 2004), our data might not be able to reflect the newest trend of national environmental concern on bottled water.

Finally, the hypothesized regional effect regarding bottled water use was confirmed by the data. Residents of the Midwest and west mountain regions were far less likely to use bottled water for either primary drinking purpose or other occasions of regular uses, while residents of the southern pacific, the south, and the southeast were all equally likely to be bottled water users. This suggests that other variables such as culture, actual water quality conditions, media coverage of water issues and other place specific factors may be influencing the decision to use bottled water versus tap water from a private or public system. Water resource quantity and income might also be driving forces for the differences. Further research is needed to better explain regional variations.

4. Conclusions

Water is essential to human health and life. Access to safe water supplies and affordability are central concerns of public health and individual consumers. In this study we find that perceptions of ground water quality and local water supply safety are associated with decisions to purchase bottled water versus use public water systems for drinking water. When local water is not considered safe or of high quality U.S. consumers are more likely to use bottled water as a primary water source. Furthermore, negative perceptions of safety increase the likelihood of a consumer frequently purchasing bottled water regardless of whether their primary source of drinking water is a small water system or large municipal water supply system.

Two key implications of our findings are that (1) public health officials and community leaders need to work to assure that public municipal drinking water supplies are safe; in addition, they should find effective ways to communicate to local residents the safety of their water supply; and (2) environmental leaders and activists need to campaign about the long lasting impacts of plastic water bottles. Further the public must be engaged in understanding the relationship of water quality to the capacity of local water systems to maintain safety and good taste standards. Consumer distrust of their groundwater quality should be leveraged to create community action to address legitimate concerns.

Acknowledgments

This research was partially funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under agreement 2008-51130-19526 also known as the Heartland Regional Water Coordination Initiative, the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, and USDA agreement 2008-51130-0474, also known as the Pacific Northwest Regional Water Resources Coordination Project.

A separate analysis, a one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) was done to compare regional differences in bottled water use for primary drinking purposes. Table 1 shows bottled water use in each region and differences with statistical significance. The variable (primarily purchase bottled water for drinking) is a dichotomous variable with two possible responses 0 (not purchase) and 1 (purchase bottled water for drinking). Therefore the following means reflect proportion of respondents responding with 1 in each region. Post-hoc Bonferroni pair tests were conducted on the means and the last column of the following table shows regions with significant differences (at 0.05 level). For example, the first row shows that region 4 has mean which is significantly different from that of region 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively.

Bottled water use by region.

Region 9 and region 6 have significantly higher percent of primary bottled water users, followed by region 4. Region 7 and region 8 have the least primary bottled water users.

References and Notes

Bottled Water: The Human Health Consequences of Drinking from Plastic

As we continue to advocate for the reduction of plastic use beyond Plastic Free July, the issue of bottled water remains a significant problem to not only the well-being of our environment, but the quality of our health as well.

In the U.S. alone, Americans buy an estimated 50 billion water bottles a year from a growing industry projected to reach $334 billion by 2023. Many consumers purchasing bottled water are presented with the facade of a high quality product. In reality, countless companies are simply filtering municipal water and bottling it ! Next time you reach for the bottle of "pure" water, think twice as popular brands may be selling you water contaminated with microplastics and toxic chemicals from their plastic packaging.

Plastic is everywhere. Most of us correlate plastic contamination to the destruction of our environment. According to the EPA , only 8.4% of plastic in the United States was recycled in 2017, but the problem continues to expand into the realm of human health. Recent studies show bottled water containing excessive levels of microplastics - small pieces of plastic debris less than five millimeters in size. According to research conducted by Orb Media, 93% of the 11 bottled water brands sampled , all showed traces of microplastics. The study included companies such as Aquafina and Evian, with Nestle Pure Life having one of the highest levels of contamination. Their research also showed bottled water contained about 50% more microplastics than tap water.

Most bottled water is sold in plastic #1, also known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Research shows that PET may be an endocrine disruptor, altering our hormonal systems. Although this type of plastic is BPA free, phthalates in bottles can still seep into your water, especially when exposed to high temperatures or stored for an extended period of time. Some companies, such as Poland Spring, use plastic #7 for their 3-gallon water bottles. This type of plastic contains BPA, which has been banned in countries around the world, including the European Union and China, due to its toxicity. BPA exposure is linked to multiple health effects including fertility issues, altered brain development, cancer, and heart complications. 

It is not mandatory for bottled water corporations to conduct lab tests or inform consumers where their water originates . In contrast to bottled water, tap water suppliers must undergo testing to show contaminant levels, offer quality reports to consumers, meet EPA standards, and disclose their water sources. This means bottled water isn't always the safest option. Additionally, bottled water can be on average 1,000 times more expensive than tap water. So why are we still purchasing bottled water that pollutes our environment and impairs our health? As the obsession with bottled water brainwashes society, I felt compelled to ask people why they felt the need to make this purchase. Countless conversations later, I noticed a recurring theme: a desire to have safe and healthy drinking water.

Improving the quality of our municipal water is critical in order to switch to a safe and more sustainable alternative. The Clean Water for All Act acknowledges the importance and basic human right for everyone to have access to clean water. Reach out to your member of Congress to take action and express your support for this bill .  

If you're not sure if your tap water is safe, check your Consumer Confidence Report , which outlines the contaminant levels of your tap water. We also urge you to reach out to your local water supplier to find out where your water comes from.

We can all do our part to reduce plastic pollution. Check out Clean Water Action's award-winning  ReThink Disposable program which works with businesses, restaurants, schools, communities, and individuals to help them make the switch from single-use disposables to reusables. Not only will this save you money, it will help improve your health and keep our planet clean.

ReThink Disposable

ReThink Disposable Blog Series Part I: Zero Waste at Home & In Your Community

Plastic Free July 2022: Actions You Can Take to Reduce Your Single-Use Plastic Footprint!

Plastics and toxics in baby products

My spouse and I are expecting our first child in the spring. Needless to say, our friends and families are very excited, and we are receiving a lot of advice and insight. One of the most frequent nuggets we have been getting goes something like this: “It really starts to get fun and exciting when you get to put together your baby registry!”

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Environmental Impact of Bottled Water Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Bottled water is the new wave of the future as millions of people are purchasing it everyday while disregarding its environmental and cultural impacts to the society. Currently, the impacts of bottled water are spanning various policy formulation and enforcement strategies. Hall notes that there is an increased consumption of bottled water as several companies have carried out massive investments in this lucrative industry (para.1).

Consequently, this increased consumption has led to major problems of waste management. Landfills are increasing to huge sizes and the rates of recycling the used containers are still miserably low. The non-environmental friendly ways of disposing the plastic bottles has only served to escalate the problem. Therefore, as an aspiring environmentalist, I feel that the uncontrolled use of these products have dire environmental consequences that need to be addressed.

A number of key “players” are responsible for escalating the problem. To begin with, manufacturers of plastic water bottles play a significant role in this detrimental issue.

The process of manufacturing the water bottles, such as the dependence on fossil fuels, is causing a lot of direct as well indirect destructing to the environment. In most cases, the raw plastic materials for making the bottles are heated to very high temperatures before putting them into bottle-shaped blow molds. And the source of energy needed to achieve this high temperature is derived from either electricity or natural gas.

The amount of energy needed to achieve this is also usually very high. The Pacific Institute estimates that “it takes around 3.4 mega joules of energy to make a typical one-liter plastic bottle, cap, and packaging” (para.4). The same corporation also estimates that the more than 30 billion liters of bottled consumed in the United States every year requires over 17 million barrels of oil to manufacture, besides the energy used in their transportation.

Usually, these heat sources are obtained from the non-renewable fossil fuels. Most plastic bottles are manufactured from polyethylene terephthalate and it contains two compounds: terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG). These constituents of PTA are toxic compounds that are obtained from fossil fuels. Therefore, in the process of production of the plastic bottles, some of them can leak into the atmosphere leading to serious environmental impacts.

In addition to the manufacturing process, the transportation of the manufactured plastic bottles also has serious environment effects. Besides consuming a lot of energy, the use of trucks, trains, or any other means of transportation, leads to pollution of the environment.

More over, to maintain the quality of the bottled water, they have to be provided with additional packaging and cooling systems, which also increase the amount of energy used in their transportation. To say plainly, the environment is being deteriorated by the uncontrolled manufacture of plastic bottles (Andrady, 126).

Consumers of bottled water are another key “players” in this problem. Most of them hold the false perception that bottled water is superior to other types of water. The manufactures of bottled water are doing good business nowadays because consumers think that bottled water has a better taste and real or alleged health benefits.

For example, in a Field Institute 1990 survey, it is reported that “about half of the consumers surveyed said that they drank bottled water because it tasted better than water from the tap, about one-fourth gave safety and health reasons, and one-fourth believed that bottled water was free of contaminants” ( LaMoreaux, 122).

However, it is important to point out that this is a false conception of the consumers who want to justify falsely their addiction to bottled water while disregarding its impacts to the beautiful environment. More so, the consumers have been blinded by the false adverts of the companies selling bottled water.

In fact, investigations have revealed that bottled water is not any superior to tap water and when consumed in excess it can lead to health problems, for example, teeth problems. Interestingly, research has also established that some of the blends of bottled water are more contaminated than even the normal tap water and some of the bottled water are repacked tap water.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation estimates that “between 2002 and 2007, the world consumption of bottled water had increased by 7.6 per cent per year, from 130.95 billion liters to 188.8 billion liters” (para.1). The U.S., consuming over billion liters, is the world’s greatest consumer of the product.

Individuals usually consume bottled water because of a number of reasons. First, it offers them the convenience they need, especially when travelling and they have to move from one place to the other. Second, some individuals use it as a luxury item and they purchase it to show off their privileged status in the society.

Lastly, some individuals think that bottled water is of better quality as compared to tap water. However, what causes Mother Earth pain is that the plastic bottles are discarded without considering their impacts. Consumers are not aware of their roles as environmental stewards. This has been caused by inadequate education on the impacts of improper disposal of the plastic bottle containers.

The problem that bottled water pose to the environment also involves the various policy makers who have failed to institute workable solutions to solve this problem. As much as numerous researches have revealed that the manufacturers of bottled water are simply luring the consumers with their attractive ads, not much has been done on the part of the policy makers to address this problem. Many ‘innocent’ consumers are daily falling prey of these attractive ads.

It has been proved that some of the bottled water is not obtained from natural or protected sources as claimed, but they are simply purified water that has been obtained from the same source as the ordinary tap water. More so, the so-called “spring water” is also at risk of being contaminated, unless adequate measures are taken to prevent this. The contamination can arise from natural pollutants that sometimes get into the water as it moves to the surface.

A number of side-by-side taste experiments have revealed that there is no clear distinction in aspects of quality of taste between municipal water and the water that has been distilled. However, as much as the policy makers are aware of these facts, they have failed to advise the consumers accordingly in this regard. That is why most consumers have developed the false perception of the superiority of bottled water. Consequently, issues of environmental stewardship have been swept under the carpet.

It is of essence to note that this problem is an outcome of various historical factors. As pointed out in the earlier sections of this paper, several divergent views have been held over time by end-users of bottled water. To be particular, they have perceived that this water is superior to others and that none other can match its quality.

Nonetheless, this historical belief has led to ineffective disposal methods of the plastic bottles that are now changing the beauty of this world’s environment. Historically, the recycling of bottled water has never been recognized as the best option of tackling this problem. From the time when the plastic water bottles were introduced, less focus was put that someday there will be a need of recycling them so as to conserve resources.

The fruits of this historical negligence are evident today as few areas in the United States have endorsed bottled water-recycling programs. Many manufacturers have realized this historical mistake and they are now making recyclable plastics. However, despite these, most of them still end up in landfills or are left to dirty the corners of streets.

Similarly, the current state of the problem is also due to bottled water-recycling program that has remained unchecked for a while now. This has led to the low level of recycling containers that has dropped in comparison to the other years.

For example, in 1994, the overall recycling rate of all recyclable plastic containers was 15 % but by 2003, the level had dropped to 19 %. According to the Container Research Institute (CRI), nearly 40 million bottles of used plastic containers do no end up in the recycling plants on a daily basis (CRI, para. 1).

This low recycling rate of plastics is leading to increased consumption of fossil fuels as well as increased environmental degradation. In the United States, some domestic plastic recycling companies have recorded decreased returns as more used plastics are being exported to other countries that have historically held the culture of recycling them.

The impacts of bottled water on the environment are felt in almost every place in the United States. Notable, however, is that the extraction of bottled water from groundwater stores has raised the concern that the supply of water to the residents is decreasing in such places.

When bottled water companies extract a lot of water from the underground reserves, it causes stress to the ecosystem because of the reduced availability of this precious commodity that is vital for sustaining life. Key places where this problem has been reported include “Texas, Florida, and the Great Lakes Region” (Aitchison, 4).

Aitchison records that “when flows and levels of a region’s springs, wetlands, lakes, streams and rivers are materially affected from extraction for bottling, the entire local and even regional environment suffers” (para.6). This is the consequence in places where too much mining of water for bottling purposes is practiced.

Since bottled water is categorized in terms of being a “food” under federal legislation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the bottled water industry and it requires all bottle water manufacturers to check for contaminants at least once every week to ensure that the consumers are safe.

Besides putting a check on the quality of bottled water, it is also beneficial in conserving the environment, as it is indicative of a company’s commitment to environmental issues. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency that is endowed with the responsibility of ensuring that the country’s environment is sustainable. The EPA enforces the regulations of the government concerning destructive habits on the environment.

For example, EPA enforces the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), which focuses on “industry, government, and public attention on reducing the amount of pollution through cost-effective changes in production, operation, and raw materials use” (“Summary of PPA”, para.1).

In addition, the agency enforces pollution prevention strategies that include practices that “increase efficiency in the use of energy, water, or other natural resources, and protect the resource base through conservation efforts” (“Summary of PPA”, para. 3). The PPA has been involved in tackling this problem.

Appertaining to waste management, EPA has been engaged in countrywide campaigns to sensitize people about the dangers of improper disposal of wastes. In particular, the agency has been “challenging all citizens to conserve their natural resources by committing to reduce, reuse, and recycle at home, in the community, and at the office” (“Wastes,” para.1). In addition to the initiative that has been taken by EPA, there are a number of proposed policies that are aimed at addressing the problem.

For example, the manufacture of biodegradable plastic water bottle has been suggested to be the best alternative option of tackling this problem. This is because they are both environmentally friendly and economically viable. Even though the biodegradable bottles are only able to disintegrate under certain special conditions, such as adequate exposure to heat and humidity, they are able to disintegrate within three months under these special conditions.

This is a much better option in contrast to the plastic bottles that may take an extended period to be entirely degenerated. In addition, the biodegradable containers have been proved to be free of harmful substances, reusable, and consume less energy during manufacture (Environmental leader, para. 2)

This problem posed by bottled water containers to the environment fits into the larger field of study of environmental issues that I will be entering into. In this age, man has shown subjugating influence on the environment.

The beauty of Mother Earth is slowly fading away as humanity has adopted an oppressive stance toward nature. Therefore, the best method of protecting the environment is by shielding it from destruction. As an inspiring environmentalist, this issue of ensuring that plastic bottled water containers do not destroy the environment will fall in my immediate docket.

The study of such environmental issues will adequately equip me to fulfill this role of conserving the environment so as to ensure that the natural resources are preserved for future and for the present generation. More so, since currently the world is shifting to a new era in which environmental issues are increasingly getting more attention, my study of this subject will be of great importance.

In conclusion, the consumption of bottled water has serious environmental impacts that should be addressed. The various key “players” such as manufacturers, consumers, and policy makers ought to develop realistic ways of solving this problem.

As much as the problem is associated with some historical factors, concerted efforts should be made to reduce the impact of bottled water containers to the society. Adoption of such measures would ensure that there is efficiency in waste bottle disposal. As an inspiring environmentalist, I will strive to this end.

Works Cited

Aitchison, Christin. “Bottled Water and Water Shortages.” Suite 101. 2008. Web.

Andrady, Anthony. Plastics and the environment . Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, 2003. Print.

Container Research Institute “Producer responsibility: A simple recipe for reducing waste.” CRI. 2010. Web.

Environmental leader. “ 100% Bio-Plastic Water Bottles Trickle Into Marketplace. ” Environmental leader. 2010. Web.

Hall, Noah D. “Federal and State Laws Regarding Bottled Water – An Overview and Recommendations for Reform.” Wayne State University Law School . 2007. Web.

LaMoreaux, Philip E. Springs and bottled waters of the world: ancient history, source, occurence, quality and use : with 53 tables. Berlin: Springer Limited, 2001. Print.

“Summary of PPA.” US EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency. 2010. Web.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. “Bottled Water.” CBS News. 2008. Web.

The Pacific Institute. “Bottled water and energy- a fact sheet.” Pacific Institute . 2008. Web.

“Wastes. ” US EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency. 2010. Web.

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Bottled Water, Essay Example

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The situation with bottled water is very interesting because it was not until a little over a decade ago that the phenomena of bottle water sales began to rapidly increase.  The late 1990s showed instances, such as the case in Wisconsin where the safety of public municipal drinking water caused the illness and deaths of hundreds of citizens in a local town.  The cleanliness of public drinking water caused many people to look to alternative sources, especially in the offices of many different businesses.  This is where sales of water began to grow because people started purchasing the 5-gallon jugs of water with dispensers and paper cups, especially in doctor’s offices and areas where there were meeting rooms.  This was the growing trend in the United States, while the trend of bottled water had already hit internationally in European countries and in Mexico.

Studies began to come about that showed the added benefits that individuals would receive from drinking water.  Workers were shown to have increased amounts of energy and focus when drinking water.  A health craze came about in the United States that promoted drinking water and sports drinks along with people’s active lifestyles.  Individuals that would work out were now seen drinking bottles of water or sports drinks to give them added energy and hydration during their most active periods during the day.  This caused a large demand for bottles of water over the large 5-gallon containers.  Bottles of water, just as bottles of soda, were more efficient means for people to purchase a drink and carry it with them while they moved about in their busy lives.  The demand for bottling water caused a major change in the economic background of the market and it also led to additional contractual developments and analyses that were performed by government regulation committees and organizations such as the FDA and EPA.

The Nestle Company became the largest seller of bottled water in the United States and internationally in 2006.  They held the largest share of profits in the bottled water and non-alcoholic drinks markets.  Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Inc., and Group Danone are three of the next largest distributors of bottled water in the United States and internationally.  These companies have the added benefits of being able to purchase their own reservoirs, springs, or distillation plants.  Many bottle distributors are likely to charge these companies around 5 cents per bottle for extremely large, or recurring purchases, which is what these four companies can afford to purchase.  However, smaller companies that may be independent or regional companies may not have the means to make such large purchases so they are forced to pay upwards of 15 cents per bottle.  In addition to the costs of the actual bottles, many of the large four companies are able to negotiate contracts with schools, sports stadiums, gymnasiums and stores to have their products be the only products of bottled water or sports drinks available in their locations.  This can put a major strain on the smaller companies and some stores even charged a fee for shelf space because of the demand for bottled water distribution in their stores.

These trends make it clear that the overall growth of demand for bottled water stems from the poor quality of municipal drinking water, the necessity to hydrate, and the portability of bottled water that makes it easier to stay hydrated with such active lifestyles.  The competition within the bottled water market is skewed mainly towards the big four companies, with Nestle Company leading the way.  These companies hold many of the top contracts that keep their products on the shelves, while the smaller companies are left behind without the financial benefits or resources available to compete.  The FDA and EPA made it difficult to enter the bottled water industry requiring accuracy of the labels, particular cleanliness of the water and frequent maintenance to check for chemicals and substances within the water.  This made it easier for the bigger companies with substantial resources to follow the procedures, while smaller companies did not have the finances to perform the necessary measures.  Few companies will really be able to compete with the top four companies and this makes the market extremely difficult to succeed.  This can also drive up the total cost of bottled water, although these companies are looking to separate themselves as much as possible from the competition, so they do so with higher quality of water, strong appearance of the product, and low prices, something that smaller companies cannot do.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Water Quality — Should Bottled Water Be Banned

Should Bottled Water Be Banned

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Published: Aug 31, 2023

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More than $100 billion is spent every year on bottled water globally.

Why Tap Water is Better Than Bottled Water

Bottled water can be a drain on the environment and our health, but we still buy it. Find out more about why the tide may be turning to tap.

Bottled water is a drain on the environment: The U.S. public goes through about 50 billion water bottles a year, and most of those plastic containers are not recycled, according to Elizabeth Royte's 2008 book Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It .

Transporting the bottles and keeping them cold also burns fossil fuels, which give off greenhouse gases. And groundwater pumping by bottled-water companies draws heavily on underground aquifers and harms watersheds, according to the Sierra Club, an environmental nonprofit. And according to some estimates, it takes up to three liters of water to produce one liter of bottled water.

Yet more than U.S. $100 billion is spent every year on bottled water globally. In many cities in developing countries where there is not a safe source of tap water, bottled water becomes a somewhat trusted option.

But in the U.S., where tap water is federally regulated and often screened for dangerous pollutants, the public drinks 21 gallons (79 liters) of bottled water per capita per year on average, according to the Columbia Water Center at Columbia University's Earth Institute in New York. The bottled-water industry is so successful, it has outpaced milk, coffee, and juice in number of gallons of drinks sold—putting it behind only beer and soda.

Water Bottle Bans

Though the sale and consumption of bottled water is still on the rise, certain policymakers and activists have taken steps to reduce it and encourage people to drink tap. In September 2009, the Australian city of Bundanoon became the first city in the world to completely ban bottled water from its stores' shelves, installing water fountains around the city instead.

Among U.S. cities that have taken action are San Francisco and Seattle, which no longer buy water for city use, and Chicago, which added a five-cent tax on each bottle. Several restaurants in those cities have also given up bottled for filtered tap. Other cities are also considering taking action.

The tide toward tap has boosted businesses that make reusable water bottles, especially aluminum and stainless steel varieties. Many reusable bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic, but those often contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical linked to reproductive problems and heart disease. In response, some polycarbonate-bottle makers have phased out BPA and advertise "BPA-free" products.

(Related: " Chemical BPA Linked to Heart Disease, Study Confirms .")

Health Costs

Not only does bottled water contribute to excessive waste, but it costs us a thousand times more than water from our faucet at home, and it's likely no safer or cleaner, experts say. A 2008 investigation by the nonprofit Environmental Working Group found some bottled water is sullied with untested industrial chemicals and may not necessarily be cleaner than tap water.

(Related: " What's Best for Kids: Bottled Water or Fountains? ")

Water aside, the plastic used in single-use bottles can pose more of a contamination threat than the water. A safe plastic if used only once, #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is the most common resin used in disposable bottles. However, as #1 bottles are reused, as they commonly are, they can leach chemicals such as DEHA, a possible human carcinogen, and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), a potential hormone disruptor. And because the plastic is porous you'll likely get a swill of harmful bacteria with each gulp if you reuse the bottles.

Bottled Tap Water

More than 80 percent of recyclable plastic bottles end up in landfills each year. They do not break down naturally and release toxic chemicals when they finally do decompose, according to the Columbia Water Center.

Another major problem with bottled water, according to Columbia, is that a traditionally public good has been privatized. Bottled water companies gain high profits by drawing water from public water sources, putting it in plastic containers, and reselling it at 2,900 times the price of regular tap. Some experts contend that the profits from bottled water companies could go toward improving public water supplies and infrastructure—making better water for everyone.

With reporting by Eliza Barclay

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Bottled Water Vs. Tap - Argument Essay

Favorite Quote: “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” - Malala Yousafzai

How often do you think about the water you drink, and where it comes from? You might not give a second thought before grabbing a plastic water bottle off a store shelf, or filling up a cup with your sink faucet. But really, there is worldwide debate on the usage of bottled and tap water that has been ongoing for decades. With increasing environmental concerns of bottled water, many people have been calling for a return to tap water. Tap water is not nearly as detrimental to the environment as bottled water, and it is just as safe, as well as cheaper. On the other hand, bottled water enthusiasts claim that tap water is unsafe. It is said by some to contain more contaminants than water bottles. Bottled water is also very convenient to buy and use. After reading numerous articles, it can be concluded that tap water is the overall better choice of water source. Implementing this choice would require the participation of communities. A large consumer of water is schools worldwide. Schools should have tap water offered to their students instead of water bottles, because tap water is safer, cheaper, and better for the environment as a whole. If schools all over started implementing tap water instead of bottled, they, as well as the whole world, could benefit greatly. Even though the appeal of bottled water’s convenience may seem to outweigh tap water’s advantages, tap water would still be the better option.

Tap water is better overall than bottled water and would be a better water source for schools. First of all, tap water is safe and sanitary for people to drink. For example, the article, “Bottled versus tap: Which is safer?” by knowledgeable author, Elena Conis, addresses this exact point. In paragraph six of the article, it states,  “...tap water in the country meets the EPA’s drinking-water standards, which regulate the levels of roughly 90 different contaminants…” Tap water is purified and regulated thoroughly, ensuring that it is safe for drinking purposes. This proves that tap would be good to use in schools, because there are little to no health risks involved. Similarly, in the same article, it talks about the monitoring methods in tap water facilities opposed to bottled. In paragraph 11 of the article, it says, “And while large public water suppliers are often tested for contaminants up to several times a day, the FDA requires private bottlers to test for contaminants only once a week, once a year, or once every four years, depending on the contaminant.” Public tap water suppliers are required to be monitored and tested for contaminants multiple times a day. This further reinforces the safety of tap water. In comparison, bottled water companies are not checked for contaminants nearly as often, proving that tap water is the safer option. Finally, one last advantage of using tap water is cost. In an article titled “City Council Shuns Bottles in Favor of Water From Tap” by scholarly author Jennifer Lee, the price of bottled and tap water is discussed. As Lee wrote, “Bottled water costs 4,000 to 10,000 times as much as tap water.” This shows that tap water is superior to bottled water because it costs extremely less. People could save numerous amounts of money by using tap water instead of bottled water. This is also another reason schools should implement tap water. School funds are wasted on bottled water that they could just as easily get from their taps. If they switched to tap water, schools could use the money saved from not buying bottled water on more important things that require funding. Also, if schools cannot afford to buy bottles for their students, and did not offer tap water, kids would go the whole day without having any water. That can have devastating impacts on a child’s growing body. All in all, the advantages of tap water over bottled water include the safety and cost. These advantages outweigh the convenience offered by bottled water. Schools should have tap water offered to students because it is safe and significantly less costly for schools.

While there are many reasons pointing towards the conclusion that tap water is a better choice, there are also many negative factors of bottled water that make it obvious that tap water should be used instead.  For starters, bottled water has actually been proven to have more contaminants than tap water. For instance, the article, “Bottled Water Quality”, written by The Pacific Institute, discusses the evidence of an experiment conducted on bottled water quality. This is shown in the text when it states,  “Altogether, 26 samples of 13 bottled water brands collected from different bottled water plants in Mumbai were tested for pesticides (or poisonous chemicals) most commonly used in India. The results of the study showed pesticides in every example.” The experiment concluded that every single bottle had traces of dangerous chemicals. This means that every time someone drinks a bottle of water, they could be ingesting harmful substances. This shows that bottled water is dangerous and shouldn’t be consumed by anyone, especially not children in schools. Another reason bottled water is the wrong option is the waste of supplies used to make it. For instance, in the article, “Goodbye, Bottled Water?” by brilliant author, Gail Hennessy, it states,  “...1.5 million barrels of petroleum are used to produce plastic water bottles in the United States each year. ‘That’s enough to supply 250,000 homes with electricity for a year…” There is so much petroleum wasted on making bottles that are dangerous and pollute the environment. The resources used to make bottles could easily be used for many other things, but instead are being swallowed up by bottled water consumers. Schools’ carbon footprints would hugely increase if they offered water bottles, because they would be indirectly using up so many resources. Finally, one last point against bottled water is its infamous pollution aspect. This is talked about in the same article when it states, “More than 1 billion plastic water bottles end up in California’s landfills each year, taking 1,000 years to biodegrade and leaking toxic additives such as phthalates into the groundwater.” The one-use bottles from bottled water end up littering the earth and even leaking toxic chemicals into the ground. These chemicals can then go back into the tap and bottled water that we drink. If people stop using bottles, all water would be much safer. Schools shouldn’t offer bottled water, as they would be contributing to the massive epidemic of water bottle pollution. It is just as easy for them to let students drink tap water that decreases their pollution output and is safer and cheaper. 

All in all, tap water is the best source of drinking water and should be offered to children in schools. Tap water is safe and regulated, cheap, and better for the environment. On the other hand, bottled water is dangerous and contains chemicals and contaminants. It is expensive for the consumers, it wastes resources on production, and pollutes the world, as well as the water that goes back into those same bottles. Billions of bottles are still being used by people everywhere, despite the obvious fact that they are hurting us and the environment. It is understandable that bottled water is convenient, but are people willing to sacrifice the worlds well-being for that convience? It is undeniable that bottles should not be used anywhere, especially not in schools. Children’s health and futures are put at stake by the water they are given. That’s why it’s essential to switch to tap water. Using it can be the difference between a healthy world of healthy people and ailment and pollution. Every person that uses tap water contributes to change. Even just one school using tap water instead of bottled could make a big difference. The switch to tap water and essentially a better world is within our grasp. It all depends on you. So, what will you do next time you’re thirsty?

Another school assignment. I made it last year. I find it helpful to use as an example for writing argument essays. 

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Essay on environmental impact of bottled water.

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This sample enviromental essay examines the importance of understanding what exactly the impact is of bottled water on environmental health. Bottled water is a ubiquitous commodity in the contemporary world. Though far more expensive per unit of volume than tap water or filtered water, and even gasoline in some places, bottled water is popular and widespread. The environmental impact of bottled water, however, can be significant, and the health impacts on individuals even more so. This type of document would likely be found on a conservation blog or as part of an environmental science course.

Environmental impact of bottled water

Though most people in the U.S. have access to tap water, there is no shortage of bottled water or families who buy it. The reasons for buying bottled water vary—some people buy it because they don’t like the taste or smell of tap water. Others buy it because of health concerns with public water contamination, like what happened in Flint, Michigan . There is no doubt that pollution is one of the biggest problems facing the environment today, and water bottles that are thrown out after each one-time use contribute greatly to its ever-increasing buildup.

The recycling movement continues to gain traction (though certainly not fast enough in comparison to the amount of pollution), but when it comes to water bottles recycling is not a great option. While there are plenty of reusable water bottles on the market, non-reusable water bottles are still in high demand and pose a greater problem: their dangerous plastic. Plastic from non-reusable water bottles has been known to contaminate water with chemicals such as Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, and the likelihood of such contaminants leaking increases each time the plastic is reused, heated, or goes anywhere room temperature or above. Currently there is no feasible solution for the problem of the polluted environment versus polluted water. 

Tap vs. bottled water

While we are always being told to drink our eight glasses of water a day, we are not usually advised about which is the best water to drink. Of course water bottles companies might provide encouragement that their water is superior to tap water, their recommendation is financially biased. As for public water, its levels of purity depend greatly on geographical location. Even if there are studied conducted on the safety of a particular areas drinking water, a convenient report or research paper on that data is rarely available to consumers.

Since it can be a daunting process trying to figure out exactly what the water contaminants are in a particular location, more and more people are either investing in a water filter and/or buying bottled water. In fact, there is a boom of “willingness to pay” for water, whether by filter or bottle, and while bottled water is certainly the less environmentally-friendly option, many people think it is superior to filtered tap water (Johnstone et al.2012).

The water bottle industry is a huge one, raking in billions of dollars each year. Some of the top-selling brands are Aquafina (owned by PepsiCo) and Dasani (owned by The Coca Cola Company) and Poland Spring (owned by Nestle). Ironically, these are brands that made billions of dollars by selling fat loaded sugary drinks , so of course they would be profit motivated. Billions of liters of water are sold each year, not only making water bottles a lucrative business, but also leaving behind millions of tons of plastic waste. Since plastic is not biodegradable, this waste ends up lying in landfills or polluting the ocean. In recent years public awareness about pollution continues to rise; simultaneously, however, public awareness about the dangers of bottled water rises too

BPA contamination

Perhaps the biggest public concern of bottled water has been BPA . Though there are other water contaminants, BPA has been reported quite thoroughly by the media since it started being exposed for its relation to various reproductive damages and cancer. The media’s largest concern seemed to be about children, as the first products to be regulated regarding their BPA content in the U.S. were baby bottles and containers.

There is now a growing range of BPA-free products, from reusable water bottles to cans of tuna (though the tuna cans are harder to find, as are most canned-food products that are BPA-free). Despite the awareness of the dangers of BPA, there are still no BPA-free water bottles that are made for one-time use, as producing a higher-quality BPA-free water bottle for drinks that are usually only a dollar would not be cost-effective for the companies involved. 

BPA has been most widely studied lately, perhaps because of its clear health hazards, but also because many of its risks are still unknown. BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) which

“impact[s] the actions of endogenous estrogenic steroid hormones” and, as shown through animal studies, has “negative effects on the reproductive function resulting in decreased fecundity, alterations in embryonic development, and impacts on carcinogenesis” (Cooper, et al. 2011).

Because bottled water is considered food (it’s consumable), it is regulated in the U.S. by the FDA, who are not known to be strict when it comes to unfamiliar chemicals such as BPA.

Cancer and hospitalizations associated with bottled water and BPA

Though there are no known deaths directly correlated with drinking bottled water, chemicals such as BPA cause damage in the long run that can lead to terminal illnesses such as cancer. A few of the largest bottled water companies—PepsiCo (Aquafina) and Nestle (Poland Spring, Perrier)—have been brought into the light by random cases of water bottle poisoning, but none have had significant losses in their market.

Nestle has had several class-action suits filed against them for their falsely-advertised Poland Spring water. The company claims that Poland Spring water is derived from

“deep in the woods of Maine,” but in reality “draws its water from a site 30 miles away from the original Poland Spring and often uses ground water and a spring that is near the site of a former garbage dump” (Day, 2003). T

PepsiCo, indirectly has basically admitted that Aquafina is just filtered tap water, yet people continue to buy it. 

In 2000 there were five cases in New York where people were hospitalized after drinking bottled water that was somehow tainted, but the causes of illness were never identified for any of the cases. The most serious case involved a woman who was hospitalized after she started bleeding from the mouth while drinking Perrier water. Cases like these have been difficult to trace for numerous reasons. Stores from which contaminated water was sold have cooperated with recalling the brands in question, but since water bottle company spokespeople want to protect themselves, they have not been as helpful about releasing information about what could be contaminating their water (Dean, 2000).

Shortly after one man, Edwardo Pardo, was hospitalized for drinking contaminated water, he was arrested for tainting his own bottle of Poland Spring water with Clorox bleach to make a stir (New York Times, 2000). Events like Pardo’s make it even more difficult for authorities to decipher what is going on with bottled water, but these instances have not entirely escaped the public imagination since many people are growing more and more concerned.

One concerned mother, Alina Tugend, began researching water bottles, and though she did find dangers, she decided that the convenience of drinking bottled water outweighs the risk. She was reassured enough by a claim by Lynn Goldman, a professor of environmental health, that phthalates—chemicals that interfere with male hormones—are “leached in barely discernible amounts” into bottled water (Tugend, 2008).

What Tugend did find more worrisome is the bacteria that can be housed in water bottles if they are re-used. In an effort to help the environment, Tugend had always washed and reused water bottles until they were too crinkled to work. Because her kids have a tendency to leave stuff everywhere, she didn’t want to invest in BPA-free water bottles that are made to be reused. Tugend didn’t really have a clear conclusion for her article about what to do, but her concerns for the environment and her family’s health and the contradictions between the two are becoming more typical of informed water drinkers. 

Plastic buildup from water bottles is a problem

Not only is plastic itself a problem as it builds up in the environment with nowhere to go, another issue is the kinds of chemicals that plastic is made from. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—the chemical Tugend decided to not fear—is used by many plastic producers, but bottled water accounts for 20 percent of its market. According to a 2009 report by Rebecca Coons, Aquafina is the number one selling bottled water in the U.S., and they have been pressured to take environmentally-friendly steps in their bottle production, cutting their PET use in half. “The ‘Eco-Fina’ bottle will eliminate 75 million lbs of PET annually” (Coons, 9), which puts into perspective the staggering amount of PET that is typically used. Still, analysts claim that demand for PET is dropping, and will continue to do so as the public becomes more aware of its environmental footprint. 

Conclusions

There are plenty of emergencies when people are out and need water, so it's not logical that production of bottled water should completely stop. Perhaps, we would be better off if we bought less bottled water. If people did buy less of it, there would be less of an impact on the environment by plastic and the PET it’s made from, and people wouldn’t have to worry as much about what chemicals are leaching into their water.

Though there are concerns about re-usable water bottles leaching BPA, BPA-free products are increasing all the time. For people with kids who lose water bottles a lot, that situation clearly becomes trickier, but one is well advised to still opt for the BPA-free bottles. In the end, it is convenient to have bottled water sold for emergencies, so if we only buy it when necessary, that will be better—for ourselves and the environment.

Have an opinion on this subject? Buy an essay from Ultius written for your perspective.

Coons, R. (2009). AquaFina Reformulates to Use Less PET. Chemical Week, 171(10), 9.

Cooper, J. E., Kendig, E. L., & Belcher, S. M. (2011). Assessment of bisphenol A released from reusable plastic, aluminium and stainless steel water bottles. Chemosphere, 85(6), 943-947. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2011.06.060

Day, S. (2003, June 20). Suit Disputes Integrity of Poland Spring Water. New York Times. p. 2.

Dean E., M. (2000, September 15). 2 More Illnesses Linked to Bottled Water. New York Times. p. 3.

Johnstone, N., & Serret, Y. (2012). Determinants of bottled and purified water consumption: results based on an OECD survey. Water Policy, 14(4), 668-679. doi:10.2166/wp.2011.048

New York Times. (2000, September 22). Man Accused of False Tainted-Water Claim. New York Times. p. 8.

Tugend, A. (2008, January 5). The (Possible) Perils of Being Thirsty While Being Green. New York Times. p. 5.

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Bottled Water vs Tap Water Persuasive Essay

Table of contents:

• Introduction

Trying to figure out how to write a persuasive essay about the merits of tap water versus bottled water? It’s a complicated question and well worth exploring in your essay, as there’s an important debate going on about the benefits of clean bottled water opposed to the harm to the environment a plastic water bottle may cause.

First of all, in your introduction, once you’ve hooked your audience with a shock fact or a clever opener, set out your thesis statement clearly. This is what you are setting out to persuade your audience of, so it’s important that it’s clear and decisive, not muddled or wishy-washy. See the samples below for some ideas on how to start your essay.

Introduction examples

Hook & Thesis: When you buy a bottle of water, you’re expecting clean and fresh water, perhaps taken from mountain springs, as is often depicted on the bottles. But what you’re actually getting is just treated tap water most of the time. Australia’s drinking water is some of the safest in the world, so next time you need a drink, just head for the tap!

Hook & Thesis: Put down that plastic water bottle! You’re about to spend an average of $2.53 for something you could get for just 1 cent: pure clean fresh drinking water. So why is tap water better than bottled water? Let’s find out.

The body of your essay should then consist of the points you want to make to back up your thesis. Remember, these points do not need to be evidence-based, they can also be emotional anecdotes or anything you think will win people over to your point of view. It’s also worth considering what arguments people might use against you. If your thesis is that everyone should drink tap water, you need to answer the response that bottled water is more convenient or think about what reply you would give to someone who lived in an area where tap water was undrinkable. In addition, you want to explain the benefits of tap water – is it really just as pure as bottled water for everyone?

Your conclusion is where you sum up your points and call your readers to action. Whether you’re arguing the benefits of tap water or simply arguing against the use of bottled water in large amounts, you want the final result of your work to be getting people to change what they do. Here’s a few sample conclusions.

Conclusion examples

Conclusion: Tap water is just as pure as bottled water for the most part, and when you drink it, you do your part to help save our planet. So, don’t throw out those old water bottles, reuse them again, and then recycle them, and after that get yourself a sturdy water bottle that can be easily refilled indefinitely. You’ll be happy you did!

Conclusion: In order to really reduce the use of water bottles, infrastructure in Australia is going to have to change somewhat. Drinking fountains should be placed in public areas, and all restaurants should be obliged to provide free chilled drinking water on request. And finally, you should buy a good permanent water bottle. Put it in your car, carry it around with you, and totally eliminate the need to buy flimsy plastic water bottles again.

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Essay on Water for Students and Children

500+ words essay on water.

Water is one of the most important substances for life on earth to function. It is equally important for humans as well as animals. Water does not merely help us survive, but it is significant for our day to day functioning. It has numerous uses when we come to think about it. Majority of our earth is covered with water itself, but, not all of it is safe for consumption. Therefore, it makes it essential for us to utilize this transparent substance chemical wisely. Moreover, if we look at the shortage of water happening in our country, it makes it all the more important to conserve it immediately.

Uses of Water

As we have already said that water has numerous uses, we will see where it is used. This part will most importantly help us realize the importance of water . It will make humans aware of what absence of water in the following areas can do to human life. As India’s main occupation is agriculture, water is exhaustively used here. Irrigation and cattle rearing requires a lot of water. Thus, a lot of farmers’ livelihood depends on it.

Further, industries use water for various purposes. It comes in handy when cooling, manufacturing and transporting several goods. For instance, thermal power plants consume quite a substantial amount of water for their running.

Furthermore, the domestic use of water cannot be left behind. In the day to day life of the common man, water plays a vital role. That is to say, from drinking water to washing utensils, we need water every step of the way.

After that, plants need water to survive and make food. It is one of the main elements which help them grow. Hence, water is extremely important for humans, animals, and plants to survive .

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Do not Waste Water

While water is quite essential and yet so scarce, however, people fail to realize this fact. They waste water with little or no care for the results of this activity. There are various ways in which one can avoid wasting water . To begin with, all households must get their leaking taps checked. They should fix them immediately as every drop is precious.

Similarly, we must choose buckets instead of showers for bathing. This is a very debatable topic and it needs to be settled. Showers waste a lot of water, so people must prefer buckets. This particular habit is quite commonly found in most of the households. People do not turn off their taps while brushing their teeth and washing utensils. Always remember to keep the tap off when doing so.

In addition, encourage rainwater harvesting system in all homes. This can help conserve water like never before.

In short, water is essential for the survival of mankind. But, it is, unfortunately, being waster rapidly. Every citizen and government must come together to tackle this issue. Governments must ensure all areas get water equally. On the other hand, citizens must keep in mind to use it wisely and not waste it unnecessarily.

FAQs on Water

Q.1 State the importance of water.

A.1 Water is of the utmost importance for human and animal life. It gives us water to drink. It also comes in great use for farmers and industries. Even common man requires water for various purposes like drinking, cleaning, bathing and more.

Q.2 List the ways to avoid wastage of water.

A.2 Everyone must avoid wasting water. We can do so by fixing our leaking taps, avoiding showers for bathing, and turning off taps when brushing. Furthermore, we can adopt rainwater harvesting system to conserve water.

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Essay on Water Bottle

Students are often asked to write an essay on Water Bottle in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Water Bottle

Introduction.

A water bottle is a container that we use to hold water or other drinks. It is portable, reusable, and comes in various sizes, shapes, and materials.

Types of Water Bottles

Water bottles can be made from plastic, glass, or metal. Each type has its pros and cons. Plastic bottles are lightweight, but not always safe. Glass bottles are safe but fragile. Metal bottles are durable and safe.

Importance of Water Bottles

Water bottles help us stay hydrated. They are especially useful during travel or physical activities. By using reusable water bottles, we can also reduce plastic waste and protect the environment.

Also check:

• 10 Lines on Water Bottle

250 Words Essay on Water Bottle

The ubiquity of the water bottle.

Water bottles are an omnipresent accessory in our daily lives, a symbol of our mobile, health-conscious society. They are more than just containers; they reflect our lifestyle choices, fashion sensibilities, and environmental concerns.

Design and Functionality

The design of water bottles has evolved considerably to meet diverse consumer needs. From collapsible models for backpackers to insulated versions for athletes, these vessels have become sophisticated products. Some even integrate technology, such as hydration trackers, reinforcing their role in promoting health and wellness.

Social and Environmental Implications

Water bottles also carry significant social and environmental implications. On the one hand, they promote the consumption of clean water and reduce the demand for sugary drinks, contributing to public health. On the other hand, the production and disposal of plastic water bottles pose severe environmental threats.

Future Perspectives

The future of water bottles is likely to be influenced by sustainability trends. Biodegradable materials, refillable designs, and innovative recycling methods are likely to become mainstream. Moreover, the integration of smart technology can further enhance their functionality, making them an even more integral part of our lives.

In conclusion, water bottles are not just mundane objects. They are a reflection of our society’s values, aspirations, and challenges. As we continue to innovate and evolve, so will the humble water bottle, mirroring our journey towards a healthier, more sustainable future.

500 Words Essay on Water Bottle

The humble water bottle, an object of our everyday use, is often overlooked in its importance. However, the advent and evolution of the water bottle significantly influenced human hydration habits, environmental impacts, and even socio-economic aspects.

The Evolution of Water Bottles

The history of the water bottle is an intriguing journey. From clay pots used by ancient civilizations, we’ve moved to modern-day, reusable, and insulated bottles. The evolution was not linear, though. The 20th century saw the rise of single-use plastic bottles, which, although convenient, posed serious environmental challenges. It was only in recent years that the emphasis shifted towards sustainable alternatives.

Water Bottles and Hydration

The concept of carrying water has always been linked to the necessity of hydration. Water bottles allow us to have access to this vital resource anytime, anywhere. They serve as constant reminders to hydrate, especially in today’s fast-paced lifestyle. Moreover, innovations like infuser bottles have further encouraged hydration by making it flavorful and fun.

Environmental Implications

The environmental impact of water bottles is a topic that warrants serious consideration. Single-use plastic bottles contribute significantly to global plastic waste, harming marine life and ecosystems. However, the shift towards reusable water bottles is a positive trend. These alternatives, made from materials like stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic, are designed for longevity and significantly reduce the environmental footprint.

Socio-Economic Aspects

The water bottle industry has also influenced socio-economic aspects. The production of single-use plastic bottles has long been a profitable industry. However, it has also been criticized for commodifying a basic human right – access to clean water. The shift towards reusable bottles has created new markets, promoting sustainability and consumer consciousness.

In conclusion, the water bottle, although a simple object, holds a lot of significance. Its evolution mirrors human progress, and its impact extends to our health, environment, and economy. As we move forward, it is essential to continue promoting sustainable practices, such as using reusable water bottles, to ensure a healthier planet and a healthier population.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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• Essay on Sewage and Wastewater Treatment
• Essay on Problem of Drinking Water
• Essay on Our Water Our Future

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Practice 3: Making Connections

PRACTICE 3 Making Connections

Look back at the images in Practice 1 . Then, review the reading by Amanda Jacobowitz (see “ Critical Reader at Work ”). What assumptions does Jacobowitz make about bottled water? What evidence, if any, is provided to support these assumptions? Based on your observations, would you like to see bottled water not banned or banned at your college? Why or why not?

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Bottled water is full of microplastics. Is it still ‘natural’?

By Joseph Winters / Grist

Posted on May 23, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

6 minute read

One hurdle for these lawsuits is that they’re only able to cite research on the microplastics’ potential to damage people’s health, rather than actual damages that they’ve suffered from drinking contaminated bottled water. DepositPhotos

This story was originally published by  Grist . Sign up for Grist’s  weekly newsletter here .

Is bottled water really “natural” if it’s contaminated with microplastics? A series of lawsuits recently filed against six bottled water brands claim that it’s deceptive to use labels like “100 percent mountain spring water” and “natural spring water” — not because of the water’s provenance, but because it is likely tainted with tiny plastic fragments.

Reasonable consumers, the suits allege, would read those labels and assume bottled water to be totally free of contaminants; if they knew the truth, they might not have bought it. “Plaintiff would not have purchased, and/or would not have paid a price premium” for bottled water had they known it contained “dangerous substances,” reads  the lawsuit filed against  the bottled water company Poland Spring. 

The six lawsuits target the companies that own Arrowhead, Crystal Geyser, Evian, Fiji, Ice Mountain, and Poland Spring.  They are variously seeking damages for lost money, wasted time, and “stress, aggravation, frustration, loss of trust, loss of serenity, and loss of confidence in product labeling.”

Experts aren’t sure it’s a winning legal strategy, but it’s a creative new approach for consumers hoping to protect themselves against the ubiquity of microplastics. Research over the past several years has identified these particles — fragments of plastic less than 5 millimeters in diameter —  just about everywhere , in nature and in people’s bodies. Studies have linked them to an  array of health concerns , including heart disease, reproductive problems, metabolic disorder, and, in one recent landmark study, an  increased risk of death from any cause .

Of the six class-action lawsuits, five were filed earlier this year by the law firm of Todd M. Friedman, a consumer protection and employment firm with locations in California, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The sixth was filed by the firm Ahdoot & Wolfson on behalf of a New York City resident.

Each lawsuit uses the same general argument to make its case, beginning with research on the prevalence of microplastics in bottled water. Several of them cite a  2018 study from Orb Media and the State University of New York in Fredonia  that found microplastic contamination in 93 percent of bottles tested across 11 brands in nine countries. In half of the brands tested, researchers found more than 1,000 pieces of microplastic per liter. (A standard bottle can hold about half a liter of water.) More recent research has found that typical water bottles have far higher levels:  240,000 particles per liter  on average, taking into account smaller fragments known as “nanoplastics.”

The complaints then go on to argue that bottled water contaminated with microplastics cannot be “natural,” as implied by product labels like “ natural artisan water ” (Fiji), “100 percent natural spring water” (Poland Spring), and “ natural spring water ” (Evian). The suit against Poland Spring cites a dictionary definition of natural as “existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind.” That lawsuit and the others also point to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which does not strictly regulate the use of the word “natural” but has “ a longstanding policy ” of considering the term to mean a food is free from synthetic or artificial additives “that would not normally be expected to be in that food.”.

The  lawsuit against Arrowhead bottled water , advertised as “100 percent mountain spring water,” argues that it’s the “100 percent” that’s deceptive. “Reasonable consumers do not understand the term ‘100 percent’ to mean ‘99 percent,’ ‘98 percent,’ ‘97 percent,’ or any other percentage except for ‘100 percent,’” the complaint reads. In other words, consumers expect a product that’s labeled as 100 percent water to contain exactly 0 percent microplastics.

Are reasonable consumers really taking labels so literally? Jeff Sovern, a professor of consumer protection law at the University of Maryland, said it’s “plausible” that people would expect bottled water labeled as “natural” to not contain non-natural microplastics, but it’s hard to say without conducting a survey. It will be up to judges to evaluate that argument — if the cases go to trial. One of the lawsuits filed by the firm of Todd M. Friedman against the company that owns Crystal Geyser was  withdrawn  last month, potentially a sign that the parties reached a settlement.

“A lot of these types of cases get settled,” said Laura Smith, legal director of the nonprofit Truth in Advertising, Inc. This may reflect the strength of the plaintiffs’ arguments, or it could reflect a company’s desire to avoid the expense of going to court.

In response to Grist’s request for comment, Evian — owned by Danone — said it could not comment on active litigation, but that it “denies the allegations and will vigorously defend itself in the lawsuit.” 

“Microplastics and nanoplastics are found throughout the environment in our soil, air, and water, and their presence is a complex and evolving area of science,” a spokesperson told Grist, adding that the FDA has not issued regulations for nano- or microplastic particles in food and beverage products.

The companies named in the other lawsuits — BlueTriton Brands Inc., CG Roxane LLC, and The Wonderful Co. LLC — did not respond to requests for comment.

Erica Cirino, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Plastic Pollution Coalition, said the new lawsuits are part of a longstanding effort to hold bottled water companies accountable not only for microplastic contamination, but also for other misleading claims about their products’ purity. A lawsuit against Nestlé in 2017 said its “Pure Life Purified” brand name and labels misrepresented the purity of its water, in violation of the California Legal Remedies Act. That case was dismissed in 2019 for a “ failure to allege a cognizable legal theory ”; the latest lawsuits’ “natural” claims represent a different tactic.

Perhaps the best-known legal challenges have involved the origin of so-called “spring water.” In 2017, for example, a class-action lawsuit against Nestlé Waters North America, which owned Poland Spring at the time, said the company was fooling customers into buying “ ordinary groundwater .” A  U.S. district court judge dismissed that suit in 2018  on the grounds that its allegations improperly cited violations of a state law, rather than a federal one. Nestlé settled a  similar lawsuit in 2003 for $10 million , though it denied that its practices had been deceptive.

More recent lawsuits have taken aim at bottled water companies’ claims that their products are “ carbon neutral ,” or that their bottles are “ 100 percent recyclable .” Only 9 percent of plastics worldwide ever get recycled. 

Many of these lawsuits have yet to be evaluated by a judge, although a  2021 complaint against Niagara Bottling  over “100 percent recyclable” labels was tossed out by a U.S. district court judge in New York in the following year.

According to Smith, one hurdle for these lawsuits is that they’re only able to cite research on the microplastics’  potential  to damage people’s health, rather than actual damages that they’ve suffered from drinking contaminated bottled water. Even if the plaintiffs did have health problems linked to microplastics, these particles are ubiquitous; it would be nearly impossible to isolate the effects from drinking microplastics in bottled water from those of microplastics found everywhere else.

“It’s a wider systemic issue with our entire food and beverage supply,” Cirino said.

Keeping microplastics out of people’s bodies would require a similarly systemic approach, potentially involving government rules and incentives for companies to replace single-use plastics with reusables made from glass and aluminum — as well as an overall reduction in the amount of plastic the world makes. In the meantime, one recent article in The Dieline floated the idea of  putting microplastics warning labels on plastic water bottles . 

Of course, anyone worried about drinking plastic could turn to tap water, which typically  has lower concentrations of microplastics   and other contaminants , and is  hundreds of times cheaper  than water from a plastic bottle. Research suggests that more than  96 percent  of the United States’ community water systems meet government standards for potability.

This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/accountability/bottled-water-microplastics-natural-evian-poland-spring-arrowhead-crystal-geyser-fiji-lawsuit/ .

Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org