Bottled Water
Oil & Bottled Water
Oil in the Bottled Water Industry
The bottled water industry consumes millions of barrels of oil each year. Oil is used in the production of bottles, transporting water, and the amount of energy consumed in the bottling production of bottled water.
Transported Water
Bottled water is transported by truck, plane and cargo ships around the globe to bottling plants and distribution centers.
Packaging Bottled Water
2.5 and 5 gallon bottles are made to last. To be used over and over and over. To make this possible, chemical additives have been added to the plastic to make it stronger and more durable. One of those chemicals is bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. Now after years on the market companies are scrambling to make bottles BPA Free. But, now what happens to all the old BPA bottles? Select the Tab labeled 'BPA?' above for more information on BPA.
Bottled Water Distribution
Bottled water is warehoused and then shipped to stores and local customers. Consuming even more oil in all those delivery trucks.
Wasted Water Bottles in the Landfill
Unfortunately not everyone recycles their plastic bottles and they end up in our landfills. These bottles take up precious land fill space. Many states are running out of landfills and have to ship their waste off to other states.
Learn Why You Should Stop Buying Bottled Water!
BPA
BPA stands for bisphenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s.
In particular, BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles, and baby bottles and cups. They may also be used in toys and other consumer goods. Epoxy resins can be used to coat the inside of metal products, such as food cans, baby formula cans, bottle tops and water supply lines. Some dental sealants and composites also may contain BPA. And certain thermal paper products, such as cash register receipts, may contain BPA.
Some research has shown that BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with BPA or into your body when you handle products made with BPA. BPA remains controversial, and research studies are continuing. The American Chemistry Council, an association that represents plastics manufacturers, contends that BPA poses no risk to human health.
But the National Toxicology Program at the Department of Health and Human Services says it has "some concern" about the possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behavior and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. This level of concern is midway on its five-level scale, which ranges from serious to negligible. The Food and Drug Administration now shares this level of concern and is taking steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply by finding alternatives to BPA in food containers.
In the meantime, if you're concerned about BPA, you can take steps to minimize your exposure by:
- Seeking out BPA-free products. This may not always be easy to do, of course. Some manufacturers label their products as BPA-free. If a product isn't labeled, keep in mind that most aluminum cans or bottles have linings that contain BPA, while steel bottles or cans don't. Polycarbonate plastic is generally hard, clear, lightweight plastic. It often has the No. 7 recycling symbol on the bottom.
- Microwave cautiously. The National Toxicology Program advises against microwaving polycarbonate plastics, although the American Chemistry Council says this is safe. The plastics can break down over time, possibly causing BPA to leach into food.
- Wash safely. The National Toxicology Program advises against washing polycarbonate plastics in the dishwasher using harsh detergents, although the American Chemistry Council says this is safe.
- Use alternatives. Use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers for hot foods and liquids instead of plastic containers.
- Cut back on cans. Reduce your use of canned foods since many cans are lined with BPA-containing resin
EPA Bottled Water Study
Manufacturers of bottled water, unfortunately, are not required to adhere to the same rigorous quality standards and municipal water treatment facilities. Bottled water is not regulated by the EPA but by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the FDA attempts to follow the EPA's tap-water standards, it is not required to do so, thus allowing a greater range of bacterial contaminants to be present in bottled water.
According to the World Health Organization, "Some substances may prove more difficult to manage in bottled than tap water”. This is generally because bottled water is stored for longer periods and at higher temperatures than water distributed in piped distribution systems. Control of materials used in containers and closures for bottled waters is, therefore, of special concern. In addition, some micro-organisms, which are normally of little or no public health significance, may grow to higher levels in bottled waters."
Bottled water is rarely fluoridated, a process undertaken by most municipal water systems. Yet bottled-water manufacturers may use other additives, such as caffeine. And, surprisingly, bottled water may come from the same source as your tap water. Bottled water that is labeled "artesian," "mineral" or "spring" is coming from a ground source, just as tap water does. Thus, you should always read the label before you purchase any brand of bottled water.
Deficiencies in bottling firms' surveillance, facilities and their operation and plant quality control result in the production of bottled water whose quality doesn't comply with the 1962 U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards.
The pilot survey of 25 bottling establishments and bacteriological and chemical examination of approximately 50 bottled water products revealed the following:
- Eight percent of the bottled water samples examined evidenced the presence of the coli-form organism which is an indicator of the potential presence of pathogenic bacteria. High standard plate counts gave additional evidence of contamination.
- Gross changes in standard plate counts were noted in the 25 samples that were examined during a 63-day heat storage test.
- Discrepancies were found between the actual chemical composition and that stated or implied on the label.
- Quality control measures were generally deficient in the bacteriological and chemical analysis of the bottled water and were not regularly performed. Bacteriological surveillance was judged inadequate in almost all cases.
- None of the 25 bottles reported ever having a complete chemical analyses of their bottled water. Laboratory control data revealed virtually complete lack of source water testing or chemical analyses of finished water.
- Based upon criteria covering eight sanitation categories, it was found that in many cases bottling was not performed under sanitary conditions. Sanitary deficiencies were found in all facilities surveyed.
- Plastic bottles arrived at the plant in cardboard cartons and are shipped without caps, thus the interiors are exposed to airborne contamination and the presence of foreign matter. Yet, these bottles are presumed by the bottlers to be sanitary enough to be filled without even rinsing.
- Glass bottles are usually washed with a hot caustic solution but the temperature or strength of the caustic solution is seldom monitored. Bottle caps are sometimes used directly from the packages in which they are received, sometimes (but not always) disinfected and frequently placed on by hand.
- The significance of employee sanitation and facility maintenance is that the product water is subject to contamination, not only from the containers, but also from the physical surroundings and the people who come in contact with any part of the bottling operation.
- It seems apparent that high bacteria plate counts occurred in water subject to filtering or distillation, as well as those subjected to any of the forms of disinfection commonly used in the bottling industry.
- In some cases labeling of bottled water did not correspond with the contents revealed by chemical analysis. Results of chemical analyses revealed trace amounts of the following in virtually every sample: chlorine, sulfate, nitrate, copper, manganese, lead, iron, zinc, mercury and arsenic.
It Takes...
We use water for more than drinking. In fact, global industry uses 20 per cent of the world's water supply; in the US, it's 46 per cent; in China, its 25 per cent; India is only about 5 per cent. But, according to report by the United Nations, agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater by far?about 70 per cent of all freshwater withdrawals go to irrigated crops.
Every business has a different relationship with water. Some use it to process raw materials and manufacture goods. Some use it to cool or clean equipment. And some use it as a central ingredient in the product they sell. Virtually every business has some sort of water imperative. And some agencies are convinced that soon all public companies will be required to disclose water efficiency in their annual reports. Consequently, most companies have begun to look more closely at their corporate water footprint and ways innovation can help pave the way to competitive differentiation. In fact, a study by the Alliance for Water Efficiency estimates that for every million dollars spent on water efficiency in the United States, we can not only save as much as 10 trillion gallons of water, but also create about 220,000 jobs and increase economic output by as much as $2.8 million.
Every time we interact with water, we change it, redirect it or otherwise alter its state. Though it's a worldwide entity, water is treated as a regional issue. There is no global market and very little international exchange.
We use water for more than drinking. In fact, global industry uses 20 per cent of the world's water supply; in the US, it's 46 per cent; in China, its 25 per cent; India is only about 5 per cent. But, according to report by the United Nations, agriculture is the largest consumer of freshwater by far?about 70 per cent of all freshwater withdrawals go to irrigated crops.
Every business has a different relationship with water. Some use it to process raw materials and manufacture goods. Some use it to cool or clean equipment. And some use it as a central ingredient in the product they sell. Virtually every business has some sort of water imperative. And some agencies are convinced that soon all public companies will be required to disclose water efficiency in their annual reports. Consequently, most companies have begun to look more closely at their corporate water footprint and ways innovation can help pave the way to competitive differentiation. In fact, a study by the Alliance for Water Efficiency estimates that for every million dollars spent on water efficiency in the United States, we can not only save as much as 10 trillion gallons of water, but also create about 220,000 jobs and increase economic output by as much as $2.8 million.
Every time we interact with water, we change it, redirect it or otherwise alter its state. Though it's a worldwide entity, water is treated as a regional issue. There is no global market and very little international exchange.
Did You Know?
- In the United States forty-eight million people receive their drinking water from private or household wells.
- 500,000 tons of pollutants pour into lakes and rivers each day in the US alone.
- Less than 1% of the water treated by public water systems is used for drinking and cooking.
- Once it evaporates, a water molecule spends around ten days in the air.
- 97% of the worlds water is salty or otherwise undrinkable, 2% is stored in glaciers and the ice caps, the remaining 1% is left for humanity's needs.
- The first municipal water filtration works opened in Paisley, Scotland in 1832.
- More than 79,000 tons of chlorine are used per year in the United States and Canada to treat water.
- Of all the earth's water, 97% is salt water found in oceans and seas.
- Only 1% of the earth's water is available for drinking water. Two percent is currently frozen.
- About two thirds of the human body is water. Some parts of the body contain more water than others. For example, 70% of your skin is water.
- There are more than 56,000 community water systems providing water to the public in the United States.
- Public water suppliers process 38 billion gallons of water per day for domestic and public use.
- Approximately 1 million miles of pipelines and aqueducts carry water in the United States and Canada. That's enough to circle the earth 40 times.
- About 800,000 water wells are drilled each year in the United States for domestic, farming, commercial, and water testing purposes.
- Typically, households consume at least 50% of their water by lawn watering. Inside, toilets use the most water, with an average of 27 gallons per person per day.
- In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure that drinking water is safe for human consumption. The Act requires public water systems to monitor and treat drinking water for safety.
- More than 13 million households get their water from their own private wells and are responsible for treating and pumping the water themselves.
- About two thirds of the human body is water. Some parts of the body contain more water than others. For example, 70% of your skin is water.
- Industries released 197 million pounds of toxic chemicals into waterways in 1990.
- The average daily requirement for fresh water in the United States is about 40 billion gallons a day, with about 300 billion gallons used untreated for agriculture and commercial purposes.
- You can survive about a month without food, but only 5 to 7 days without water.
- Each person uses about 100 gallons of water a day at home.
- The average five-minute shower takes between 15 to 25 gallons of water.
- You can refill an 8 oz glass of water approximately 15,000 times for the same cost as a six-pack of soda.
- An automatic dishwasher uses approximately 9 to 12 gallons of water while hand washing dishes can use up to 20 gallons.
- If every household in America had a faucet that dripped once each second, 928 million gallons of water a day would leak away.
- A dairy cow must drink four gallons of water to produce one gallon of milk.
- One gallon of water weighs approximately 8-½ pounds.
- One inch of rainfall drops 7,000 gallons, or nearly 30 tons of water, on a 60' x 180' piece of land.
- 300 million gallons of water are needed to produce a single day's supply of U.S. newsprint.
- A person should consume 2 ½ quarts of water per day (from all sources of water, food, etc.) to maintain health.
Water Hardness Chart
Hardness in water is the most common water quality problem reported by U.S. consumers. In fact, hard water is found in more than 85 percent of the United States. Hard water occurs when excess minerals in the water create certain nuisance problems. While these water problems can be frustrating, water hardness is not a safety issue. Hard water is safe for drinking, cooking, and other household uses.
Hard water can cause several problems for consumers including decreased life of household plumbing and water-using appliances, increased difficulty in cleaning and laundering tasks, decreased efficiency of water heaters, and white/chalky deposits on items such as plumbing, tubs, sinks, and pots and pans.
Causes of Hard Water:
Approximately 22 percent of the earth's fresh water is ground water, and naturally, as it flows through soil and rock, it picks up minerals. Hard water results when an excessive amount of calcium and magnesium are present. Total hardness is measured in grains per gallon of water (gpg) or milligrams per liter (mg/l). Grains per gallon (gpg) is a unit of weight for a volume of water, as is milligrams per liter (mg/l). Sometimes hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm). Parts per million (ppm) measures the unit(s) of a substance for every one million units of water. Milligrams per liter (mg/l) and parts per million (ppm) are roughly equal in water analysis. One gpg (1gpg) is equivalent to 17.1 ppm or mg/l. When conducting chemical analysis, laboratories usually measure hardness minerals in either grains per gallon (gpg) or milligrams per liter (mg/l). You can evaluate the hardness of your water supply by referring to the chart above.