Americans use a lot of water, in fact the average American uses 90 gallons a day. (SF) Then it is not too surprising to learn America also has one the cleanest water reserves in the world. (CDC) A surprising statistic, however, is one-third of the American population drinks bottled water on a regular basis, when the majority have clean drinking water at home. (NRDC) This might be because the bottled water industry has promoted itself as a healthier and more portable alternative to tap water. However is it really any safer or better than tap water, or is it only a misleading and expensive gimmick to bring in money for large companies? Americans, as a whole, spent around $11.8 billion dollars on bottled water in 2012. (Boesler) …show more content…
The plastic the bottles are made from is softened with chemicals called phthalates. When exposed to heat, such as being left in a hot car, these phthalates may be released contaminating the water. These phthalates act like hormones and disturb the endocrine system (ie. pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland). (Parsons) Another risk is antimony, a dangerous chemical used in making water bottles. The longer the bottle is sitting around the more develops in the water. In high doses antimony can cause nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Even though research has concluded any antimony that is in the water is at a safe level, it should produce concern and prompt more study. …show more content…
World wide it takes about 72 billion gallons of water each year to make the bottles alone. This massive waste only expands as only twenty percent of the bottles end up being recycled. Those that are not recycled could end up in landfills, in the park, or on the side of the highway, where it could take a thousand years or more to degrade. (RD) However there are healthy, eco-friendly, and affordable ways to carry around tap water. Aluminum bottles are built to be carried in cars, in bags, and on your belt loop. There are even bottles that filter water as people drink them. So even on vacation people can drink from public sources without fear of contaminates. These alternatives won’t only save you money, but protect your health and the environment too. Many people consider bottled water to taste better than tap water, yet this is not always the case. It seems to be considerably difficult in most places to distinguish between tap and bottled. In a blind taste test at Boston University only 1/3 were able to correctly identify the tap water. (BU) Also in a taste test on Good Morning America 45% of the studio audience actually choose tap water over bottled water. (ABC) Yet, if someone still feels as if their water tastes less than gratifying there are ways to improve their tap, such as filters, or bottles and pitchers that infuse fruit flavor into the
Together, the passages “Business in a Bottle”, by Cynthia Barnett and “Selling Bottled Water: The Modern Medicine Show”, by Peter Gleick, portray how bottled water has taken a superficial and deceptive image due to false advertising and pseudoscientific claims by greedy bottling companies, whose purpose is to take advantage of a free resource in order to make millions in profit; destroying the environment as they go. Both passages expose the bottling companies’ manipulative tricks, in order to bring awareness and open the populations’ eyes to the lies they have been fed for many years, however the authors utilize distinct styles to achieve their goal. Barnett focuses on specific bottling companies’ data and incorporates analysts for support,
Cynthia Barnett and Peter H. Gleick both address the business behind the bottled water industry. In “Business in a Bottle”, Barnett explains how the bottled water industry started, how the industry is struggling with the law regarding drawing its water from natural resources, and how it uses its marketing to imply the false location on where they got the water (128-138). Barnett then concludes that the bottled water industry helps economy with the job opportunities they provided and that consumers do not really care about the content of their bottled water because all they care about are the “convenience, the packaging, and the price” (141). On the other hand, in “Selling Bottled Water: The Modern Medicine Show”, Gleick
much more prevalent, as well as prominent in the arena of social and political debate.
Conversations often turn into arguments when the topic of bottled water versus tap water comes up. Many say that tap water is simply unsafe while others argue that the chemicals in the plastic bottles release toxic or harmful substances into our bodies as well as the environment. However, some humans consume water from public water systems, personal wells, or even bottled water; whichever is most convenient for each particular lifestyle. Some of many reasons why tap water is the more logical choice are that it is cost-effective, suitable for the environment, and healthier for human consumption.
As the bottled water becomes more popular, people prefer to drink bottle water over tap water. According to them, it has a better quality and taste. Unfortunately, people are being fooled by the water industries. The “purified” water, as its label, comes from municipal reserves. This research will discuss:
My research question: Is the convenience of bottled water worth all the sacrifices in terms of money, resources, health and damage to the ecosystem?
Neustaedter, Randall (7/18/2004). Plastic Water Bottles. Retrieved July 31, 2008, from Holistic Pediatric Association Web site: http://www.hpakids.org/holistic-health/articles/108/1/Plastic-Water-Bottles
Researchers have stated that plastic bottles containing water can contain many deadly chemicals. After close examination of the plastic, researchers concluded that some plastics contain chemicals, like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), endocrine disrupters, and cancer, may percolate into the water, especially after being stagnant for long periods of time. Likewise, bottled water is not exposed to the rigorous testing tap water endures. Thus, bottled water is more inclined to be contaminated or a source of infection. Tap water is subjected to daily safety testing, bottled water, however, is only tested monthly at the source; twenty-two percent of the water tested contained contaminant levels that exceeded strict health limits. Safety of the people could be secured through banning water bottles.
In Annie Leonard's video “The Story of Bottled Water,” she introduces her audience into the downfalls of continuing to buy bottled water instead of just using tap water. Annie Leonard did an extraordinary job of convincing her audience that bottled water isn't a healthy alternative to tap water through an effective balance of logos and pathos appeals. She starts by explaining why we don't need watered bottles because they are less quality and less regulated than tap water. Annie Leonard then disputes the cost of bottled water compared to the cost of tap water. Annie Leonard applies many logos appeals in her video involving bottled water by questioning the audience and asking direct questions that need common sense to answer. She also endorses powerful pathos appeals to connect directly to her audience throughout the video.
According to the “Competition in the Bottled Water Industry in 2006 Case,” bottled water industry became the one of the world’s most attractive beverage categories, as more and more people began to focus on health and fitness. Consumers start realizing the need of proper hydration, and they began purchasing bottled water instead of drinking tap water, because they were worried about safety of tap water, which tasted like chemicals. Actually, tap water contained chemicals, such as chlorine and fluoride, which are harmful for human body; however, this problem was solved when the bottled water was brought to the market. Due to bottled water’s convenience, purity, and portability, and safety, bottled water industry began to rise rapidly. During
Some people may think that bottled water just goes through filters that get rid of the chemicals that are contained within it, and while they are not wrong they are, however, still uniformed. Bottled water is not only taken from streams and filter but “40% of all bottled water is taken from municipal water sources [a.k.a tap water]” (Bottled Water Pros and Cons. 2014. Para. 9). People drink bottled water so that they do not have to drink tap water when in reality they most likely are drinking some tap water that is mixed into their bottled water. On top of that not only has the bottled water been filtered but it has been found that “22% of tested bottled water brands contained chemical contaminants at levels above strict state health” (Bottled Water Pros and Cons. 2014. Para. 9). In other words, though the water may not have the same weird taste as tap water is does have chemicals in it that are at levels that are not safe to be consuming. When it comes to tap water which contains normal amounts of chemicals, bottled water is not safer to be
From a business point of view, it seems so ignorantly deceptive, yet it is absolutely genius. With a little marketing, bottled water has become a huge success. However, it is killing the environment and the water is usually comparable to tap water regardless. The “The Story of Bottled Water” is a very well-made short film that takes viewers into the dark world of manufactured demand.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees the bottled-water industry, Americans drink more than eight billiongallons of bottled water each year. Most of that water is packaged in plastic bottles.The EPA estimates that plastics such as those used to make water bottles make up nearly 13 percent of our trash. An industry watchdog group reports that it takes nearly eighteen million barrels of oil to make the amount of plastic needed to meet Americans'thirst for bottled water. That's about the same amount of oil that a million vehicles use in one year. Oil is a nonrenewable resource—once it's gone, it's gone. Worse yet, the vehicles used to move bottled water from place to place release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Perhaps more alarming is that people recycle fewer than 20 percent of their empty bottles. Most emptybottles are tossed in the trash. From there, they end up in a landfill, where they cause further environmental damage.
Most people fear that BPA will have negative effects on their health, such as reproductive issues and cancer.... ... middle of paper ... ...2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. http://www.onlineeducation.net/bottled_water/water_full.jpg>.
Water is one of the most essential non-renewable natural resources on the Earth. Technically, an un-hydrated human being can live no more than three days. In the United States, people consume water mainly from tap water and bottle water. However, the consumption between these two sources is not even but lean to one side heavily. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, people consume from 240 to over 10000 times more per gallon for bottled water than they usually do for tap water. (NRDC) In addition, according to a survey from US National Library of Medicines, only 17% of the participants prefer to drink tap water exclusively.(US National Library) Compared to the bottled water which is shining like a superstar, tap water is like a diligent worker in the shade, unpopular but useful. The extremely unbalance of bottled water consumption implies that a commonly hold conception exists: bottle water is superior to tap water. In fact, scientific evidence proves that tap water is nothing different than bottle water. More importantly, the excessive consumption of bottled water is an irrational use of resources and creates severe environmental issues.