Why We Should Curb Our Use of Bottled Water

 

Why We Should Curb Our Use of Bottled Water

Globally 154 billion litres of bottled water was consumed in 2004.

 This was up 57% from five years earlier.

 In 2006, an astounding 30% of people in Ontario who had access to regularly inspected municipal water supply primarily drank bottled water.

 Many people believe that bottled water is purer and safer than tap water.

Before buying your next bottle of water please consider the following facts:

• Some bottled water actually comes from municipal water supplies, so you are paying twice for the same water.

• The City of Toronto inspects its water every four hours.

• Bottling plants are inspected only once every 3-6 years!

• Some studies have found concentrations of arsenic and mercury in bottled water.

• Bacteria in bottled water can multiply very quickly when stored over long periods or exposed to intense heat.

• Our oil supplies are peaking and gas prices are sky rocketing, making plastic bottles for North America alone consumes millions of barrels of oil.

• Manufacturing a plastic bottle generates 100 times more toxic emissions than making a glass bottle!

• The bottling process in 2006 produced more than 2.5 million tonnes of C02 and this does not include all the toxic emissions created by transporting the bottled water!

• Plastic bottles have become the fastest- growing form of municipal waste.

• In Canada only 15 % are recycled.

• The bottling industry draws up to 18 billion litres of water per year from Ontario’s underground aquifers that are the source of water for streams, wells and farms.

• Do we want our farmers to suddenly run out of water for their crops for something as unnecessary as bottled water?

• Some companies pay little or no money for this water.

• Consumers of bottled water pay between 240 and 10 000 more than tap water!

• Through exclusive contracts in many schools, Coca -Cola who manufacture Dasani and Pepsi Cola who makes Aquafina attempt to turn students into life- long consumers of their products.

“The cheapest way to get quality water is to pour it through a charcoal filter (the type in refillable pitchers) or attach to your tap. It knocks out chemicals such as chlorine, lead and mercury.” Dr. Michael Roizon