Abstract
An entrenched belief in people’s minds that bottled water is superior to tap water has triggered a chain of environmental and cultural challenges.
The problem of disposing water bottles by enforcing policies for responsible waste bottle disposal, alternative forms of producing water bottles that are environmentally friendly and economically viable alternatives to justify the existence of water bottling industries in the society defines the problem statement. The approach to solving the problem will span a careful investigation into the effects of bottled water and waste bottles.
Introduction
Many and divergent views have been held over time by consumers of bottled water. Specifically, bottled water consumers have regarded this water as safe and of good quality for consumption. This belief has generated a chain of environmental and cultural concerns for policy makers and enforcers over the production and ineffective disposal methods.
Thesis Statement
Bottled water has had diverse environmental and cultural impacts spanning policy formulation and enforcement strategies. According to Hall (2007, p. 7), bottled water is a widely consumed product. Many companies have strategically invested in this industry. The wide usages of these products have environmental and cultural consequences that need to be addressed.
Environmental Effects Of Bottled Water
Although the contents themselves are not necessarily detrimental, the process of manufacturing bottled water, such as the reliance on fossil fuels, is causing a lot of direct and indirect destruction to the environment. The raw plastics for making the bottles are usually heated to high temperature before inserting them into bottle-shaped blow moulds. The heat required to achieve this always comes from electricity or natural gas. These heat sources are derived from the non-renewable fossil fuels. PET, which is used for plastic containers manufacture, contains terephthalic acid (PTA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG).
It is also estimated that to manufacture one unit of distilled water requires at least three units of water. This raises the concern of misuse of the earth’s resources while some other people elsewhere are dying because of lack of the precious
Quality Of Bottled Water
The quality of bottle water is disputed since recent studies have revealed that it poses significant health risks to users. In the U.S., the FDA is endowed with the task of monitoring the bottled water industry. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) monitors the quality of tap water. The EPA has documented ninety maximum contaminant levels for drinking water. It is important to note that bottled water is not as healthy as tap water.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) 1999 study, whereby about twenty-two samples of bottled water were tested, chemical contaminants were discovered in no less than one sample (NRDC, 2008). The levels of contaminants were above the strict state health limits, which mean that they are capable of causing health problems if used for a long time. Studies have revealed that the quantity of total dissolved solids in distilled water is at times up to four times more than that in the normal tap water.
The Superiority Of Bottled Water And Consumer Attitudes
Drinking bottled water does not mean that one is drinking a more superior type of water. In fact, studies have revealed that some bottled water is got from tap water and taken to the market for consumers to purchase. The bottled water industry is flourishing currently because consumers perceive that bottled water has a better taste and real or alleged health benefits. In the Field Institute 1990 survey (LaMoreaux, 2001, p. 122).
Numerous investigations have revealed that the producers of the product are using attractive advertisements to lure consumers to purchase the bottled water. Some of the bottled water is not generated from natural or protected areas as claimed, but some are simply decontaminated water taken from the same source as municipal drinking water.
Studies have proved that bottled water has the colourless liquid called phthalate that compromises on the quality of water. The process of production of plastic bottles entails light materials and the liquid emerges from aging synthetic materials used to enhance flexibility. It then leaches in to the clean drinking water thus posing health dangers to the users, especially affecting the male fertility and other health problems associated with hormonal imbalances.
Level Of Recycling Of Used Containers
It is estimated that up to eight million gallons of bottled water are consumed every year in the United States alone. This represents eight ounces of glass per individual per day. However, despite being recyclable, the used bottled water containers are hardly recycled as most of them end up as trash. Most of the people who buy bottled water do so when they are away from home. It is approximated that twelve percent of “custom” plastic bottles, a category where water dominates, were recycled in 2003, whereas approximately thirty percent of plastic soft drink bottles were recycled in the same year (Llanos, 2005). According to the Container Research Institute (CRI), about forty million bottles per day are not recycled (CRI, 2010). The low number of bottled water containers that are being recycled has also influenced the overall recycling rate of all recyclable plastic containers, which has drastically reduced from fifty-three percent in 1994 to nineteen percent by 2003.
Suggested Policy Strategies
The policy makers have been under increased pressure to enact policies that would address the cultural and environmental consequences of the usage of bottled water. FDA should adopt more stringent rules to ensure that the safety of the consumers is guaranteed when taking bottled water. Since the bottled water manufacturers hardly disclose to the consumers useful information concerning the safety of the water they are drinking, providing consumers with such additional information may be of great benefit..
Appropriate initiatives have to be adopted to ensure that the environment is not polluted with plastic wastes. Some important and responsible choices include reduced consumption of bottled water, reuse of bottles, and recycling of the bottles. As pointed out in the earlier sections of the paper, dumping of plastic bottles causes contamination of the ground through leaching.
Adequate awareness campaigns should be carried out in order to change the culture and attitudes of the consumers regarding bottled water.
Alternative Ways
Biodegradable plastic water bottles is an alternative way of producing water bottles that are both environmental friendly and economically viable. The issue of biodegradation comes about due to the concerns that have been raised about recycling and to justify the existence of plastic containers in the current society. Although the biodegradable bottles disintegrate under some special conditions, for example, they have to be empty and get adequate exposure of heat and humidity; they are capable of degrading within eighty days of exposure to such conditions. (Environmental leader, 2010).
In order to adopt excellent bottled water manufacturing methods, companies should reduce the amount of plastic used for their manufacture. For example, in 2008,
Tap water also has its drawbacks since sometimes it has lead, pesticides, or excess chlorine, which brings potential health problems to users. A convenient alternative to both tap water and bottled water can be found in the use of home water filter systems.
Conclusion
The consumption of bottled water has both environmental and cultural impacts to the society. Since it is clear from the research that bottled water is not any superior to tap water, its consumption should be regulated in order to reduce its overall effects to the society.
Appropriate strategies should be implemented to ensure that the dangers associated with bottled waters are reduced. Adoption of these strategies would ensure that there is efficiency in waste bottle disposal, provision of clean water in harmony with the cultural environment, and effective policy formulation and enforcement.
Reference List
Container Research Institute (2010). Producer responsibility: A simple recipe for reducing waste. Web.
Environmental leader (2010). 100% Bio-Plastic Water Bottles Trickle Into Marketplace. Web.
Hall, N. (2007). Federal and State Laws Regarding Bottled Water – An Overview and Recommendations for Reform. Wayne State University Law School. Web.
LaMoreaux, P.E. (2001). Springs and bottled waters of the world : ancient history, source, occurence, quality and use : with 53 tables. Berlin: Springer Limited.
Llanos, M. (2005). Plastic bottles pile up as mountains of waste. Msnbc. Web.
Natural Resources Defense Council (2008). Bottled water. Web.
Pacific Institute (2008). Bottled water and energy- a fact sheet. Web.
United Press International (2009). Estrogenic chemicals in bottled water. Global Water Issues. Web.