In 2011, bottled water became the largest beverage category in the US. Bottled water’s total volume (15.7 gallons) surpassed carbonated beverages’ all-time peak. Retail sales are growing by 11.2%.
Every person in the US drinks about 47 gallons of bottled water per year. On average, a 20-ounce bottle of water costs approximately $1.50. When translating this into gallons, water costs approximately $9.60 per gallon on average. This equates to the average person spending $451.20 per year on bottled water. The average cost for the same amount of water from the tap is just.
Tap water in the United States costs about $0.01 US Dollars — 1 penny — for 5 gallons (20 liters). Bottled water costs anywhere from 240 to 10,000 times more than water from the tap. For the price of an average bottle of packaged water, a consumer could get 1,000 gallons (3,785 liters) of tap water — and that’s not even considering the environmental damage of garbage and energy caused by bottling water.
https://www.unitedstatesnow.org/how-much-does-us-tap-water-cost.htm
The True Environmental Cost Of Bottled Water
The environmental cost of bottled water is significant and involves various aspects, including resource extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and waste management. Here are some key points with citations to support the information:
1. Resource Extraction:
Bottled water often comes from natural springs or underground sources, requiring significant water extraction. This leads to environmental degradation and depletion of local water sources.
Citation: Gleick, P. H., & Cooley, H. S. (2009). Energy implications of bottled water. Environmental Research Letters, 4(1), 014009. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/4/1/014009
The International Bottled Water Association (“IBWA”), ever sensitive to criticism that it’s wasting precious resources, has commissioned its first-ever study to figure out how much water goes into producing one liter. The results show that for North American companies, it takes 1.39 liters to make one liter of water. THE IBWA, however, conveniently omitted a number of key factors that go into bottled water production, such as the extraction and transportation of the oil needed to make the plastic for the bottles, the paper for the labels, and for the transportation of bottled water.
2. Manufacturing:
The production of plastic bottles for bottled water requires petroleum-based materials like polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This process consumes energy and releases greenhouse gases and other pollutants.
Citation: Hopewell, J., Dvorak, R., & Kosior, E. (2009). Plastics recycling: challenges and opportunities. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 364(1526), 2115-2126. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0311
3. Transportation:
Bottled water is often transported long distances from manufacturing plants to distribution centers and retail outlets, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Citation: Spang, E. S., Moomaw, W. R., Gallagher, K. S., Kirshen, P. H., & Marks, D. H. (2014). The water consumption of energy production: an international comparison. Environmental Research Letters, 9(10), 105002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/9/10/105002
4. Plastic Waste:
Plastic bottles are a significant source of plastic pollution. Many of these bottles end up in landfills, waterways, and oceans, causing harm to marine life and ecosystems.
Citation: Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advances, 3(7), e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782
5. Recycling Challenges:
Despite efforts to promote recycling, a large percentage of plastic bottles end up in the waste stream. Recycling rates vary by region, and even when bottles are recycled, it still requires energy and resources.
Citation: Stordal, F., Astrup, T. F., & Krogh, M. (2020). Plastic packaging waste—unseen causes of environmental impacts from bottled water. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 4, 578315. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2020.578315
6. Energy Intensity:
Bottled water production and distribution require substantial energy inputs, contributing to overall energy consumption and associated environmental impacts.
Citation: Staid, A., Hischier, R., & Hellweg, S. (2018). Life cycle assessment of bottled water: a case study of green, blue, and grey water footprints. Sustainability, 10(9), 3205. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10093205
7. Social Impact:
Bottled water industries can also impact local communities by depleting water sources, potentially leading to water scarcity issues.
Citation: Barlow, M. A., & Clarke, C. (2002). Blue Gold: the global water crisis and the commodification of the world’s water supply. Earthscan.
Bottled Water Is Not As Pure As You Think
Numerous studies have detected the presence of microplastics in bottled water. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (less than 5mm in size) that can be found in various environmental sources, including water bodies and the air. They can come from various sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items, microbeads from personal care products, and even the degradation of synthetic fabrics.
Here are some studies that have investigated the presence of microplastics in bottled water:
1. Mason, S. A., Welch, V. G., & Neratko, J. (2018). Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water. Frontiers in Chemistry, 6, 407. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2018.00407
This study analyzed 259 bottles of water from 11 brands across nine countries. Researchers found microplastic particles in 93% of the samples, with an average concentration of 325 microplastic particles per liter of bottled water.
2. Li, J., Yang, D., Li, L., Jabeen, K., & Shi, H. (2015). Microplastics in commercial bivalves from China. Environmental Pollution, 207, 190-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.08.021
Although this study focused on bivalves (mussels and oysters) rather than bottled water, it highlights the prevalence of microplastics in the environment and the potential for them to enter the food chain.
3. Cauwenberghe, L. V., & Janssen, C. R. (2014). Microplastics in bivalves cultured for human consumption. Environmental Pollution, 193, 65-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.06.010. Another study focusing on bivalves but relevant to the microplastics issue, as these organisms are filter feeders and can accumulate microplastics from the water.
The presence of microplastics in bottled water raises concerns about potential human exposure to these particles. While the health effects of consuming microplastics are not yet fully understood, it underscores the need to address plastic pollution at its source and find alternatives to single-use plastics to reduce their presence in the environment and water sources.
Why Is A Carico Water Filter A Better Alternative To Bottled Water?
Using a high-quality water filter like Carico offers a number of advantages over bottled water consumption:
Carico Water Filter Pays for Itself. Cost-Effective: Over time, investing in a Carico water filter is much more cost-effective than purchasing bottled water regularly. Bottled water costs ($451.20 on average per year) can add up, especially if you consume it frequently, while a water filter allows you to have access to clean water at a lower price per gallon.
- Environmental Impact: Carico’s water filter helps reduce the need for single-use plastic water bottles, thereby decreasing plastic waste and its harmful impact on the environment. Plastic bottles contribute significantly to pollution, and reducing their usage helps conserve resources and protects ecosystems.
- Water Quality Control: Carico’s high quality reliable water filter gives you control over the quality of the water you drink. Carico Water Filters remove various contaminants like chlorine, lead, pesticides, bacteria, and other impurities, providing you with safer and cleaner drinking water.
- Convenience: Having a Carico Water Filter at home ensures you always have access to filtered water without the need to buy and transport heavy bottles from the store. It’s a convenient and reliable way to obtain clean drinking water whenever you need it.
- Health Benefits: By removing harmful substances from tap water, Carico’s water filter improves the taste, smell, and overall quality of the water, encouraging you to stay hydrated and consume more water regularly.
- Preservation of Natural Resources: Bottled water production requires significant amounts of water and energy, contributing to environmental strain. Choosing a Carico Water Filter can help conserve natural resources and reduce energy consumption associated with bottled water production and transportation.
