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!
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 damages of garbage and energy caused by bottling water.
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:
Resource Extraction
Bottled water often comes from natural springs or underground sources, requiring significant efforts to extract it from the ground extraction. This leads to environmental degradation and depletion of local water sources.
The International Bottled Water Association (“IBWA”) 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 and the paper for the labels. It also did not account for the transportation of bottled water.
Manufacturing
Producing plastic bottles for bottled water requires petroleum-based materials like polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This process consumes energy and releases greenhouse gasses and other pollutants.
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.
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.
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.
Energy Intensity
Bottled water production and distribution require substantial energy inputs, contributing to overall energy consumption and associated environmental impacts.
Social Impact
Bottled water industries can also impact local communities by depleting water sources, potentially leading to water scarcity issues.
Bottled Water is not as Pure as You Think
Numerous studies found microplastics in bottled water. Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (less than 5mm in size). 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 found microplastics in bottled water:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Why is a Carico Water Purification System a Better Alternative to Bottled Water?
Using a high-quality water purification system like Carico’s offers a number of advantages over bottled water consumption:
1. Carico Water Purification System Pays for Itself. A Carico Water Purification System is far more cost-effective than buying bottled water. Filtering tap water through a Carico Water Purification System is much cheaper 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 Carico Water Purification System allows you to have access to clean water at a lower price per gallon. In fact, the Carico Water Purification System will pay for itself in a little over a year.
2. Environmental Impact: Carico’s Water Purification System reduces the use of single-use plastic water bottles, decreasing plastic waste and its harmful impact on the environment. Plastic bottles contribute significantly to pollution, and reducing their usage by filtering you water with Carico Water Purification System conserves resources and protects ecosystems.
3. Water Quality Control: Carico’s high quality, reliable Water Purification System gives you control over the quality of the water you drink. Carico Water Purification System removes various contaminants like chlorine, lead, pesticides, bacteria, and other impurities, providing you with safer and cleaner drinking water and does not have any micro plastics in it, like bottled water.
4. Convenience: Having a Carico Water Purification System in your home ensures you always have access to filtered water without the need to buy and transport heavy bottles from the store. A Carico Water Purification System is the most convenient and reliable way to obtain clean drinking water whenever you need it.
5. Health Benefits: By removing harmful substances from tap water, Carico’s Water Purification System improves the taste, smell, and overall quality of the water, encouraging you to stay hydrated and consume more water regularly.
6. Preservation of Natural Resources: As noted above bottled water production requires significant amounts of water and energy, contributing to environmental strain. Carico Water Purification Systems conserves natural resources and reduces energy consumption associated with bottled water production and transportation.
If you are concerned about drinking pure water, conserving our natural resources and saving money, the choice is obvious: Install a Carico Water Purification System today