Bottled Water, the American Abatross.

 Bottled water has many unseen effects on the environment, from the chemicals used to create the bottles, to the water actually used in the process of creating a portable personal dose of water and finally human disposal of the waste produced by these bottles. This is a resource, like air, which is needed for life, and the fight between those who want to privatize it and those who think it is a natural right has already begun [1][3][5]. Statistical data says living within ten miles of any plant that produces the chemicals or the actual containers themselves leads to elevated risks of Cancers, Lung issues and Birth defects [4][5][7]. The water that is used in making these personal hydration devices is barely suitable for human consumption without additional chemical processes to clean it for general use [2][3][4]. All while companies like Nestle, Coke and Pepsi (along with every other beer producer, canned food producer etc…) are vying for the chance to take stake and full ownership of this resource humans need for survival [4][5]. 

            When thinking about water, most people think of a smooth substance with little friction. However, water is the most powerful solvent on earth [2][5]. Leave anything in water for a period of time and it will break down to base elements. Anything placed in water, or that water is placed in will trade molecules with the water in question [3][5]. This leads to a question; why would people store water in a substance when left on its own has been shown to kill and defect people for generations to come? Most disposable water bottles are made from petroleum derived polyethylene terephthalate (PET) [2][3][5]. While PET is considered less toxic than many other types of plastic, the Berkely Ecology Center found that manufacturing PET generates toxic emissions in the form of nickel, ethyl benzene, ethylene oxide and benzene at levels 100 times higher than those created to make the same amount of glass [3][5][6]. William Shotyk (2006) had performed two studies concerning contamination and leaching in PET containers in storage capacities. One study was undertaken to research the notion of “storage dose” of water in acid-cleaned LDPE (low density) bottles compared to that of PET bottles indicated that after three months of storage at room temperature, the water in the PET bottle yielded nearly 200% more of the Sb chemical concentration [3][5][7]. People living within a ten mile prevailing wind zone of most petrochemical plants suffer greater risks of many known diseases including but not limited to Cancer, Emphysema, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Immune Disease, Nervous disorders, as well as Kidney and Liver failure [4][5][7].

            The suitability and sustainability of the water used to create these exotic waters is and has been in question for some time [1][3][5][6]. The class saw that most bottled waters are indeed no more than dressed up tap water with fancy names and expensive wrappings; a little more in depth explanation of this is needed. Tap water is heavily filtered, measured and studied by the EPA. Industrial DI water is not. DI, or Deionized water is made by a process in which the chemical composition of the water is stripped down to basic molecules by way of solvents, sulfur, sulfur dioxide, charcoals and other chemicals to make water “purer” for the consumer [3][6][8]. However, neither the EPA, FDA nor any other Government agencies are allowed to test the water once it goes through this process in house unless a violation occurs with safety that involves a recall [3][8].  These processes leave residues of the before mentioned substances behind at greater levels than the EPA allows in city tap water on most occasions [1][6][7][8].

            Corporate jockeying for control of the world water supply is now ramping up [3][7][8][9]. Nestle has made it clear the corporation’s intentions to take as much of the water supply as possible for private use in the next ten years [9]. The CEO of Nestle Corp even stating “we do not believe water to be a human right, but a commodity that should be kept and maintained for the greater good”, however it is a rare thing when a corporation does something for the greater good in lieu of short term gain [8][9]. Water levels in places where these companies have set up shop have dropped. In some places water has gone entirely missing from centuries and millennia old waterways and lakes, simply vanishing and being chalked up to naturally lower water levels or drought [3][4][5]. This is not the case, as water is being taken from one area of the world and shipped to another it will naturally cause a shortage in the place from which said water came [3][4][5].

To close, water being the factor Scientists look for on other planets to signify life, being a more important factor than even Oxygen because Oxygen can be derived from water, then it is too important to let go. Letting a water source go bad, be taken over by those who have the means to do so or cause neighbors to be polluted is not a good course for all humanity. Considering people pay up to 2,000 times the price of a municipal water source that is tested many times a day for safety factors costs, hopefully soon a company starts bottling clean air. Consumers seem to be like birds, enamored with shiny bright objects. However once consumers get a gullet full of Cancer, Heart problems and the myriad of other issues caused by bottled water, and retreat to find the local water source depleted beyond use by those who have. Then maybe we will find the human Albatross washed up on shore with a stomach full of water bottle caps.

 

 

 http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dead%20albatross%20full%20of%20bottle%20caps&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=dead%20albatross%20full%20of%20bottle%20caps&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=#view=detail&id=DEC9CA1C1F8272A88C3FB4C759819CC492B63A72&selectedIndex=9

 

 

 

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e5CaIkrqWU – ABC news report on contaminates and difference in Bottle vs Tap water.

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Obbbecgjhw8 - Report on what is actually contained in bottles and plant water used in bottled waters.

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1a3tjqQiBI – “Blue Gold” Documentary on water current wars.

[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egtKx24dat8 – “A World Without Water” -Documentary 3^rd world nation’s water issues and how they affect the world populace.

[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH-NmuG-Wbg  – “Water Science” – Documentary about how private industry is trying to use a life resource against people.

[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0  – “The Story of Bottled Water” – Documentary about regulation and testing of bottled water.

[7] http://water.epa.gov/drink/ - US EPA site about water.

[8] http://www.generalwaterservices.com/pages/di-water-systems.php - http://www.apswater.com/article.asp?id=321&title=What_is_DI_Water_ - http://www.generalwaterservices.com/pages/di-water-systems.php - only resources I can give you, but Engineering in these plants for 15 years. I saw the hidden information and records, thus the reason I was asked to come and save them before they made millions sick.

[9] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEFL8ElXHaU – 2013 interview with Nestle CEO.