Ottawa Water Study/Action Group (OWSAG)
Statement on Bottled Water
Let us be clear! We are not against the use of water in plastic bottles under all conditions. We do not see plastic bottles as the source of all environmental problems. There are times when the use of water in transportable containers (perhaps bottles) is needed in the short-term:
During these and other similar times, taking drinking water from transportable containers makes eminent sense. At these times we would advocate the use of containers that can be refilled and reused whenever possible.
Single-use plastic water bottles are often used as a band-aid solution in First Nations with Drinking Water Advisories across Canada. Clean, safe water through community water infrastructure must be provided to First Nations as a long-term solution.
OWSAG has serious concerns about the present trend in many parts of the world for persons who have a functioning, well regulated tap water system, to consume all of their drinking water in throwaway plastic bottles. At present one in five persons in North America drinks all of their water from plastic bottles. These plastic water bottles could be recycled in some places, but at present the majority of them end up in land fills. This adds to environmental degradation. Perhaps the fact that the use of virgin plastic is cheaper than recycled plastic is a reason for this. Perhaps concerns about the leaching of harmful chemicals from PET plastic bottles are a reason. Perhaps sheer indifference about the environment is a reason. Whatever the reason, most plastic bottles for water are not recycled for use as water bottles.
The bottled water industry promotes their product as a healthier alternative to tap water. On rare occasions, negligent management of piped water systems, such as occurred at Walkerton, are presented as reasons why tap water cannot be trusted. However, the fact is that tap water in the developed world is much more regulated then bottled water. Many more potentially harmful ingredients are tested for, more frequently, than with bottled water.
The most devastating critique of the widespread use of bottled water is based on environmental reasons. The material from which plastic bottles are manufactured comes from fossil reserves. These fossil reserves are non renewable. These fossil reserves, deep in the earth, can be used for a spectacular amount of different uses. Demand for these fossil reserves is growing on a world wide basis. In the near future, if not already, the supply of these finite reserves will decrease and their price will inevitably rise. At present we are using these valuable reserves in environmentally harmful ways. Their use as fuel for internal combustion engines is a major contributor to global warming. Plastic throwaway containers of all kinds are also contributing to the befouling of our environment. Plastic bottles for water fall into this category.
The most powerful reason that OWSAG is against the present widespread use of plastic throwaway bottles for water delivery is that we have a more economic, more efficient, more environmentally friendly alternative, namely our piped water systems. After many decades of hard work and investment we in North America have developed municipal water systems that are among the best in the world! These systems deliver reliable, safe drinking water at extremely low cost (less than one Canadian dollar per 1000 litres). By comparison, bottled water frequently reaches costs that are more than 1000 times as much as safe tap water.
It is therefore no coincidence that many of OWSAG’s members are water scientists, water mangers and water engineers. Their careers have concentrated on studying water, its characteristics and its delivery to public consumers.
- in times of emergency when safe tap water is temporarily unavailable
- at times when the tap water system needs to undergo repair or rehabilitation
- when traveling in areas where safe regulated tap water is simply unavailable.
During these and other similar times, taking drinking water from transportable containers makes eminent sense. At these times we would advocate the use of containers that can be refilled and reused whenever possible.
Single-use plastic water bottles are often used as a band-aid solution in First Nations with Drinking Water Advisories across Canada. Clean, safe water through community water infrastructure must be provided to First Nations as a long-term solution.
OWSAG has serious concerns about the present trend in many parts of the world for persons who have a functioning, well regulated tap water system, to consume all of their drinking water in throwaway plastic bottles. At present one in five persons in North America drinks all of their water from plastic bottles. These plastic water bottles could be recycled in some places, but at present the majority of them end up in land fills. This adds to environmental degradation. Perhaps the fact that the use of virgin plastic is cheaper than recycled plastic is a reason for this. Perhaps concerns about the leaching of harmful chemicals from PET plastic bottles are a reason. Perhaps sheer indifference about the environment is a reason. Whatever the reason, most plastic bottles for water are not recycled for use as water bottles.
The bottled water industry promotes their product as a healthier alternative to tap water. On rare occasions, negligent management of piped water systems, such as occurred at Walkerton, are presented as reasons why tap water cannot be trusted. However, the fact is that tap water in the developed world is much more regulated then bottled water. Many more potentially harmful ingredients are tested for, more frequently, than with bottled water.
The most devastating critique of the widespread use of bottled water is based on environmental reasons. The material from which plastic bottles are manufactured comes from fossil reserves. These fossil reserves are non renewable. These fossil reserves, deep in the earth, can be used for a spectacular amount of different uses. Demand for these fossil reserves is growing on a world wide basis. In the near future, if not already, the supply of these finite reserves will decrease and their price will inevitably rise. At present we are using these valuable reserves in environmentally harmful ways. Their use as fuel for internal combustion engines is a major contributor to global warming. Plastic throwaway containers of all kinds are also contributing to the befouling of our environment. Plastic bottles for water fall into this category.
The most powerful reason that OWSAG is against the present widespread use of plastic throwaway bottles for water delivery is that we have a more economic, more efficient, more environmentally friendly alternative, namely our piped water systems. After many decades of hard work and investment we in North America have developed municipal water systems that are among the best in the world! These systems deliver reliable, safe drinking water at extremely low cost (less than one Canadian dollar per 1000 litres). By comparison, bottled water frequently reaches costs that are more than 1000 times as much as safe tap water.
It is therefore no coincidence that many of OWSAG’s members are water scientists, water mangers and water engineers. Their careers have concentrated on studying water, its characteristics and its delivery to public consumers.
(Header photo: Ricardo Bernardo CC BY-ND 2.0)
