Bottled water, taxing the world's ecosystem

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Bottled water, a natural resource taxing the world's

ecosystem

 

Source >

http://news./s/afp/20060210/sc_afp/usenvironmentwater_060210151009

 

Fri Feb 10, 12:12 PM ET

 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Bottled water consumption, which

has more than doubled globally in the last six years,

is a natural resource that is heavily taxing the

world's ecosystem, according to a new US study.

 

 

" Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink,

demand for bottled water is increasing, producing

unnecessary garbage and consuming vast quantities of

energy, " according to Emily Arnold, author of the

study published by the Earth Policy Institute, a

Washington-based environmental group.

 

Arnold said although in the industrial world bottled

water is often no healthier than tap water, it can end

up costing 10,000 times more.

 

" At as much as 2.50 dollars per liter (10 dollars per

gallon), bottled water costs more than gasoline, " the

study says.

 

It added that the United States was the largest

consumer of bottled water, with Americans drinking 26

billion liters in 2004, or about one eight-ounce (25

cl) glass per person every day.

 

Mexico was the second largest consumer at 18 billion

liters followed by China and Brazil at 12 billion

liters each.

 

In terms of consumption per person, Italians came

first at nearly 184 liters, or more than two glasses a

day, followed by Mexico and the United Arab Emirates

with 169 and 164 liters per person respectively.

 

Belgium and France follow close behind and Spain ranks

sixth.

 

The study said that demand for bottled water soared in

developing countries between 1999 and 2004 with

consumption tripling in India and more than doubling

in China during that period.

 

That has translated into massive costs in packaging

the water, usually in plastic bottles made of

polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is derived from

crude oil, and then transporting it by boat, train or

on land.

 

" Making bottles to meet Americans' demand for bottled

water requires more than 1.5 million barrels of oil

annually, enough to fuel some 100,000 US cars for a

year, " according to the study. " Worldwide, some 2.7

million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each

year. "

 

Once the water is consumed, disposing the plastic

bottles poses an environmental risk.

 

The study, citing the Container Recycling Institute,

said that 86 percent of plastic water bottles in the

United States end up as garbage and those buried can

take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade.

 

In addition, some 40 percent of the PET bottles

deposited for recycling in the United States in 2004

ended up being shipped to China.

 

The study warned that the rapid growth in the industry

has also ironically led to water shortages in some

areas, including India where bottling of Dasani water

and other drinks by the Coca-Cola company has caused

shortages in more than 50 villages.

 

It said that while consumers tend to link bottled

water with healthy living, tap water can be just as

healthy and is subject to more stringent regulations

than bottled water in many regions, including Europe

and the United States.

 

" In fact, roughly 40 percent of bottled water begins

as tap water, " the study says. " Often the only

difference is added minerals that have no marked

health benefits.