Bottled Water - The Ugly Truth

chillibreeze writer — Devayani Khare

Water – the necessity that made the communities of our ancestral tribes chart out their lives in accord with the seasonality of rivers, and finally settle down on the fertile river banks. The changes in the level of the Nile made the Egyptians estimate the duration of a year - 365 days – the most accurate during a period when most civilizations struggled with the lunar calendar. Soon after, the Romans established an intricate system of aqueducts that routed river water across their empire, and set the precedents for water supply world over.

Yet, a few centuries down the line and several population booms later, we find that despite two-thirds of the Earth being covered by water, we have less than 1% to drink. “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink…” - Coleridge’s pithy still echoes through the ages, and is just as true today, as it was on the ill-fated ship in his poem. However, this is a sentiment touted by marketing gimmicks that ultimately echoes in the minds of the consumer, the same people responsible for channeling all that pristine rainwater from springs into bottles.

Types of bottled water
Bottled water can be of two types: Treated, purified water and mineral water. Treated water undergoes a series of purification methods, whereas mineral water is bottled without treatment, at source. The irony lies in both kinds, whether artificially purified or after a journey of thousands of years through rock strata, finding their ultimate receptacle in plastic bottles.

Apart from the environmental ethics in choosing plastic for packaging, let’s delve into the truths and untruths of bottled water itself. It is surely a convenient commodity, an on-the-go hydration option for the itinerant, a ‘safe’ source where public taps look dubious. It has no weird smell or taste. It has an indefinite shelf life. The label claims that it undergoes a slew of purification methods that target all the bacteria and toxins. Often it even has extra oxygen, though why you would want a company to charge you more or market an asset that you can achieve by just shaking the bottle on opening is hard to comprehend.

India is quickly realizing the potential in this sector. The bottling industry is just getting started and is thirsting (no pun intended) to expand, motivated by water shortages, increased buying power of the middle classes and the heightened awareness about water-borne health hazards. There are over 150 bottled water companies, of which only two or three market mineral water. Multinationals joined the bandwagon soon enough and some market alcohol through their packaged water or soda. Economists predict that at current growth rates, the market for water will soon be the largest segment, outstripping even carbonated drinks, whose overt advertising hints at their prosperity. All this to provide us with ‘pure water’, a natural resource corrupted into a chargeable commodity.

So what is ‘pure water’?
Nothing but a myth that needs to be debunked. Natural water has mineral content. By removing minerals, water becomes acidic and aggressive, meaning it will seek to replace the minerals removed. So, healthy water need not be pure. In fact, waters with epicurean properties contain minerals and trace elements that impart slight taste and are highly beneficial to metabolism. Neither the removal of essential minerals nor the efficacy of the purification is mentioned on the label. Fluoride, an essential mineral in water, responsible for stronger teeth by preventing tooth decay, is often removed. Bacteria and minerals tend to persist even after intense treatment. Water, being a universal solvent, also slowly dissolves the plastic of its container; the resultant build-up in one’s body has not yet been fully studied.

Furthermore, here are stringent regulations laid down for tap water in big cities, which are not followed by bottled water companies: Disinfection tests, E coli and Fecal Coliform tests, pathogen filtration, virus tests, Asbestos and Phthalate standards should be met, certified trainer and testing laboratories, report of violations to State Authorities, and the right of the consumer to know about contamination. The frequency of tests for bacteria and organic, synthetic chemicals is more for tap water than for bottled water companies.

Is there a solution?
Am I advocating tap water, which can be contaminated easily through the pipelines or by industrial chemicals that are not removed by purification measures? Is it still a preferable option despite its sometimes excessive contents of minerals that lend it peculiar taste and smell? Would I recommend water circulated by half-corrupt governmental agencies, whose supposed stringent norms may be subverted? Well, the choice between bottled and tap water, like most arguments can be debated over.

As discerning consumers in an urban setting, we should be able to make sound choices. The occasional bottle of water cannot be detrimental, even I am guilty of having opted for bottled water at some stage during my travels. Its pros cannot be denied, yet nor should its cons. Whether we let consumer-oriented marketing gimmicks and scare-mongering health fanatics to determine our choice, or convenience and common sense prevail, is up to us. Choosing bottled water in circumstances where the options are limited, with full awareness of both sides of the argument, would help make us wiser consumers. Tap water on a more regular basis, with an appropriate water filter and alkalizing unit, or even carried while traveling would be a safer option. After all, the importance of adequate alkalized water cannot be understated: it reduces body inflammation and water retention, prevents tooth decay, promotes weight loss, and even lowers blood pressure.

Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in October, 2010. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

More on Chillibreeze.com

Other popular articles on Chillibreeze

5 Key Strategies for Start-Ups
Coming of Age of Branded Merchandising in India
Business Coaching - The Secret Edge for Every Business
Medical Problems and Oral Health
Best Kept Secrets of Successful Travel Writers

Out of 5 “chilies”, our editorial team gave this article...

—About our writer:

With a master's in Geomorphology, a dissertation in Geo-hydrology, a certificate in Ornithology (bird-sciences) and a Diploma in sustainable development of natural resource and nature conservation, my interests span fair horizons. I am keen on writing up on any topic within these realms: Geography, resource management, travelogues, wildlife or environment, conservation issues and ecological ethics. A voracious reading appetite, an unpublished-poetry collection, an addiction to quirky words and a flair for communication with all age groups, would add more than just jargon to write-ups.

>> Read more articles written by Chillibreeze writers:

More resources for Writers on Chillibreeze.com

Chillibreeze offers Indian writers the opportunity to work on customer projects. We are also India’s biggest writer network and a one-stop shop for Indian writers and editors. The writers’ section on Chillibreeze offers freelance writers and editors a variety of tools to advance their careers. Resources for writers include:

Assessment of your writing, editing and proofreading skills

Writing courses

Expert Feedback on your article

An opportunity to promote yourself on our website

Top websites for Indian writers

Tips and resources for Indian freelancers

Book Publishing services

And more………………..

Explore our writers’ section using the links on our left-hand side menu.