E-Weekly-4/40 Green Earth Movement An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice Remember - “you and I can decide the future”

Over 1 billion people lack access to clean, safe affordable drinking water. By 2025 two-thirds of the world’s population is predicted to lack access to water. The World Bank has predicted that the wars of tomorrow will be fought over water. The problem is exacerbated by global warming which is spreading droughts.

Drinking plenty of water is important for your health, because it maintains bodily functions, carries nutrients to cells and helps you stay hydrated and energized.

But you've probably wondered: Is fancy bottled water somehow better for you than plain tap water? And is it even OK to drink tap water without using a water-filtration device?

Bottled water is water which has been packaged in sealed containers for human consumption. the water can come from a variety of sources including springs, aquifers, or municipal supplies and may be treated to make it fit for human consumption.

Although some bottled water comes from springs, more than 25% of bottled water comes from the municipal supply. Natural mineral water and spring water is bottled at the source and may not be subject to any processing except the introduction of carbon dioxide. However, some bottled water comes from other sources, including municipal supplies, and can be treated with UV light to kill bacteria, filtration, and ion exchange to get rid of excessive minerals. No residual disinfectant is included.

BOTTLED WATER - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ► Making the plastic bottles for bottled water for sale in the U.S. required the equivalent of 17 million barrels of oil last year and generated 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide. ► To visualize the entire energy costs of the lifecycle of bottled water, imagine filling each bottle with a quarter of oil. ► Each year, more than 4 billion Pounds of PET plastic bottles end up in landfills or as roadside litter.

► Less than 20% of plastic water bottles are recycled. ► It can cost cities more than $70 million in tipping fee disposal costs alone, not including the costs of collection, trucking and litter removal. This is funding not available for other pressing city needs like water infrastructure and public safety.

► Extraction: Some bottlers take water in large volumes from springs and aquifers, which can dry up wells, deplete wetlands and drain rivers. Water pumps can extract water 24/7, taking millions of gallons each day.

SOCIAL IMPACT ♦ In the US Up to 40% of bottled water comes from already treated municipal water systems; paid for at taxpayer expense. ♦ Water bottlers then sell this water back to the public at thousands of times the price, virtually unchallenged.

♦ In 2007, 8.8 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the U.S. ♦ If the public and the future generations increasingly believe that the only place to get clean, safe drinking water is from a bottle, there will be decreased political support to fund our public water systems.

COST Most of the price of a bottle of water goes for its bottling, packaging, shipping, marketing, retailing and profit. Transporting bottled water by boat, truck and train involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels. More than 5 trillion gallons of bottled water is shipped internationally each yea r. COST Most of the price of a bottle of water goes for its bottling, packaging, shipping, marketing, retailing and profit. Transporting bottled water by boat, truck and train involves burning massive quantities of fossil fuels. More than 5 trillion gallons of bottled water is shipped internationally each yea r.

Is bottled water safer? Many people believe that because bottled water goes through a filtration process that improves its taste, odor and color, it's also healthier for you. Filtration eliminates possible contaminants such as lead, parasites and byproducts of chlorine, so it's gotta be better, right?

Well, not really. "While [filters] can reduce exposure to [harmful] elements, it doesn’t necessarily mean bottled water will be better for your overall health,“ says Katherine Patton, M.Ed, RD, CSSD, LD. In the U.S., tap water is already treated to remove particles, chemicals and bacteria. During the process of treating public water, chlorine is added as a disinfectant, and fluoride is added for its dental health benefits (though there are those who say fluoride does more harm than good).fluoride does more harm than good Well, not really. "While [filters] can reduce exposure to [harmful] elements, it doesn’t necessarily mean bottled water will be better for your overall health,“ says Katherine Patton, M.Ed, RD, CSSD, LD. In the U.S., tap water is already treated to remove particles, chemicals and bacteria. During the process of treating public water, chlorine is added as a disinfectant, and fluoride is added for its dental health benefits (though there are those who say fluoride does more harm than good).fluoride does more harm than good

Water Quality: Is Tap Water Safe? You need to stay hydrated -- that’s clear -- but is the tap water in your home safe? It is considered generally safe if it comes from a public water system in the United States, such as one run and maintained by a municipality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to monitor all public water systems and sets enforceable health standards regarding the contaminants in drinking water. Water Quality: Is Tap Water Safe? You need to stay hydrated -- that’s clear -- but is the tap water in your home safe? It is considered generally safe if it comes from a public water system in the United States, such as one run and maintained by a municipality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to monitor all public water systems and sets enforceable health standards regarding the contaminants in drinking water.

FIVE REASONS TO BREAK THE BOTTLED WATER HABIT REASON 1 At least 40 percent of bottled water is tap water anyway. That’s right: you are paying a huge premium on water that you could have just gotten from your tap in the first place. (Natural Resources Defense Council) You probably like tap water more than bottled water, too! Want to test that out?

REASON 2 Your tap water is fine to drink. Tap water is more highly regulated than bottled water and over 90 percent of water systems meet EPA's standards for tap water quality. (If the taste or color is a little off from your tap, your pipes are probably at fault—a simple filtration system should do the trick to take both aesthetic problems away.)

REASON 3 Bottled water is expensive! Drinking the recommended daily amount of water using bottled water can cost an average of $1,400 per year; drinking the same amount from the tap costs around 49 cents for the year. (NY Times) REASON 3 Bottled water is expensive! Drinking the recommended daily amount of water using bottled water can cost an average of $1,400 per year; drinking the same amount from the tap costs around 49 cents for the year. (NY Times)

REASON 4 Bottled water is full of oil. Making bottles to meet Americans’ demand for bottled water requires more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel some 100,000 cars for a year. To put it another way, the entire energy costs of the lifecycle of a bottle of water is equivalent, on average, to filling up a quarter of each bottle with oil. (Pacific Institute)

REASON 5 Disposable plastic water bottles are not meant for multiple uses. The #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is fine for a single use, but reuse can lead to bacterial growth and leaching of dangerous chemicals. When disposed these bottles takes hundreds of years to decompose. REASON 5 Disposable plastic water bottles are not meant for multiple uses. The #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is fine for a single use, but reuse can lead to bacterial growth and leaching of dangerous chemicals. When disposed these bottles takes hundreds of years to decompose.

Bottled water usage is a hard habit to change. The ease and convenience, plus its obvious benefits over consuming sugary soda drinks makes it hard to give up. But by making a few simple changes in your home, as well as buying a reusable bottle for on the go, you'll be sure to stick with it!

This educational PowerPoint Presentation (editable) is prepared by GEM Team (courtesy: internet). For other similar GEM PowerPoint Presentations on various environmental issues see next slide. These PPTs may be downloaded from our website Or visit GEM FACEBOOK

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