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Money Down the Drain
The High Price of Bottled Water



Bottled Water Phenomenon We can pour water from our taps and yet we buy it from the store. According to a recent Fast Company article, in 1976, North Americans bought an average of 1.6 gallons per person per year. Today, that average has jumped to 28.3 gallons. Click through the gallery to see why it's money down the drain.

The Miracle Drink?First, a little history. In the 1800s, two enterprising men began bottling springwater to sell. The first, Rev. Griswald, bottled water from Saratoga Springs, New York and sold it to "cure" stomach ailments. His success was followed by Hiram Ricker whose magic Poland Spring water "cured" kidney problems.

Still Drinking Snake Oil?Many believe we are still buying snake oil wrapped in a more sophisticated marketing strategy. Today's bottled-water industry owes its success to Bruce Nevins who launched Perrier -- described in Fast Company's Message in a Bottle -- with a clever campaign linking bottled water to: 1) exclusivity 2) health 3) celebrity status.

Is Bottled Water Really Healthier Than Tap?No! Bottled water is not healthier than tap. According to an NRDC study, "33 percent of the waters it tested 'violated an enforceable state standard or exceeded microbiological-purity guidelines,' ..." The fact is that bottled water is not as strictly regulated as tap water is.

Free Tap Water for SaleIn addition to not being regulated, many bottled water companies don't have to pay for the water they sell. Coca-Cola (Dasani) and Pepsi Co. (Aquafina) bottle municipal tap water. So instead of paying 1/100th of a penny per glass of your own tap water, you can buy the same in a bottle for about a $1.25.

Who's Getting Rich on Bottled Water?Surprisingly, the corporate water barons do not keep the lion's share of bottled water. According to Fast Company magazine, the pay out on a $1.29 bottle of water is: 50% to retailer, up to 33.3% goes to distribution, 12 to 15 cents to the production of the bottle and that leaves about 10 cents of profit for the company.

Are We Just Buying Trash?The water barons don't produce water; they manufacture disposable bottles. The United States throws away 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. And its landfills are closing at the rate of one per day, because they are either full or leaking toxic materials into lakes, streams and groundwater. The situation in Canada is comparable.

What Do Proponents Say?Bottled water is the best-selling item per unit for the country's largest Earth-friendly retailer, Whole Foods, Inc. The company's CEO and co-founder, John Mackey defends its sales to Fast Company, "It's unfair to say bottled water is causing extra plastic in landfills ... There's a substitution effect -- it's substituting for juices and Coke and Pepsi."

So Is Bottled Water the Healthier Choice?The option to choose bottled water from a school cafeteria vending machine, at a roadside stop, the cinema or sporting event, makes for a healthier choice over soda or sugar-infused drinks. The question one should ask: Is bottled water always the smart choice?


What's Better Than Bottled Water? Want to make a choice that's better than bottled water? Pick up a sleek, high-quality, water container that will maintain your healthy image without draining your wallet or the environment.

http://news.channels.aolsvc.aol.ca/finance/article.adp?id=20070921130209990001


Updated January 8th,2012 by Robyn Mitton