When you’re next perusing the aisles of the grocery store and you see products such as a Brita water filter, or PUR filtration system, think about how fortunate you are to live in a country that actually offers these items. Actually, take another minute to think about all the marketing and commercials that you see about our drinking water. Do the names Aquafina and Dasani pop into your mind?
What about Chlorine?
Oh…you haven’t heard about that one?
Well despite being introduced to the public drinking supply in the early 1900s (talk about brand longevity!), Chlorine has been integral in preventing diseases such as Typhoid fever and cholera. Ok, by now you probably realize that I’m not talking about any new brand of bottled water and talking about how our tap water systems have been shaped through innovations in the water purification process. As a matter of fact, last month saw the celebration of 100 years of chlorination in water being helpful in public health. The American Chemistry Council even has a Clean Water Challenge Quiz where for each correct answer, funds get donated to support household water chlorination programs in West Africa.
Remember the Free Rice project? Definitely still a favorite of mine.
Just recently, scientists in Australia have been working on ways to incorporate nanotechnology into the water treatment systems to get rid of bacteria and other harmful agents. From the old to the present day, it sure seems like people are taking strides to encourage us that tap water is still a viable source of thirst quenching water (gasp! really?). Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against the bottling industry and those of us who tote around branded water bottles – I just wanted to bring to your attention some information about our water supply and how it still is pretty safe (and free) to drink.
A few weeks ago doing some personal health communication research, I came across this awesome organization that is working hard to transform people’s minds about water in New York City. Tap’dNY has set out to inform local New Yorkers that their tap water is second to none and how excited they should be about it! Tap’dNY seems to offer best of both worlds – bottled water but from local resources. Be sure to keep up with their blog too.
I have a feeling this movement of public and environmental health into the commercial world, might be something we will see more of.
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What? Well water?? And you’re still alive Paul? (sarcasm) Thanks so much for weighing in on this issue! I wholeheartedly agree that we spend way too much money on the bottled water industry but as you said, that’s not going away so we need a way to make it better. Thanks for alerting me to this campaign Paul – I will check it out!
These are great resources. Growing up on well water in the countryside, I’m still surprised how fanatic people get about the purity of their bottled water and spend so much money on bottled water when it could be donated to other causes. As there will always be people who buy water bottles, there’s room to make them greener and biodegradable as there are biodegradable corn plastics on the market. I’ve tried using a Pur filter at home but have not been able to get the rest of my family to leave their Aquafina non-biodegradable bottles at the store.
If you are interested, there’s an effort to pressure PepsiCo to switch to biodegradable bottles for Aquafina water. Check it out at http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/put-aquafina-in-biodegradable-bottles-or-else
I just joined as I feel we need to just get one of the bottled water makers to make the switch and that will hopefully encourage other water companies to follow their lead.
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