Today the New York Times published a story about a woman from the US city of Concord, Massachusetts who proposed banning bottled water for the sake of contributing to the environment protection.
Mrs. Hill, an octogenarian previously best known for her blueberry jam, proposed banning the sale of bottled water here at a town meeting this spring. Voters approved, with the intent of making Concord the first town in the nation to strip Aquafina, Poland Spring and the like from its stores.
In orchestrating an outright ban, Mrs. Hill, 82, has achieved something that powerful environmental groups have not even tried. The bottled water industry is not pleased; it has threatened to sue if the ban takes effect as planned on Jan. 1. Officials here have hinted that they might not strictly enforce it, but Mrs. Hill, who described herself as obsessed, said that would only deepen her resolve.
I am wondering: What do you think? Is this too impractical for the citizens, and at the same too small contribution to the environment protection (especially if just one region carries the measure)? Or is this a necessary first step in changing habits in order to try to do something about this planet?
Thanks for raising this issue. Banning it? Maybe substitute plastic bottles with glass bottles, more easly recyclable… what do you think?
Hi Larisa. The topic of bottled water came up before in a blog (can’t remember which one though), and is beautifully shown in a dramatic animation. See it here: http://storyofstuff.org/bottledwater/
Might be a little bit too extreme to ban it.
I think more effort should be directed at informing people why bottled water is no good, so that change comes from reduced demand and environmental consciousness. Bans might work in some cases, but usually they just create outrage and resistance where there should be no resistance.
Many people do not know the story of bottled water. Even those who do often ignore the facts for their own convenience: “it’s hot, I need to drink something, I’ll buy a water for 50p.” At work, I sabotage my employers by offering customers tap water when they ask for a bottle of water (1.5 pounds, 0.5l). Many thank me as if I was a prophet, and I’m thinking, maybe next time they won’t buy it either, now that I told them that tap water is just as good or even better in taste, and definitely better for our common future. But it’s still amazing how many people are bottled-water believers…
Hi Hussam, Bart, Carmen, Giedre. I also think it’s quite radical to simply ban it, especially when the people are not well informed. Also, in some cities tap water is not good, and finding alternatives to (plastic) bottled water may be difficult. But that there is a need to tr find some solution is indisputable. I’ve seen an ad for some water in one Italian magazine, they say the bottle has less plastic in it and is therefore friendly to the environment. Anyone knows of some other solutions?
Hi Larisa, couple of cities in Australia banned bottled water. So did several institutions in the USA at their premises. In all cases they were lucky to have high quality tap water.
Ban always causes resistence, it is better to have choices (at least at the beginning) and patiently spend time explaining of advantages.
Giedre, I had a post in TH!NK 2 not about sabotage, but about my quest to get tap water in restaurants. Good news is - I am getting it most of the times these days:
http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu/think2/post/tap_water_war
Radka, in England you can also ask for tap water, and to my knowledge restaurants, pubs and cafes cannot refuse to give it to you. I need to double check if it is actually a law, as someone told me it is.
Larisa, maybe refills would be some sort of solution? Putting water in 0.5l bottles or smaller neither satisfies one’s thirst nor helps to reduce plastic, on the contrary.
Radka, Giedre, thanks for these information.
I’m also wondering what to think of the claims that reusing plastic bottles can be dangerous for the health. Google results show contradictory findings (or ‘findings’) and I assume that the industry would not like us to reuse their bottles. But, then again, how can I know? My idea is that glass bottle or, as the lady from the text suggests - thermos, could be some sort of solution
I haven’t heard of such claims, Larisa. If there is scientific evidence, that’s fine, otherwise it might be just industry propaganda. Yeah the thermos is exactly what I had in mind in my previous comment, sorry for not being clear enough. Just like you bring coffee in a thermos, you could bring tap water too. It’s yours and yours only, and no one can intimidate you with dangers to your health.
Larisa,
another big issue is that plastic bottle contaminates water with female hormones. You can imagine what it can cause when used long-term….
Check this:
http://www.springer.com/about+springer/media/springer+select?SGWID=0-11001-2-805267-0
In countries where tap water is drinkable, bottled water should be banned totally. Not just for the environment’s sake, but think about where we often get that water from: oversees countries, which are often stuck in poverty. The big water brands and companies, who do you think they are using to bottle the water? How much do you think they are paying their employees?
It’s not just about environment, it’s also about development. For us, bottled water is a hype. A hype we can miss.
Or better said: it’s not ONLY about environment.
Thanks a lot for all information and opinions shared. Your comments are giving so important perspectives on this issue
It is very radical - so yes, it would be too much to ban it, however - as any radical idea it does work in flagging up the issue - as well as in pointing out the fact that the industries and businesses might be the factor in sustaining our highly unfriendly to environment habits…
tend to agree that outright ban seems unfeasable but something does need to be done. I sometimes try and imagine what they’ll make of us in 100 years and the sheer amount of plastic that we use for things like plastic bottles of water will be symbolic of our over consumption and environmental recklesness…..
I couldn’t agree more with Hanna. It is a hype we can miss.
As has been said, what about just banning plastic bottled water but leaving the door open for glass, steal, tin etc?
Banning it seems a little far-fetched, as most people here have already said. But drinking bottled water is definitely not a good habit. Maybe it could be taxed heavily or something like that?
For those of you who haven’t read it yet, the solution may lies in this invention: http://development.thinkaboutit.eu/think3/post/a_truly_revolution_in_the_access_to_clean_drinking_water/#comments
Tell what you think.
In the text published two days ago in NYT it says: “Italians, notes Professor Altomonte, are among the world’s heaviest consumers of bottled water. “Do you know why? Because the water in the tap comes from the government.” http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/business/global/01italy.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=homepage. Very similar thing happens in Serbia. A number of people is buying bottled water although authorities say that the water in a particular town is fine. Simply, they do not believe what was said in the media. And no wonder: They were lied to through these same media many times.
That is a (media) problem we have to be up against. Thanks for this insightful comment on Serbia’s situation.
You are right, Luan. It also shows that the consequences of some (media) deeds last long, even if and when they try to change their policies. Thanks for your interest.