subject: The True Cost Of A Bottle Of Water [print this page] What would be better for kids bottled or fountain water? The argument has been raging for ages. It is hard to pronounce any of these as decisively better as it depends on a slew of factors. It all sums up to individual choice. and taste!
Most people in the US prefer bottled water for their children than tap water. Even the experts suggest that it is wise for the kids to go with bottled water over the water fountain. The reason, they say, is that the habit of using bottled water helps keep certain health threats at bay.
That said, bottled water is not great for the environment. In the US, approx. 50 billion water bottles are used every year and most of these are not recycled. According to an estimate 75% of these bottles go in the garbage or waterways, creating environmental problems. Moreover, carrying the bottles and keeping them cold burns fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gases.
All bottled water is not flawless as well. A research in 2008 by the Non-profit Environmental Working Group discovered that even some bottled water is sullied with untested chemicals. Such water may not be cleaner than fountain water. Bottled water is also costlier than tap water.
Chances of lead contamination in tap water are higher when the pipes used are old. Impure tap water affects mental as well as physical development of the kids. Number of kids affected by impure water is more in large urban areas including Chicago and Los Angeles. An article published in September 2009 by Associated Press highlighted that the drinking water in the schools of 27 states is contaminated with toxic substances from lead-soldered pipes installed before 1985. Randomly selected 84 water fountains found to have high lead levels than EPA's cutoff of 20 parts per billion.
There are schools that are keen on the quality of tap water and hold regular testing of their own wells by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But this agency does not regulate the quality of drinking water in schools that get water from local utilities. Then, there are schools that avoid getting water tested because of the expenses related to the water purification remedy. Some schools do not get on the board even when the authorities are offering free analysis.
Contrary to what many believe, not all water purification solutions make holes in the budget. There are some water purification solutions cheaper than the others. Filters can be put on taps to remove lead or water fountains can be flushed at regular intervals. Colleges can also accumulate the water and use iodine based methods for purifying water. Iodine tablets or solution is added to the water and left for appropriate time. Impurities settle down and water becomes clean. Iodine crystals can be teamed with a filter for better results.
Some schools begin providing bottled water to students on their own to avoid the costs of testing and remediation. In 2007, Baltimore City public schools decided to provide bottled water to the students.
Environmentalists root for fountain water but majority of US population would go with bottled water any day. It is an individual decision. If your kid goes to a school that cannot assure you about the quality of their water, you better send your kids with a bottle of water. Better yet install a water purification system at your home and give them one of the many trendy refillable bottles.
Still want bottled? We recommend Fiji Water. It tastes great and the company goes to great efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of supplying the product.
