Bottle Versus Tap: The Debate over Water Safety Continues

Growing concern about the environmental impact of bottled water and the safety of tap water sparked a resolution by The US Conference of Mayors in June, calling for a phasing out of bottled water by municipalities and promotion of the importance of public water supplies.

The Pacific Institute, a California think tank on sustainability issues, contends that in 2006, producing bottles for US water consumption required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including the energy for transportation.

The group also says bottling water for Americans produces more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and consumes three liters of water for each liter of bottled water produced.

While a Natural Resources Defense Council concluded that "most of the tested waters were found to be of high quality (but) some brands were contaminated."

The group said bottled waters "are subject to less rigorous testing and purity standards than those which apply to city tap water."

The group also says that "about one-fourth of bottled water is actually bottled tap water" while government rules "allow bottlers to call their product 'spring water' even though it may be brought to the surface using a pumped well, and it may be treated with chemicals."

The debate in the US mirrors that taking place worldwide in places such as Paris; Liverpool, England; Florence, Italy; Vancouver, Canada. According to the EPI, the issue is also making waves in other countries including Denmark and New South Wales, and Australia, among others.

The US is the largest consumer of bottled water. However, it is behind Italy and the United Arab Emirates, Mexico and France on a per capita basis.