The impact of your drinking water choice Drink to Your Health: The impact of your drinking water choice By: Rhonda Jill Noriega PhD student Walden University PUBH 8165-2 Dr. Raymond Thron Spring Quarter 2012

CONTENTS Introduction Water safety authority Tap and bottled water safety Other considerations Bottled water waste management Disaster preparedness Conclusion References

INTRODUCTION “The rights to water and sanitation entitle everyone to sufficient quantities of safe water and sanitation services that are affordable, accessible, culturally acceptable, and which are delivered in a participatory, accountable and non-discriminatory manner.” United Nations Human Rights Council special reporter, Catarina de Albuqerque [read slide] These are the words of the United Nations Human Rights Council special reporter, Catarina de Albuqerque. The right to safe drinking water is a topic that has been discussed throughout the world and throughout history. Today nations recognize that with responsible stewardship resources are available to provide for safe water for everyone; however, a significant portion of the world’s population continue to die from lack-of-clean-water related causes. (Albuquerque, & Roaf, 2012)

INTRODUCTION 3 million people die every year from water-related causes…..most are children John Snow connected water source to disease outbreak in London in the 1800’s United States 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act – established federal protection for drinking water sources An estimated 3 million people die every year, and unfortunately many of these are children (Moeller, 2011). John Snow, English doctor and scientist, first showed the association of disease to a water source in the 1800’s London cholera outbreak when he traced cases to use of the same pump at the Broad Street station (Moeller, 2011). Since Dr. Snow’s time developed nations have advanced efforts to provide safe drinking water readily available through municipal supplies. The United States efforts to provide citizens with safe drinking water are hallmarked by the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. This legislation provided for drinking water sources such as rivers and lakes that provided a drinking water source for more than 25 persons must be federally protected (Moeller, 2011). (Moeller, 2011)

WATER SAFETY AUTHORITY United States municipal tap water safety is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Local water treatment facilities test and report their findings to comply with the EPA’s regulations The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has jurisdiction over bottled water as a packaged food product (Hirst, 2011)

TAP & BOTTLED WATER SAFETY Regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Maximum Contaminants Levels (MCLs) 96 contaminants included EPA has standards for 11 contaminants that FDA does not Public alerts for boil water orders or other advisories when contaminants exceed standards BOTTLED Regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Standards of Quality (SOQ) 91 contaminants included FDA has standards for 4 contaminants that EPA does not Water not allowed sold for consumption when SOQ not met or recalls mandated (Hirst, 2011)

TAP & BOTTLED WATER SAFETY Fluoride added to prevent caries May be implicated in flouridosis and bone cancer Filters available to remove by choice BOTTLED Fluoride available as additive in some brands Other additives available for designer waters such as: caffeine, additional mineral content, sweeteners (Moeller, 2011)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 2007 – bottled water demand required between 32 and 54 million barrels of oil for production and distribution, 2000 times more energy intensive than tap water Up to 40% of bottled water is filtered tap water for resale U.S. citizens may spend up to $1,400.00/year for bottled water – the same amount of tap water may cost 49 cents. (Pacific Institute, 2009) (Carbon Conscious Consumer, 2012) (The New York Times, 2007)

BOTTLED WATER WASTE MANAGEMENT 86% in U.S. are discarded as trash Burning discarded plastic bottles releases toxic chemicals such as chlorine gas and ash containing heavy metals Plastic does not biodegrade, it photodegrades – exposed to elements it breaks down to tiny particles contaminating food and water sources often eaten by marine animals then killing them or contaminating the food cycle The Great Pacific Plastic Trash Island http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4XzfR0FE8&feature=related (Carbon Conscious Consumer, 2012) (Moore, 2009)

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS & DRINKING WATER SAFETY loss of power to water treatment facilities or flood contamination due to natural disaster can affect availability of drinkable water The American Red Cross has suggestions for treatment of contaminated water Personal solar desalination device by University of Alabama developers available to yield 4-6 liters per day of drinkable water (Country Farm Lifestyles, 2012)

AMERICAN RED CROSS WATER DECONTAMINATION Filter water with cloth or coffee filter Boil on camp stove or over fire for 1 full minute Cool for 30 minutes before treating with plain household bleach Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon or 8 drops per 2 liter bottle of water Let stand for 30 minutes (American Red Cross, 2012)

CONCLUSION Both tap water and bottled water in the United States have safety records substantiating each as a suitable drinking choice…but at what cost? A responsible consumer choice clearly demonstrates the need to return to the tap

REFERENCES Albuquerque, C. & Roaf, V. (2012, February). On the right track: Good practices in realising the rights to water and sanitation. World Water Council. Retrieved from http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/wwc/Library/Publications_and_reports/O nTheRightTrackBook.pdf American Red Cross. (2012). Fact sheet: Post-disaster water treatment. Retrieved from http://www.in.gov/dhs/files/water_treatment.pdf Carbon Conscious Consumer. (2012). C3 campaign. Retrieved from http://205.153.117.210/c3/ Country Farm Lifestyles. (2012). Personal solar desalination device for clean drinking water. Retrieved from http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/solar-desalination.html

REFERENCES Hirst, R. (2011, October). Bottled water and tap water just the facts: A comparison of regulatory requirements for quality and monitoring of drinking water in the United States. Drinking Water Research Foundation (DWRF). Retrieved from http://www.thefactsaboutwater.org/uploads/BW%20PWS%20Just%20the%20Facts%20 2011%20Final.pdf Moeller, D. W. (2011). Environmental health (4th ed.). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. ISBN: 978-0674047402 Moore, Charles. (2009, March, 17). Charles Moore: The great pacific plastic trash island [video]. Algalita Marine Research Foundation (AMRF). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en4XzfR0FE8&feature=related Pacific Institute. (2009, February). New study reports bottled water use 2000 times more energy intensive than tap water. Retrieved from http://www.pacinst.org/press_center/press_releases/bottled_water_0209.html

REFERENCES The New York Times. (2007, August 1). In praise of tap water. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/01/opinion/01wed2.html