Drink up: Tap Water is good For You Veronica Nuworsu MPH Student Walden University PUBH 6165-2 Instructor: Dr. Howard Rubin Fall Quarter, 2010 Hello Everyone, my name is Veronica Nuworsu MPH Student at Walden University. This presentation focuses on environmental health factors surrounding bottled water and why it is important to drink tap water.

Drink up: Tap water is good for you

INTRODUCTION Environmental health factors surrounding bottled water: Waste Quality Regulations Exposure to plastic Safety of tap water This presentation is to increase knowledge on the environmental health factors that surround bottled water by considering waste, quality, regulations, exposure to plastic, and the safety of tap water and to motivate the youth ages 18 to 25 including parents and teachers to decrease the consumption of bottled water.

Waste Bottled water is a drain on the environment More than 8 billion gallons of bottled water is consumed annually in the U.S. To make the plastic for the bottles about 1.5 million barrels of oil is burned. About 90 percent of the bottles are not recycled Bottled water is a drain on the environment: The U.S. public goes through about 50 billion water bottles a year, and most of these plastic containers are not recycled (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010). More than 8 billion gallons of bottled water is consumed annually in the U.S. An 8-ounce glass per person per day representing $11 billion in sales. It has been estimated that, to make the plastic for the bottles about 1.5 million barrels of oil is burned, enough to power 100,000 cars for a year. Meanwhile, about 90 percent of the bottles are not recycled (Paulson, T, 2010).

Waste Continued Bottled water contribute to excessive waste It is not cost effective Some bottled waters contain untested industrial chemicals Bottled water contribute to excessive waste, and also costs a thousand times more than water from our faucet at home, and it's likely not safer or cleaner. Reports indicate that some bottled waters contain untested industrial chemicals and may not necessarily be cleaner than tap water (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010).

Bottled water is a drain on the environment: The U. S Bottled water is a drain on the environment: The U.S. public goes through about 50 billion water bottles a year. Meanwhile, about 90 percent of the bottles are not recycled. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation (2007), Bottled water is the second fastest growing drink of choice in the United States, and Americans spend billions of dollars each year to buy it.

Why people drink bottled water: They prefer its taste or think it is safer than their tap water. Safe drinking water is essential to good health. People drink bottled water because they prefer its taste or think it is safer than their tap water. Whether water travels through a pipe or comes packaged in a bottle, safe drinking water is essential to good health. All drinking waters come from similar sources, either from sources we can see, such as rivers and lakes, or from sources we cannot see, such as underground aquifers (EPA, 2010).

Quality of Tap Water Source of tap water Quality of the water Natural mineral content How the water is treated The taste and quality of both bottled water and tap water depends on the source and quality of the water, including its natural mineral content and how the water is treated. As much as tap water is expected to contain at least small amounts of contaminants, bottled water can reasonably be expected to contain at least some amounts of contaminants as well. However, the presence of contaminants does not necessarily mean that the water poses a health risk. For example, minerals such as magnesium and calcium give water a unique flavor, and are essential to the body but at high levels, these and other contaminants including pesticides or microbes from human wastes can cause adverse effects or illness (EPA,2010).

Regulations U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -Sets standards for tap water. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -sets standards for bottled water based on EPA standards. To make sure that all water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for tap water provided by public water suppliers while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets standards for bottled water based on EPA standards. In many developing countries where there are not enough safe tap water, bottled water is the only option. But in the U.S., where tap water is federally regulated and often screened for dangerous pollutants, the public drinks 21 gallons (79 liters) of bottled water per capita per year on average (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010).

Exposure to Plastic Polycarbonate plastic often contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical linked to reproductive problems and heart disease (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010). #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is the most common resin used in disposable bottles. Many reusable bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic, which often contain bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical linked to reproductive problems and heart disease (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010). Water aside, the plastic used in single-use bottles can be contaminated than the water. A safe plastic if used only once, #1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) is the most common resin used in disposable bottles. However, as #1 bottles are reused, they can leak chemicals such as Diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA), a possible human carcinogen, and benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), a potential hormone disruptor. And because the plastic is porous, it is very likely to drink harmful bacteria with each gulp if the bottles are reused (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010).

Federal, state, and local regulations Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Safety of Tap Water Federal, state, and local regulations Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The safety of water is defined and determined by federal, state, and local regulations. The main federal law that ensures the quality of Americans' drinking water is the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). Under this act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers who implement those standards (cdc.gov, 2010) . The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world. According to the Surgeon General, Community water fluoridation is an effective, safe, and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay. This method of delivering fluoride benefits Americans of all ages and socioeconomic status (cdc.gov, 2010).

Safety of Tap Water continued One of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century is water fluoridation Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the process of tooth decay. CDC has recognized water fluoridation as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the process of tooth decay. It keeps tooth enamel strong and solid.

Conclusion High cost of bottled water Negative impact on - Health and the Environment In conclusion, some bottled water companies gain high profits by drawing water from public water sources, putting it in plastic containers, and reselling it at 2,900 times the price of regular tap water (Dell’Amore & Barclay, 2010). The facts are clear, drinking tap water in the United States is safe, bottled water clearly has negative impact on our health, our environment, as well as our wallets. It is therefore beneficial to boycott bottled water.

Drink up…the fluoride in tap water is good for you Boycott Bottled Water Drink up: Tap Water is good For You!

References: Beverage Marketing Corporation (2007). The 2007 Stats. Retrieved from http://www.bottledwater.org/public/Stats_2007.doc. Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (2010). Community Water Fluoridation. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/fact_sheets/benefits.htm Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (2010). Water Quality. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/water_quality.html

References: Dell’Amore, C., & Barclay, E. (2010). Why Tap Water Is Better Than Bottled Water. Retrieved from http://www.thegreenguide.com/food/buying/bottled-water Environmental Protection Agency (2005). Water Health Series: Bottled water Basics. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/pdfs/fs_healthseries_bottlewater.pdf Paulson, T. (2010). Thirst For Bottled Water May Hurt Environment. Seattle P I. Retrieved from http://www.seattlepi.com/local/312412_botwaterweb.html

Retrieved from http://www.google.com/images?q=pictures+of+tap+water Photo Reference: Retrieved from http://www.google.com/images?q=pictures+of+tap+water