1. The True Cost of Bottled Water April Hight, MPH student Walden University PUBH Instructor: Dr. Robert Marino Winter Term, 2011
This presentation is intended for teenagers attending area high schools.
The objectives of this presentation are to increase awareness of the many costs of bottled water as opposed to tap water . These include not only the substantial financial difference, but the cost to health and the environment.

2. By the end of this presentation you will be able to:
Recognize the differences between bottled and tap water
Be aware of the effects of bottled water on your health and the environment
Make an educated choice on whether or not you will drink bottled water or tap water

3. You want how much? For water?
American’s spend billions of dollars every year on bottled water (Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 2010).
The average bottle of water costs 2,900 times the price of the same amount of water you’d get from your faucet at home(Karlstrom & Dell’Amore, 2010).
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), (2010). Commercially bottled water. Retrieved from
Karlstrom, S., Dell’Amore, D. (2010). National Geographic. Why tap water is better than bottled water. Retrieved from
Have you ever be out somewhere and asked for water, thinking to yourself that you will save some money and calories, only to be told that there is no free water, you have to buy a bottled water? Bottled water is fast becoming one of Americas’ top beverages. Americans spend billions of dollars every year on this clear, somewhat tasteless beverage that highly resembles something that comes from all of our faucets at home. So is bottled water worth almost 2,900 times the price of your tap water?

4. Some reasons why people choose bottled water
People believe that bottled water is a safer option than tap water
Bottled water is a healthier
option than soft drinks, etc
Bottled water is convenient
We’ll start by looking at some of the reasons why people choose bottled water. Many people believe that bottled water is safer than tap or municipal water. Many people avoid drinking tap water because they believe it contains contaminants that can effect their health.
Most of us know that drinking water is good for their health. Replacing high calorie, sugary drinks with water is a good option that can benefit you in many ways, including helping you to maintain a healthy weight. Bottled water is convenient for our “on the go” lifestyle.

5. Get the facts, before you spend the cash!
Key differences between bottled and tap water:
Bottled water is considered a food and therefore, regulated by the FDA (Federal Food and Drug Administration)
Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Because bottled water is considered a food it is regulated by the Federal Food and Drug Administration. Tap water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency . So, you are probably asking, what does this mean to me? The Federal Food and Drug Administration has different standards that tend to be more lax than the Environmental Protection Agency. According the FDA (2010), “the FDA has an allowable level for contaminates, including up to 70 different chemical contaminants”.

6. Bottled vs. Tap
Tap water is tested for microorganisms several times daily (AllAboutWater.org, 2004).
Bottled water companies are only required to test once a week (AllAboutWater.org, 2004).
Public Water Companies are required to report contaminants (Environmental Nutrition, 2009).
One study found 38 pollutants including arsenic and pharmaceuticals after testing water from 10 different bottled water companies ( Environmental Nutrition, 2009).
AllAboutWater.org. (2004). The truth about bottled water- is it really better than tap? Retrieved from
New Study Finds Fault With Some Bottled Waters; Tap Water a Better Bet. (2009). Environmental Nutrition, 32(1), 3.
Because bottled water and tap water are regulated differently, there are differences in the way they are tested for contaminants. Tap water, or municipal water, is tested for microorganisms and contaminants several times daily, while bottled water is only required to be tested once a week. Public water companies are required to report contaminants in the water to those who are affected in water quality reports, while bottled water companies are not.
A study conducted by a nonprofit public health advocacy group based out of Washington, D.C. found 38 pollutants including arsenic and pharmaceuticals after testing water from 10 different bottled water companies.

7. Know what you’re drinking… Read the label
Look for water treatment methods:
Reverse osmosis
Distillation
Ultraviolet light
Filtration with absolute 1 micron per bottle
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2005). Bottle water basics. Retrieved from
Look for the source:
Protected wells and Spring water are less likely to be contaminated with Cryptosporidium(EPA, 2005).
“Mountain Water” “Glacier Water” not regulated sources (EPA, 2005).
Bottled water can be treated by several different methods. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, reverse osmosis, distillation, ultraviolet light, and filtration with absolute 1 micron per bottle are the only treatments that effectively kill cryptosporidium, a contaminate in water that can cause illness.
Bottled water can come from several different sources. Protected wells and spring water sources are less likely to be contaminated. Be aware of terms such as “Mountain water” and “Glacier water” these are not regulated sources. For all you know, you could be paying for water that came from a municipal water source or from something even less pristine.

8. Attention: Don’t drink and reuse
The plastic that bottled water is made from could contain toxins such as phthalate
(AllAboutWater.org, 2004).
#1 Polyethylene terephthal (PET) releases chemicals if used more than once (AllAboutWater.org, 2004)
Toxins could lead to possible cancer risk or hormone disruption (AllAboutWater.org, 2004).
AllAboutWater.org. (2004). The truth about bottled water-is it really better than tap? Retrieved from
Bottled water is made from an ingredient called # 1 Polyethylene terephthal (PET) that can release chemicals than can be toxic, especially if the bottle is reused. Because the plastic the bottle is made from is a good carrier for bacteria, you also run the risk of drinking contaminated water is you reuse the bottle.

9. Bottled water not only costs more to drink, it can also cost you a smile.
Fluoride was added to municipal drinking water during the second half of the 20th century and lead to a huge decline in dental cavities (CDC, 2010).
Bottled water may or may not contain fluoride(CDC, 2010).
Most contain levels that are less than optimal (CDC, 2010).
Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (2010). Commercially Bottled Water. Retrieved from
In the second half of the 20th century fluoride was added to municipal (or tap) drinking water and has lead to a large decline in dental cavities in the United States. Bottled water is not required to contain fluoride. When it is included, most levels are less than optimal for good oral health.

10. Bottled Water: Effects on the Environment
U.S. Drinks around 50 billion
bottles of water a year(Karlstrom
& Dell’Amore, 2010).
80% end up in landfills each
year (Karlstrom & Dell’Amore,
2010).
Water bottles are not
biodegradable and release
toxic chemicals (Karlstrom &
Dell’Amore, 2010).
Karlstrom, S., Dell’Amore, D. (2010). National Geographic. Why tap water is better than bottled water. Retrieved from
We’ve discussed the effects of bottled water on your health, now let’s discuss the effects on the environment. Bottled water is fast becoming on of America’s favorite drinks, leading to a huge amount of bottles being disposed of. About 80 percent of these bottles end up in land fills every year. These bottles do not break down naturally and release toxic chemicals that are detrimental to the environment.

11. Some things you’ve probably never thought about…
Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press.
Some things you’ve probably never thought about…
Increase in fossil fuels due to cooling and transporting (Karlstrom & Dell’Amore, 2010).
Ground pumping can drain watersheds (our natural resources for water) (Karlstrom & Dell’Amore, 2010).
May take 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water (Karlstrom & Dell’Amore, 2010).
Trash is not the only effect that bottled water has on the environment. There has been an increase in fossil fuel (gas) consumption from transporting bottled water and keeping it cool. Companies whose water source is ground water can drain water sheds, which are our natural resources for water. Some estimates have suggested that it may take up to 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water! What a waste when you consider the fact that we are only able to use about .3 percent of water on earth for drinking and other purposes (Moeller, 2005).
Reference
Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press.
Karlstrom, S., Dell’Amore, D. (2010). National Geographic. Why tap water is better than bottled water. Retrieved from

12. Putting things in perspective
Only 0.3% of the earth’s water can be used for human purposes (Moeller, 2005).
1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water (Ong’Or & Long-Cang, 2007).
If water consumption continues to be in as high demand, half of the world could be facing water shortage (Moeller, 2005).
Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press.
Ong’Or, B., & Long-Cang, S. (2007). Water supply crisis and mitigation options in Kisumu City, Kenya. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 23(3), 485–500.
As mentioned previously, only 3 percent of the earth’s water can be used for human purposes. An astounding 1.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water around the world. Most of these are in developing countries where bottled water would definitely be the safest choice. If water consumption continues at the rate it is today, it is possible that half of the world could be facing a water shortage in the future.

13. Here’s a challenge: Put your money to better use!
According to the facts, bottled water is no safer than tap water here in America (in fact, it may pose more health hazards)
We’ve discussed how bottled water negatively affects the environment in more ways than one
If we all drank tap water instead of bottled water those extra dollars could go towards better water for everyone! (Karlstrom & Dell’Amore, 2010).
Karlstrom, S., Dell’Amore, D. (2010). National Geographic. Why tap water is better than bottled water. Retrieved from
According to the facts presented earlier in this presentation, we can conclude that bottled water is not safer than tap water. In fact, a may pose more health hazards the tap water. We’ve addressed the all of the negative effects bottled water has on the environment. So, here is your challenge. If all of us drank tap water instead of buying bottled water, the revenue created could be used to improve overall water quality for everyone.

14. Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this presentation.
Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to this presentation. I hope that what you’ve learned today will inspire you to make a change that will effect not only you, but future generations as well.

15. References
AllAboutWater.org. (2004). The truth about bottled water- is it really better than tap? Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control (CDC), (2010). Commercially bottled water. Retrieved from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2005). Bottle water basics. Retrieved from Karlstrom, S., Dell’Amore, D. (2010). National Geographic. Why tap water is better than bottled water. Retrieved from Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press. New Study Finds Fault With Some Bottled Waters; Tap Water a Better Bet. (2009). Environmental Nutrition, 32(1), 3. Ong’Or, B., & Long-Cang, S. (2007). Water supply crisis and mitigation options in Kisumu City, Kenya. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 23(3), 485–500.

16. For more information, check out these websites:
Contains helpful information on bottled water and filter use.
Contains bottled water regulations for contaminates