2.  The use of mineral water dates back to ancient times  In the past it was just as common to bathe in mineral springs as to drink the water The practice of immersing oneself in water from the hot mineral springs in the town of Bath in England gave the town its name

3.  Hydrotherapy has gone in and out of fashion, but the drinking of mineral water seemed to become more popular when it was no longer necessary to travel to the water’s source to drink it.

4. The origin of bottled water industry comes from the thermal resorts The bottling activity stems from the custom of visiting spa towns and the wish of visitors to continue benefiting at home from the properties of medicinal waters.

5. The first mechanical corking machine was invented in 1840..and bottling plants spread across Europe throughout the 19th century.

6. It was over the second half of the 20 th century that bottled water started to be widely distributed through grocery shops and to be served in cafes and restaurants as a drink.

7. Mineral water, source of life It is an indispensable element of our life It adds substances to our organism

8. Mineral water has been believed to possess therapeutic properties There is a persistant belief in its near-magical properties

9. Widespread groundwater pollution a question of lifestyle in developed countries regular inspections have proved that tap water is perfectly safe and sufficient for all one’s requirement in many developing countries where the standards of environmental hygiene are dubious is recommended boiling and filtering ordinary water bottled water does come in handy when you are on move or while travelling some people dislike the “flat” taste of ordinary water

11. Businessmen certainly have reason to be happy ! ! ! Why ? The rise in pollution has increased the demand for clean water !!! This in turn has led to a booming business in mineral water. The numerous brands in the market are evidence enough

13. In the last 10 years the national mineral water production has grown from 6.100 million liters to 9.150 million liters, with annual value of almost two and half billion euros The average annual cost is about 300 euros for every Italian family Almost half Italian population prefers bottle water to tap water 266 different brands of mineral water are present in Italy As a paradox Italy is a country rich in springs, usually of high quality

16. Bottled water means transportation problems The water is often carried long distances, involving huge consumption of fossil fuels Transport

17. 5 millions plastic bottles are used per year, which are not biodegradable and have almost unlimited life when disposed in the environment At the end of life plastic bottles are incenererated and become rensponsible for the emission in the atmosphere of toxic compounds Pollution and waste problems

18. Waste problems There is an inevitable mountain of waste produce by all these empty disposable containers …and the waste plastic is buried in landfill sites

19. ...moreover during their use plastic bottles do not ensure the hygienic safety ensured by glass bottles, since they can loose unwanted compounds in water, particularly if they are stocked in a warm place or under the sunlight. PET, the new kind of plastic used for bottling water, is safe even though it depends on the temperature under which bottles are kept.

21. Most tap water is just as clean and safe as bottled water. The idea of bottled water being pure is a marketing myth. Compared to tap water, which is daily controlled, bottled water offers less warranties of official controls. The bottling companies do not have to test the water after bottling or storage. Bottled water costs hundred or thousands of times more than tap water.

22. The production of bottled water causes significant equity, public health and environmental problems: taking water from communities which depend on it. polluting the environment during the production of plastic contributing to global warming by transporting bottled water over great distances disposing of billions of empty bottles But switching from bottled to tap water also go along with the governments creating a clean water trust fund to mantain and improve drinking water and sewage systems

23. Liceo Socio Psico Pedagogico Classi 4C e 4B Classi 4C e 4B Alunne : Agostinelli Ilaria - Balducci Barbara - Cirino Giulia - Lilli Emma Mercatelli Livia - Neri Debora Maria