Critical Thinking Essay on the Use of Bottled Water

Resources and Pollution

The use of bottled water has been increasing in the US over the recent decade. According to Newswire (2007), an upward trend was reflected in the global sales of bottled water when global consumption reached 8.25 billion gallons. While the increased use of bottled water presents numerous benefits to both consumers and sellers, it leads to the problem of pollution. Various works of literature explore the benefits of bottled water but few pieces of literature examine the environmental impact it causes. Better environmental standards should be initiated to reduce the impact of bottled water on the surroundings.

Arguments against bottled water

One of the primary arguments against the use of bottled water is the landfill effect that it causes. Various bottlers realise the potential consequence that bottled water can cause on the environment and continue to advocate for recycling. However, it is worth noting that only a small number of bottles are recycled annually. Brown (2008) asserts that the recycling practices in numerous countries such as the United States are declining and only about 23% of the total water bottles get recycled. Manufacturers are creating bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which can easily get recycled but this has not reduced the environmental impact of bottle water use (Brown, 2008). The water bottles that are not recycled will end up being dumped in various landfills across the country.

The emission of greenhouse gases to the environment is also an environmental consequence of bottled water. The industrial manufacture of bottled water means that oil and gas would be used during the manufacturing process. Tap water does not lead to the emission of greenhouse gases which is one of the major benefits that it has in comparison to bottled water. However, the production, packaging and shipping of bottled water eventually led to the emission of carbon dioxide and other harmful gases (Brown, 2008).

Depletion of natural aquifers, however, may be one of the serious consequence of bottled water. The sale of mineral water, for example, will require producers to withdraw the water from natural resources. Bottling mineral water thus leads to the excessive withdrawal of water from the natural resources (Kogstad, 2009). It is not uncommon to find that the bottled water will be acquired from communities that need water but is then packaged and sold in other regions. The local residents may thus end up with little or no water.

Overall pollution of the environment also prompts the discontinuation of bottling water. People in parks and other public places use bottled water as an alternative to tap water. While bottled water may be convenient such as during events, the environmental footprint that it leaves is quite significant. Bottled water has created another problem for environment agencies due to the ease of pollution that it causes. Knopper (2008) explicates that the use of bottled water has become an uprising in Canadian schools and universities. Various students are demonstrating to have bottled water-free zones due to the environmental impact that it causes. These students are advocating for the use of tap water which is free and accessible to all.

Conclusion

The use of bottled water is a persistent problem for various jurisdictions. Policy makers and environmental agencies should institute policies that help to make tap water easily accessible to all people. For those who are not convinced about the implication of tap water, explaining the disadvantages that it brings and the merits of tap water can help convince them otherwise.

References

Brown, J. (2008, May). Water pressure. Vegetarian Times, (358), 29-31,6. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1466274691)

Knopper, M. (2008). Bottled water backlash. E: the Environmental Magazine, 19(3), 36-39. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1475949361).

Krogstad, A. (2009). Purifying the business of selling water. E: the Environmental Magazine, 20(1), 10-11. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1626604811).

Newswire (2007), Bottled water: More than just a story about sales growth; Stringent federal, state and industry standards help ensure safety, quality and good taste. (2007, April 9). PR Newswire. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1251895191).