Blue gold: The effects of bottling tap water

DARIA FARMAN-FARMAIAN: Though bottled water has become ubiquitous in the US, it did not always have such a presence in America’s culture, politics, and economy. In 2019, Americans consumed 14.4 billion gallons of bottled water, up 3.6% from 2018 alone. One reason for this rise in bottled water is necessary when municipal tap water has proven unhealthy.

The residents of Florence, South Carolina are no strangers to this phenomenon. Many frequently use bottled water for cooking and drinking, and the state often suggests they boil their water before consumption. Issues of water contamination affect Black, low-income, and rural communities at higher rates. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “from 2010-2016 the drinking water systems that regularly violated the law by not meeting its clean water standards were 40 percent more likely to serve people of color.”

However, 92% of American tap water meets EPA standards. Though some see this as troublingly low, especially considering the disproportionate effects on marginalized communities, the Federal Drug Administration cannot confirm that bottled water is safer than what comes from the tap. There is actually evidence that bottled water is less safe than municipal tap water, which is highly regulated, passing through water treatment plants and being tested along strict standards multiple times a day by the EPA.

By contrast, the bottled water industry remains highly unregulated and shrouded in secrecy. Companies conduct their own water testing and do not need to make this data widely available. 

The production of the plastic materials necessary for the bottles themselves demonstrates a lack of regulation. Plastics are made in oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Plastic water bottle manufacturing uses 714 million gallons of oil every year, which produces carcinogenic air pollutants. 

One such plastic manufacturer is the $9.4 billion Formosa Plastics complex proposed for St. James Parish in Louisiana. The operation would emit more than 800 tons of toxic pollutants and more than 13.6 million tons of greenhouse gases annually. Already, the parish has one of the highest densities of petrochemical sites in the US and is commonly termed “Cancer Alley” because of the health effects that arise from living in the area. 

If built, this Formosa Plastics would expose residents of St. James to more than triple the current level of toxic chemicals in the air. 

Democratic lawmakers are calling for presidential action to revoke the wetlands permit as it would be especially harmful to black community members. Though President Biden has been clear in his climate stance in favor of environmental justice, local organizers have yet to hear anything from the administration regarding the plant. 

However, the harms of buying plastic water bottles extend beyond creating health problems for local communities. It also threatens bottled water quality. Independent testing of bottled water has found many contaminants from petrochemical plants such as Toluene, which is found in gasoline and paint thinners. As for the actual water used in water bottles, 40% is just filtered tap water.

Alongside the health consequences of the bottled water industry, questions of economic equity are also relevant. Profit incentives lead water companies to sell their product for around 2000 times more than the cost of tap water, lending credence to the idea that water is “blue gold.” Even though tap water makes up much of bottled water, the bottled water industry is expected to hit $319.8 billion by 2022 because of its exorbitant resale prices. Not only are large businesses profiting from this industry, but they are also doing so at the expense of consumers who face severe economic exploitation and, often, health risks.

Not surprisingly, air pollutants from plastic production also affect the environment as 8 million tons of plastic bottles end up in the oceans every year. If they break down, they can end up in the human food chain and negatively impact plant and animal habitats. Studies predict that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. 

Despite health risks, economic drawbacks, and environmental threats, bottled water consumption is booming and on the rise—beyond what is necessary in public health emergencies. This is largely because bottled water is seen as more convenient. Climate change and water scarcity also tempts a lot of states and countries that are facing water challenges to hand responsibility over to the private sector. 

However, and despite trends towards more bottled water consumption, it is estimated that by 2030, ⅔ of the world population will not have access to clean drinking water.

Making a cultural shift in our plastic water bottle consumption as a country is critical to enabling everyone’s access to clean drinking water. 70% of the Earth's surface is covered with water, but only 1% of it is drinkable. Protecting this 1% involves putting increased health and environmental regulations on bottled water companies. Lawmakers also need to invest more seriously in water infrastructure, specifically.

Biden’s infrastructure plan outlines a total of $111 billion for water infrastructure. However, without action against large plastic plants like Formosa Plastics in St. James, progress will be slow. While important in some instances, we need to stop the mass use of disposable plastic water bottles in order to create a safer, cleaner, and more affordable future.