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Column from the Bottled Water Reporter

August/September 2008

By Tom Lauria, IBWA vice president, communications

“An Open Letter to Environmentalists”

Published with permission from the Bottle Water Reporter, August/September 2008.

The legendary conservationist John Muir, a true champion of environmental stewardship, founded the Sierra Club in 1892. One can imagine Muir and President Teddy Roosevelt on their famous camping trip together in the Sierra Nevadas, dipping their palms into the cool natural water from springs that are abundant in the mountain range to quench their thirsts.

It is interesting to note that 72 years before Muir established the Sierra Club, people also thirsty for clean, natural spring water began bottling it in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1820. In Poland Springs, Maine, bottled water began to be produced in 1845. In Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mountain Valley Spring Water began bottling operations in 1871. In 1862, Calistoga Springs at the base of Mount Saint Helena in the Napa Valley opened and by 1880, poet Robert Louis Stevenson was writing about the power and beauty of the waters there.

These natural spring sources remain pristine and commercially viable to this day and are outstanding examples of sound and continuous environmental stewardship by the bottled water industry. It’s true than millions of Americans cannot cup their hands and dip into springs for a refreshing taste of water in its natural state at the source, but this being the 21st Century, we’ve found sanitary and efficient ways to bring it to them in a bottle. By any measure, bottled water companies are very much natural allies of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, and we ask their members to consider working with us on comprehensive, science-based and equitable environmental resource management proposals and/or assist us in promoting new and expanded recycling initiatives, such as single-stream curbside recycling programs. Such a partnership would truly benefit the public at large. They could enjoy the best of our natural resources while feeling confident that they have taken action to actively protect the environment.

Any effort to reduce the environmental impact of packaging must focus on all consumer goods and not target any one industry. The light-weight PET plastic containers used for bottled water make up only one- third of 1 percent of the U.S. waste stream. Meanwhile, the remaining 99.66 percent of America’s waste material, from other plastic containers to newspapers to baby diapers will require the assistance of industry and activists to recycle and guide post-consumer waste to utilitarian re-use. Visit any supermarket you choose; every consumer product in every aisle needs to be recycled. It’s a big job; national in scope.

In addition to the sale of small package bottled water in retail locations, the traditional delivery of fresh, bottled drinking water to the doorsteps of business and home consumers continues today with bottled water’s Home and Office (HOD) delivery sector. The 3- and 5- gallon bottled water containers are used, sanitized and reused up to 40 times before they are recycled, enabling bottlers to live up to their moniker “the original recyclers.”

Today, the well-being and comfort of society as a whole is based on the availability of clean, safe, abundant municipal water. Contrary to statements made by some environmental activists, IBWA members are not “anti-tap water.” We don’t think the issue is “bottled water verses tap water.” It’s healthy to drink clean water, be it from a bottle or the tap. Bottled water companies use municipal water in all their production facilities and some bottled water products, which are then purified to meet the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards and definitions for bottled water from municipal water systems.

Frankly, we don’t completely comprehend the position of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) nor the Environmental Working Group (EWG) on tap water. While these organizations unfairly misrepresent the facts about bottled water, both groups go to even greater lengths to disparage and criticize municipal water systems. Hydration is essential for good health and life itself. What exactly do NRDC and EWG want people to drink? We know their criticism of tap water stems from a deep concern to improve the nation’s deteriorating infrastructure and we concur wholeheartedly on that point. IBWA is in regular contact with some of the best scientists in hydrology. We understand the concerns that have been raised about America’s impaired infrastructure. But when NRDC and EWG are critical of both sides, there is a huge potential for consumer confusion. The more we work together to safeguard our municipal water supply – and speak with one voice -- the more we are likely to succeed in accomplishing our mutual goal – making safe, clean water available to all consumers.

This leads us to the water below the surface of the earth; the spring sources and deeply buried aquifers in every region of the United States that produce some of the purest, most delicious water in the world. The activists at Clean Water Action (CWA) fear that sourcing of those waters will lead to depletion. The truth is that natural cycles of rain and snow have fed and replenished those sources for millions of years. IBWA supports the equitable and science-based application of any groundwater resource management legislation or regulation being considered at the state or federal level. Just like CWA, we exist to protect the aquifers, too. In fact, our existence as an industry depends on it. Bottled water has a commendable safety and health record. And it all starts with clean, fresh water.

Here’s another interesting truth: In a 2005 report, bottled water accounts for only two-tenths of 1 percent of groundwater withdrawals in the United States. Because bottlers know the underground springs to be one of nature’s most precious resources, they oversee its withdrawal with a respect that borders on reverence. Those who would fret about our stewardship need to look at various bottling operations for American spring waters that have been in continual operation for nearly 200 years. If we look to Europe, we find bottled water that has been commercially available at a single source since the 17th Century. Natural spring water drawn from the San Pellegrino Alps in Italy has been commercially available from the same source since 1691. Another labeled bottle water from France that continues to be served in restaurants today dates back to 1650. There’s both a history lesson and a sterling example of ecological conservation in every glass.

Also absent from today’s media circus over bottled water is the simplest and most basic of facts: bottled water tastes good. To some people’s palates, all water tastes alike, and those people might be inclined to wonder what the fuss is all about. Others can readily differentiate and appreciate the attributes of one brand of bottled water over another. The activists at Food and Water Watch (FWW) have misstated the facts on bottled water in context with the environment and they unwisely ignore the fact all waters have a demonstrable flavor. We recommend they consult the American Water Works Association’s taste and odor wheel for water. The people who are responsible for municipal water systems – the tap water industry – have carefully accounted for the taste and smell attributes that the minerals and/or chemicals in water produce. The flavor of water can be reduced to scientific measurement. Tap water has its share of issues with odors and flavors and it would help if FWW paid more attention to factors that drive human behavior.

When spring or municipal source water is bottled and conveniently made commercially available, it is a delicious beverage that holds its own on a retail shelf loaded with soft drinks and bottled teas and coffees. It is a simple, healthy alternative to sweetened, caffeinated or artificially flavored drinks. Some consumers tell us that nothing quite refreshes like crisp, clear bottled water. We can’t imagine why Food and Water Watch would even indirectly discourage consumers from making a healthy beverage choice. Bottled water is a safe, quality product that is readily available for immediate hydration and refreshment. Pure and simple bottled water just seems to really hit the spot.

A special thanks to Francis H. Chapelle of the U.S. Geological Service, whose book “Wellsprings: A Natural History of Bottled Spring Water” is a top resource for people who care about where their water comes from.

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