Why we need to BAN single-use plastic water bottles
By Suzanne Soto-Davies
We need to work together in order to make change happen.
We need to BAN single-use water bottle sales in Burlington, Ontario. The research is plenty, the reasons are too. Work together with us and let’s make this happen!
Chances are that you have indoor plumbing in your home – so why are you purchasing and transporting bottled water from your supermarket?
Myth: Bottled water is healthier water.
Fact:
Just look at the labels of bottled water: Sources are from “deep, pristine pools of spring water” or “majestic alpine peaks”. In reality water is just water, and municipal water systems are well-regulated. While public safety groups correctly point out that many municipal water systems are aging and there remain hundreds of chemical contaminants, there’s very little evidence that suggests bottled water is any cleaner or better for you than its tap equivalent. Yet bottled water is extremely expensive, with one regular single-use litre bottle costing more than a litre of gasoline. The truth is, most bottled water is just filtered water.
Bottled water is regulated as a food product under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and as such, water bottling plants are inspected on average only once every 3 years. Tap water regulation on the other hand, is far more stringent, with municipal tap water being continually tested – both during and after treatment. Check your bottled water labels carefully: The source of the spring or mineral water must be clearly identified, otherwise it may come from any source, including a well or municipal water supply, and may be treated to make it fit for human consumption.
A WWF study concluded that in 50% of the cases studied, the only difference between tap and bottled water was that the latter contained added minerals and salts, which “do not actually mean the water is healthier.”
The plastic often used to make water bottles contains a variety of health-harming chemicals that can easily leach out and contaminate the water, such as cancer-causing PFOA’s (perfluorooctanoic acid), PBDEs (flame retardant chemicals), which have been linked to reproductive problems and altered thyroid levels, phthalates, which are reproductive toxins, and BPA, which disrupts the endocrine system by mimicking the female hormone estrogen. If you leave your water bottle in a hot car, or reuse it, your exposure is magnified because heat and stress increase the amount of chemicals that leach out of the plastic.
Read the full article here .
aquafil Water Bubblers and Refill Stations keep the public refreshed and hydrated and eliminate the need for single-use plastic water bottles. Everyone can make a difference and help the environment by using public water bubblers and refusing to buy or use plastic bottled water. Call us today on 1300 400 006 to find our more about modern day water bubblers.
