In Zhihua Hu's article, "Bottled Water... Quality," James Gleick states, "Eighty-five million bottles of water are consumed in the United States every day and more than thirty billion bottles a year." Many people do not realize what they are doing to the environment when they dispose of their water bottles. Individuals take advantage of the environment by using bottled water as a convenient resource.
Bottled water has not always been available to individuals. While most people living in the past century did not have running water, some individuals had a well in their backyard that provided them with the essential water they needed. He or she would get a bucket, walk to the well, and pump the water into the bucket. When men and women were …show more content…
While water may not be the issue, the bottle in which the water comes in is extremely hazardous. Plastic waste is a harmful substance that causes damage to oceans and ecosystems. Ecosystems that rely on watersheds are damaged when excessive water is removed because in ecosystem deaths occur. This process can kill fish, frogs, black hawks, trees, etc. Although precipitation can quickly replenish surface sources, aquifers can take years to recover from the excessive water removal (qtd. in Sevigny 5). Plastic waste can also cause harm to coral reefs in the bottom of the ocean by causing infectious diseases. When individuals dispose of plastic or garbage in oceans, they do not consider the health of coral reefs. Plastic at the bottom of the ocean attach to coral reefs and tear open the corals skin allowing infection to occur (qtd. in Christopher Joyce). When individuals toss garbage or plastic containers in the ocean, they are harming not only coral reefs, but also mammals. If individuals realized the harm they were causing to various ecosystems, they might take the ban of bottled water into consideration. Not only does plastic have a huge impact on the environment and ecosystems, the water inside the bottle can also be a health …show more content…
Bottled water can be helpful in natural disaster situations. For example, if a country experiences a natural disaster and runs out of water, individuals donate and ship cases of bottled water to keep individuals alive and hydrated. The convenience of bottled water allows water, an important source of living, to be shipped faster and easier. Charles Fishman believes banning bottled water will result in "well-intentioned student activism on campus" (675). The banning of bottled water on college campuses makes no sense if they do not ban caffeinated products also. "Coke is about 95 percent water; Diet coke is 99 percent water" (Fishman 675). Fishman later goes on to say, "It takes a fleet equivalent to 40,000 18-wheelers just to deliver the bottled water Americans buy every week" (675). Fishman then asks, "how is the fleet of trucks delivering water in bottles any different than the fleets delivering caramel-colored, caffeinated water in bottles?" (675). The main problem Fishman mentions is the banning of bottled water, and not caffeinated products. Bottled water also satisfies individuals who exercise and play sports. If an individual is running on the treadmill at the gym or practicing for an upcoming game, he or she is more likely to grab a bottle of water instead of a caffeinated drink. Water replenishes and satisfies an individual when he or she is enervated or
Bottled water has not always been available to individuals. While most people living in the past century did not have running water, some individuals had a well in their backyard that provided them with the essential water they needed. He or she would get a bucket, walk to the well, and pump the water into the bucket. When men and women were …show more content…
While water may not be the issue, the bottle in which the water comes in is extremely hazardous. Plastic waste is a harmful substance that causes damage to oceans and ecosystems. Ecosystems that rely on watersheds are damaged when excessive water is removed because in ecosystem deaths occur. This process can kill fish, frogs, black hawks, trees, etc. Although precipitation can quickly replenish surface sources, aquifers can take years to recover from the excessive water removal (qtd. in Sevigny 5). Plastic waste can also cause harm to coral reefs in the bottom of the ocean by causing infectious diseases. When individuals dispose of plastic or garbage in oceans, they do not consider the health of coral reefs. Plastic at the bottom of the ocean attach to coral reefs and tear open the corals skin allowing infection to occur (qtd. in Christopher Joyce). When individuals toss garbage or plastic containers in the ocean, they are harming not only coral reefs, but also mammals. If individuals realized the harm they were causing to various ecosystems, they might take the ban of bottled water into consideration. Not only does plastic have a huge impact on the environment and ecosystems, the water inside the bottle can also be a health …show more content…
Bottled water can be helpful in natural disaster situations. For example, if a country experiences a natural disaster and runs out of water, individuals donate and ship cases of bottled water to keep individuals alive and hydrated. The convenience of bottled water allows water, an important source of living, to be shipped faster and easier. Charles Fishman believes banning bottled water will result in "well-intentioned student activism on campus" (675). The banning of bottled water on college campuses makes no sense if they do not ban caffeinated products also. "Coke is about 95 percent water; Diet coke is 99 percent water" (Fishman 675). Fishman later goes on to say, "It takes a fleet equivalent to 40,000 18-wheelers just to deliver the bottled water Americans buy every week" (675). Fishman then asks, "how is the fleet of trucks delivering water in bottles any different than the fleets delivering caramel-colored, caffeinated water in bottles?" (675). The main problem Fishman mentions is the banning of bottled water, and not caffeinated products. Bottled water also satisfies individuals who exercise and play sports. If an individual is running on the treadmill at the gym or practicing for an upcoming game, he or she is more likely to grab a bottle of water instead of a caffeinated drink. Water replenishes and satisfies an individual when he or she is enervated or