With the dramatic increase in packaged water sales, there is rising concern about their proliferation. Environmentalist lobbies are warning that disposable plastic bottles are cluttering up the oceans and the landfills. The reusability which is mentioned by various bodies does not in effect work. Then there are several other issues as well. Let us see what the issues are and why they may not be entirely correct.
The first major issue is that plastic bottles disposed of do not degrade. They are not biodegradable. Well, plastic per se is not biodegradable. But drinking water is packaged using PET; at least the big brands like Bisleri use PET only. Now PET can be recycled and is a process which is used. The problem is that several companies do not use PET for their bottles, and these can seriously harm the environment.
However, all big brands use PET. The empty bottles are collected by people who do this work and then sold to manufacturers of bottles to be reused. Thus, all packaged water bottles pollute the environment is not strictly correct.
The second major issue mentioned is the impurity of packaged water: they contain water that may be contaminated and therefore unfit for consumption. This may be true of unscrupulous vendors who want to make quick profits but is definitely not true of the big brands who have a reputation to protect. These companies make sure that the water they sell is pure and free from any form of contamination. The water they source is from reliable sources, and before the water is accepted for processing, it is tested for impurities.
The water then is passed through a series of steps to make it suitable for use. Only then does it become packaged water. The processes used for this involve several steps. There is filtration using sand, which removes basic impurities and solids. Then the water undergoes a filtration process using carbon, which removes odours, and trace elements of pesticides if present.
The next process is ozonization, which has proved extremely effective in removing most microbes and bacteria. Some companies use a dual process to ensure that everything undesirable is gone. The reverse osmosis process also helps remove all trace elements of bacteria and microbes. It is a highly effective process and has been shown to be highly efficient in the removal of pathogens.
Therefore, the fact that packaged water is impure is not strictly correct. Of course, buying packaged water which little known and somewhat shady companies sell, is a risk. That water may really be impure.
The accusations that packaged water may not even be filtered applies only to unscrupulous vendors. It does not apply to the big companies who control quality carefully.
The issue that drinking packaged water causes health concerns is an issue that probably involves the vendors who do not follow the guidelines for processing water or the material which their bottles are made from. Cheaper, as they say, is not always better.
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As for the allegation that plastic releases toxins into the water is true for small companies who do not care. But then adulteration is a problem in any food industry. The PET bottles do not release toxins of any kind into the water. That’s why big companies use this material exclusively for their bottles and cans.
As for the statement that drinking packaged water causes weight gains. And packaged water using the proper plastic material does not change the nature of the water in any way.
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