Bottle Water

Bottle Water. Do we need it?

Well, if we go back a step and look at what water does for our bodies.

1. water is essential for almost all the body's living cells to function
2. our blood is 95% water; bones are 22% water and surprisingly 75% of the human brain is water.
3. humans can live for 14 days or more without food, but without water, we can only survive a couple of days.

So we know it's vital to us. But the question still remains whether water is vital.

The rise and rise of bottled water
We can trace back the enormous growth of this form of hydration from some of the scares in the 1980's and 1990's about the safety of tap water, that is, water sourced from our cities and regional dams.

People started to really question the quality of what came out of their taps and faucets. And once those questions arose they never fully went away.

Another reason for the bottled form taking off is sheer convenience. We're a 'have-it-now' society. Instant gratification of our wants. Water and general hydration falls into that category. And marketers were quick to seize on the opportunity.

Who drinks water this way?
Our research indicates that it is drunk by people of different age groups and occupations. The biggest majority however tends to be young singles and couples, especially females between 14-35 years of age.

From a lifestyle point of view consumers can be generally described as being more health conscious, socially aware and contemporary than the broader population.

The case for Bottle Water
In a word convenience. Make no mistake it is simply packaged filtered water.  In most developed countries the drinking water from the faucet is perfectly fine.

And water is water, right? So, Bottle Water must be Bottle Water, right as well? That's true unless it has been modified in some way such as added functionality, such as sports drinks. Whether you need this function is a whole other question. Water, clean and simple, is the best thirst quencher there is.

The case against
Hmmm, the jury is out on this one. Here's a few reasons for the prosecution.
1. The environmental impact of not only plastic bottles (which is huge) but also the manufacturing process.
2. Expense. Enough said.
3. Comparative quality. If you're happy with your local water then it's hard to justify the extra cost.
4. Alternatives. You could simply buy reusable container and top it up throughout the day. Very convenient. There's even bottles with built-in filters if that makes you feel better.
5. Fluoride. There is some speculation the increased consumption of water has led to an increase in cavities.

In summary, Bottle Water has its place especially in our convenience-loving world. But it has its drawbacks, especially environmental, and public water is a safe alternative.

Enjoy!