Water: The Elixir of Life
Posted by: owleyes333 / Category: arrowhead mountain spring water, Environmental Science BIO 36, tap water, waterOn Monday, I was at the humane shelter walking a dog, when all of a sudden it began to rain. At first there were just a few measly raindrops here and there, so I thought it was safe to continue on playing fetch with the dog I had out. However, as the dog got more tired, the rain got heavier, and my main concern was trying to find a place to rest and some water for the dog. I walked him to the nearest closed space, but on the way there he kept trying to lick at the puddles on the floor or chomp at the rain. It was not until I sat him down and put a bowl of tap water in front of him that he was satisfied. And it was at that moment that I truly understood the devastation that an inadequate flow of clean, drinkable water would bring to this world. So when it came time that one of the fellow volunteers came by, laughed, petted the dog and commented on how that water was like his elixir of life, I truly had to agree. It was the same for us humans, too.
I have always thought it so silly that out of all of the water found on this Earth, humans can only drink a small percentage of it. It really does not seem fair, but what can you do? Its all we have got, and its the base of most things we need (or think we need) so we sure as hell better take care of it. And take care of ourselves as well! Its important to drink as much good, clean water as you can while you can - which brings me to this week's blog question.
Tap or Plastic?
In general, most people believe that purchased, bottled water is safer than tap water. In some places, this is true. In other places, it is not. In watching the short film "The Story of Bottled Water" it becomes clear that bottled water initially began as a marketing ploy. Large companies wanted to expand, figured soda could not be the only thing to make money off of, and so they turned their heads toward something (typically) healthy: water. So as it begins, bottled water was not even initially created to benefit us in any way. It was just made to take money from us. So how does that make it better?
As the film mentioned, there are several tests that both tap and bottled water undergo. The problem is, the tests are different based on who is regulating them. So with this idea in mind, if you went out to try to find if all tap was better than all plastic (or vice versa) you would get severely varying results. That is why for the purpose of simplifying this blog, I will instead compare two specific types of tap and plastic.
Riverside Tap vs. Arrowhead "Mountain Spring" Water
Honestly, after tasting both forms of water, I cannot tell the difference. My boyfriend swears he can, but I am pretty sure there are not many with that unique talent. Anyway, lets begin with a who's got who in terms of regulations. When it comes to Riverside tap water, they are regulated by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). When it comes to Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water, they are regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). It is only after knowing this that the question should be raised on which regulator is best. Examples, anyone?
FDA / Arrowhead:
Well, I suppose Arrowhead is off to a great start if arsenic is the main ingredient to their products. Not. It was not until 2005 that the FDA posed stricter restrictions on arsenic in Arrowhead's bottled waters. Ex:
On June 9, 2005, FDA published a final rule that amended its bottled water quality standard regulations by revising the existing allowable level for the contaminant arsenic. As a consequence, bottled water manufacturers are required to monitor their finished bottled water products for arsenic at least once each year under the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for bottled water (21 CFR part 129). Bottled water manufacturers are also required to monitor their source water for arsenic as often as necessary, but at least once each year unless they meet the criteria for the source water monitoring exemptions under the CGMP regulations. This final rule became effective on January 23, 2006 (70 FR 33694).
On top of that, this is happening:
- Arrowhead Drinking
- 4.8 - 13
- Arrowhead Distilled
- None Detected
- Arrowhead Fluoridated
- 6.5 - 15
- Arrowhead Spring
- 2.6 - 16
- Arrowhead Sparkling
- 6.0
- Perrier
- 11
Report date: December 2007
Testing period: 2nd Qtr. 2007 - 4th Qtr. 2007
For most people, arsenic would be much more impacting than sodium but in my house, sodium is one of the worst things for my dad and his condition, so it is very important that he get the least amount of sodium as possible. After reading this, I am not only concerned, but rather upset. This is important information that should be placed on the bottles and told to people who think that all bottled water is clean, clear, and similar with their 0% this or that, when in reality it is not 0%. Thank god my dad does not drink Arrowhead, and now he never will.
In Conclusion:
With these facts alone, I'm already scared off of Arrowhead water. Not to mention they claim to supply hundreds and thousands and millions of water bottles every year with water from where? ONLY North American Mountain Springs. Do I even want to know how bad they are destroying their surrounding ecosystems? Or how much water they are taking from springs that cannot produce that amount of water, let alone even more for the next year and the next and the next...
When it comes down to it, why bother with paying $2.00 for a bottle of water with arsenic when you can just bottle up some water from home or your local drinking fountain? I don't know about you, but I am a struggling college student who has in recent times become a bit of a penny pincher. I can not afford to spend a hundred dollars on water a week. And soda is not an option. And going without drinking anything (as much as I would like that to be possible) is also not an option. So I'll just use tap water from now on.
Sorry Arrowhead, you've lost a customer.
October 26, 2011 at 7:57 PM
I love your blog. You did an amazing job this week!! Actually on all of them :) Great job! I especially liked how you went into detail about Riverside tap vs. Arrowhead water :)