‘By 2030 the United Nations estimates two-thirds of our planet will lack access to clean drinking water’

Tapped a new documentary by the producers of the mesmerizing ‘Who Killed the Electric Car’ illustrates the massive ecological damage that the lucrative bottled water industry is causing to the environment. The documentary examines what bottled water is doing to our society and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and our reliance on oil.

Growing up, I can remember the slow change toward this trend and notion that bottled water is healthier & better for you. It is in fact the complete opposite!

Drinking bottled water, I have to say, is certainly more justifiable in developing countries and in places like Lima, Peru which is one of the World’s largest cities that sit on a desert. Lima like many large populations near deserts suffer from widespread water shortages and pollution.

I can understand somebody in places like Lima or Cairo opting to drink bottled water, but why someone in say, Glasgow or New York would opt to buy their water in a plastic bottle is beyond me.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

• Reduce your bottled water use!
• Carry a refillable water container rather than buying bottled water. Production, transportation, and disposal of bottled water consume large quantities of water (and energy)
• You can actually conserve water by switching from the bottle to the tap. You can find out what is the quality of the water in your area by contacting your local environmental health office.
• Take shorter showers. Shorten your shower by a minute or two and you’ll save up to 150 gallons per month
• Invest in a low-flow toilet or put a plastic bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water used per flush.
• Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or shaving. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth and save 25 gallons a month. Turn off the water while you shave and save up to 300 gallons a month
• Turn off the water while you wash your hair to save up to 150 gallons a month
• Run dishwashers or laundry machines only when full. Washing dark clothes in cold water saves both on water and energy while it helps your clothes to keep their colors
• Use water left over from cooking for houseplants.
• Choose landscaping plants with low water requirements.
• Eat foods that require less water to produce. The amount of water used to produce animal products and processed foods like soda and chips far exceeds the amount used for growing vegetables and grains.
• When grocery shopping, try to buy more whole foods like vegetables that are in season, and a variety of grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
• When you give your pet fresh water, don’t throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs
• When you have ice left in your cup, don’t throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant
• Keep a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up or runs. Use this water to flush toilets or water plants

Visit Tapped The Film website

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