Bottled Water

From Great Lakes Wiki

The French began selling the first bottled water in the 1850s. A century and a half later, bottled water is second only to soda in global consumption. The Great Lakes are the world's largest freshwater system, and considering the lack of sanitary water supplies across the world, should corporations like Nestle be allowed to divert one of the region's most important natural resources?

Active Community Articles

Post your citizen journalism articles here. Anything pertaining to the bottled water industry in the Great Lakes is welcome.
Water Wars

Outside Media Reports

Thirsty states may covet Lakes' water

Carol Edwards is one of three water cops in Albuquerque, N.M. "Water is very precious here," she says. "We just can't let water run into the street in the desert."

A dubious loophole for bottled water

A multistate pact intended to plug water exports lets through an exception that could hurt.

FAQ: Bottled Water vs. Tap Water

Provided by the Natural Resources Defense Council
A Citizens' Group Battles a Big Water Corporation.
Owns The Water?

Facts and Figures

World bottled water consumption in 1999, in litres/year/person and in percentages.

2.7 million tons of plastic are used by the bottled water industry every year.
1500 billion liters of bottled water are manufactured each year.
Americans spent $10 billion on bottled water in 2005.
1.1 billion people in the world lack a safe water supply.
Water consumption is doubling every 20 years.
Bottled water costs more per gallon than gasoline in the United States.
Twenty percent of American consumers rely exclusively on bottled water for drinking purposes.
The Great Lakes contain 1/5 of the world's freshwater supply.

2005 Bottled water statistics