An Interview With WaterAid

Although we emailed WaterAid with some questions, we were very surprised indeed that they responded, as they are such an amazing and inspirational charity! WaterAid is an international non-profit organisation that was first set up as a response to the UN International Drinking Water & Sanitation decade (1981–1990). It works in 27 countries worldwide, changing millions of lives every year by providing people with clean water, safe toilets and hygiene education.

Here is the reply that WaterAid sent us - they didn't respond directly to our questions, but definitely replied with some interesting answers...

Thank you for your email. Our focus is on international development, and the provision of low tech water solutions which produce clean water from the source, however I hope the information below is useful for your project.

WaterAid champions tap water in the UK as a safe, affordable and sustainable source of drinking water. However we also recognise that drinking bottled water is a lifestyle choice that many UK consumers make. Those who choose to buy bottled water can now also choose to support WaterAid's lifesaving work by buying Belu, and we welcome the chance it provides us to increase our investment to help those for whom the choice does not exist. 

Once I've bought bottled water...

Of course, this is before you have read our blog, but if you do have a plastic bottle in the premises, what on earth are you meant to do with it if you don't want to recycle it straight away?

Click here to have a look at 45 ideas of how to recycle plastic bottles. Some of these look quite complex, but don't be put off!

Click here to admire some very innovative ideas and click here to see some really cute ideas to recycle milk cartons!

Why Fiji Water Is Not As Good As You Think It May Be

Bottled water is exported from all around the world, and one of the most successful bottled water companies is Fiji Water. This is because the water is supposed to be full of good minerals, as Mount Fiji is nearby. 

Although Fiji Water is not commonly found in the UK, it is unbelievably popular in the US, and the business is worth a staggering amount of over $63 million. As the bottled water industry is worth just over $1 billion a year, it just shows you what a substantial amount of it Fiji Water takes up.

"We are Fiji," declare Fiji Water posters across the island, but this is untrue - the reality of Fiji, the country, has been eclipsed by the glistening brand of Fiji, the water. In fact, the slogan of Fiji water is "And remember this, we saved you a trip to Fiji" however, this seems like a cruel joke to anyone who knows about the terrible, squalid conditions of the people who actually live there.

Fiji Water never mentions the fact that, although their water is the number 1 imported water brand in the US, 1/3 of the Fijians do not have access to clean, healthy water. Although the spring set up by the company was originally set to be used by the people of Fiji, this is definitely not the case anymore. 

Selling Techniques - How Companies Make Us Buy Their Water

Originally, bottled water was created because fizzy-drink companies, such as Coca Cola's, growth projections started to level off, instead of increasing. They realised that it wasn't long until consumers started realising that fizzy-drinks are not actually very good for you, and started going back to tap water.

Because of this, these companies decided to create competition with their new enemy (tap water) and manufacture a rival product, bottled water. Obviously, the consumers were shocked and hesitant to drink and invest in this new product. Water was something that they were able to get for free in seconds, just by twisting a button - did they really need to walk to the shops and waste their money on exactly the same thing?!

The crazy companies managed to change our perceptions by doing one simple thing: manufacturing demand. This was done in a variety of ways...

1. Scaring People
A major part in the campaign of making people want bottled water was to tell them that tap water was dirty and unsafe, therefore making people insecure and worried about drinking tap water, and consequently chose to drink the "much safer" bottled water instead. “When we’re done,” one top water executive said, “tap water will be relegated to showers and washing dishes."

Recycling of Bottled Water

Although all PET bottles are 100% recyclable, most are not recycled. Consequently, plastic bottles are terrible for the environment!

As well as this, Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year. However, the U.S.’s recycling rate for plastic is only 23%, which means 38 billion water bottles are wasted each year. This is over one billion dollars worth of plastic wasted per year.

Why We Like Belu Water

Unlike most bottled water companies, Belu water gives 100 percent of its profits to Water Aid.

Rachel Stephens is a former S club 7 singer and supports Water Aid and is working with Belu to try and promote their massive charity campaign.

Rachel says: "Many people don't have a choice about what they drink, but we do. We also have a choice of which bottled water we buy so I hope that the new wraps which I helped to make help Belu to stand out, so that people choose water that helps give other people a chance."'

I know that our whole website is about trying to make you believe that bottled water is all bad. But, if you are in the supermarket and bottled water is on your list, pick up some Belu and help to make a difference in some of the world's poorest areas.

 

Why It's Not As Healthy As Tap Water

Did you know that there have been 11 major bottled water recalls since 1990?

This just shows you how unsafe bottled water can be.

Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals used in many plastics to make them soft or flexible. They are widely used in the plastic bottles which hold the bottled water, and there are a number of phthalates which can affect the health. Studies have linked various phthalates to cancer, miscarriage, premature birth, asthma and can alter hormones.

BPA

BPA is found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. They may also be used in other consumer goods. BPA can seep into food or liquids surrounded by plastics made by BPA, and this is a concern as it can affect the brain, behaviour and can pass onto foetuses.