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.