The global bottled water industry has really grown in the last ten years. With good PR, and an aged business model in place, bottled water is the only solution many consumers believe exist. Unfortunately, in order for those organizations to keep up with supply and demand, they’re forced to look for continuous water sources to use for their products. This includes more than just the water for filling these bottles, but the water required to mass produce these plastic jugs. It’s a lot of water. Typically, these organizations find small communities to drain, and persuade local officials into offering up the supply in exchange for new jobs, but as history has shown, that rarely pans out as expected.
In 2006, the nation’s 628 water-bottling plants employed fewer than 15,000 people, so each plant averaged approximately 24 employees, reports FoodandWaterwatch.org. The jobs that were created for local residents were some of the most dangerous jobs in America. Bottled water manufacturing had one of the highest rates of workplace injury and illness in 2006, with one incident for every 11 workers, and these employees also got sick more than twice as often as typical private sector workers, reports the source.
Community officials who are concerned with creating jobs in their towns may want to reconsider consulting with bottled water companies (many organizations, like BanTheBottle.net work at educating communities to these issues from the big water business). In the end, it may be more economical and safe to cultivate and assist smaller companies already established in the region.
However, bottled water can still directly affect these workers even when the facilities are not setup in town.
Reports have shown that drinking from jug water coolers or disposable bottles are detrimental to a person’s health. Plastic containers contain a wide array of water impurities that can result in illness. Fortunately businesses have alternatives. Business could remove bottled water’s strong-hold on drinking water by switching to point-of-use bottleless water coolers. These dispensers tap directly into a building’s main water suppler, filter out bacteria and germs (using filtration systems like UV or reverse osmosis) while regulating water temperature. Clean water is healthy water – plus, with the impurities removed, the water tastes better.
Switch to Quench water coolers and begin to enjoy all-natural, chemical-free water today. It’s the not-so-new water technology that’s finally starting to set a trend in the United States for its cost reduction, health, and sustainability. Let your business benefit from a point-of-use cooler as well.