Bottled water's leaky logic.(Conservation)

Publication: USA Today (Magazine)

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Society for the Advancement of Education

THE GLOBAL consumption of bottled water has reached more than 154,000,000,000 liters annually, up 57% from six years ago, report researchers Janet Larsen and Emily Arnold of Earth Policy Institute, Washington, D.C. Even in areas where tap water is safe to drink, demand for bottled water is increasing--producing unnecessary garbage and consuming vast quantities of energy. In the industrial world, although bottled water often is no healthier than tap, it can cost up to 10,000 times more. At as much as $2.50 per liter, bottled water costs more than gasoline.

The U.S. is the world's leading consumer of bottled water, with Americans drinking more than 26,000,000,000 liters a year, or approximately one eight-ounce glass per person every day. Mexico has the second highest consumption at 18,000,000,000 liters. China and Brazil follow at close to 12,000,000,000 liters each. Ranking fifth and sixth in consumption are Italy and...

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