Excessive dependence on bottled water is not conducive to health and environment
Excessive dependence on bottled water is not conducive to health and environment
The United Nations Environment Programme has once again warned that if strict action was not taken to prevent plastic pollution, the amount of plastic waste will be tripled worldwide by 2060. A large part of plastic pollution is associated with bottled water, which needs to be serious towards management and recycling. Actually the demand and consumption of bottled water is increasing rapidly due to the expansion of urbanization, the increasing amount of pollutant in underground water, the increase in tourism and the change in lifestyle.
According to an estimate, the global bottled water market size could reach USD 509 billion by the year 2030. Bottled water has become an easy source to quench the thirst of the population that prioritizes it when roaming outside or due to convenience and immediate availability during travel. until a few decades ago people have their own Thirsts used to extinguish easily from public chapanals, but the increasing amount of pollutants like fluoride and arsenic in water has made them gradually more dependent on bottled water. Although the water bottles we easily buy and quench our thirst, its construction, transportation and landfills cause deep damage to the environment.
About three litres of water is used in making a plastic bottle, which shows its high 'water footprint'. At the same time, the process of delivering from its construction to the corner of the market also consumes fuel, which not just puts pressure on energy sources, but also causes air pollution. Not only this, the plastic bottle is normally brought in single use only and thrown after use. Bottles that do not access the recycling process contribute to land, water and air pollution. It may take hundreds of years for plastic bottles to rot, by then these cause deep damage to the ecosystem and humanity. These can break down into soil and water sources as microplastics, which may affect the quality of food items and drinking water produced respectively. On the other hand, it is forbidden by the physicians to drink water continuously in a plastic bottle, as it increases the risk of microplastic dissolving in the body.
Excessive dependence on bottled water is not conducive to health and environment. The habit of buying reusable water bottles instead and getting it refilling from water recharge stations can bring some relief from the threat of plastic pollution to the environment.
Vijay Garg Retired Principal educational columnist Eminent Educationist street kour Chand MHR Malout Punjab
