Drinking bottled water is something that we are guilty of. People often do it because they are sceptical of tap water, travelling or they simply do it for the sake of convenience. However, there are plenty of reasons to consider skipping bottled water altogether. Drinking bottled water is something that we are guilty of. People often do it because they are sceptical of tap water, travelling or they simply do it for the sake of convenience. However, there are plenty of reasons to consider skipping bottled water altogether.

Cost

Tap water is 1,000 times cheaper than buying bottled water, according to the national water agency, PUB. In 2017, the retail price of a 600ml bottle of water costs about 50 cents to $1 while tap water costs 0.1 cents for the same volume.

Environmental Impact

Over 982,000 tonnes of plastic waste was produced in 2021 alone. Less than 6% of that was recycled. Sadly, there has been a continuous increase in the use of single-use plastic bottles, with most ending up in the Semakau landfill. The amount of waste disposed of in Singapore has increased sevenfold over the last 40 years. At this rate, Semakau Landfill, Singapore’s only landfill, will run out of space by 2035. We have to act now, and we have to act quickly.

Safety and hygiene

Most bottled water is simply sourced from tap water. Alternatively, they may be sourced from springs, wells and aquifers; and all water has to be treated to become fit for human consumption. Ultimately, bottled water needs to be:

• Protected and properly treated
• Held up to good manufacturing processes
• Protected during the duration of shipping and storage

When the above is not properly adhered to, biological and/or chemical contamination can (and sometimes do) occur, resulting in harm to human health. For example, in 2018, a major study conducted in the United States across nine countries found that several of the world’s leading brands of bottled water were contaminated with microplastics.

Plastic contains properties that can leach into the water over time. There is also a risk to reusing plastic bottles. Reused plastic bottles have a higher chance of containing disease-causing microorganisms, and for this reason alone, plastic bottles should be recycled instead.

Staying hydrated should not cost us our health or harm the environment. Water dispensers can help save the earth while not compromising our health or creating inconvenience. Check out our products today!