Bottled Water Facts - Ban The Bottle

An organization called Ban the Bottle has some startling statistics on the use of plastic water bottles in the US. Let's look at the numbers for the US, but please keep in mind that this is only part of the problem the world is facing. 

Occupy Your Water Rights urges you to stop use of plastic bottles at home, at work, and in your civic organizations. Please read the information below and share it with your family, friends and colleagues. 

Here is a snapshot from Ban The Bottle. Much more information is available at the website - see link below.

Why is bottled water a concern? Here are just a few reasons…

• Making bottles to meet America’s demand for bottled water uses more than 17 million barrels of oil annually, enough to fuel 1.3 million cars for a year1. And that’s not even including the oil used for transportation.
• The energy we waste using bottled water would be enough to power 190,000 homes2.
• Last year, the average American used 167 disposable water bottles, but only recycled 38.3
• Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year. However, the U.S.’s recycling rate for plastic is only 23 percent, which means 38 billion water bottles – more than $1 billion worth of plastic – are wasted each year3.
• The recommended eight glasses of water a day, at U.S. tap rates equals about $.49 per year; that same amount of bottled water is about $1,400.
• Antimony, which is found in PET plastic bottles, in small doses can cause dizziness and depression; in larger doses it can cause nausea, vomiting and death.8

Read more here at the Ban The Bottle website: https://www.banthebottle.net/bottled-water-facts/

Bottled Water Recall in US

Getty image

Niagara Bottling has voluntarily recalled bottled water produced at its Allentown and Hamburg, Pennsylvania plants due to a possible E. coli contamination.

Niagara produces bottled water under the following brand names:

Acadia, Acme, Big Y, Best Yet, 7-11, Niagara, Nature’s Place, Pricerite, Superchill, Morning Fresh, Shaw's, Shoprite, Western Beef Blue and Wegman’s.

Read the full article from ABC news here: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/bottling-company-voluntarily-recalls-14-brands-water-due/story?id=31947841 

Water Woes In Thailand

The Chao Phraya Dam continues to discharge water to downstream
areas although the water level upstream has dropped below a critical
level. (Photo by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill) 

Thai irrigation officials in charge of water management have expressed alarm at the depletion of water in the Chao Phraya Dam as levels drop below the crisis point.

The water levels were at 13.95 meters above sea level today, which is five centimeters lower than the crisis point. Although drinking water is not threatened at this time, officials called for farmers in some provinces to abandon rice farming.

Other concerns are that upstream areas could face a sudden collapse of the river banks due to the sharp drop in water levels.

Thailand is another country to watch for water issues.

Read the full article from the Bangkok Post here:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/environment/600028/water-at-chao-phraya-dam-beyond-crisis-point

NASA: The World Is Running Out Of Water

Bad news, fellow Earthlings, a new NASA study reports that satellites show that the world is running out of water. I've read various articles on the subject and hope that this study will serve as a call to action.

One key takeaway from the report is the reaction from conservationist Alexandra Richey who says "Water must be at the center of all policy." (RT)

From Genesis Nanotechnology:

        The world’s largest underground aquifers – a source of fresh water for hundreds of millions of people — are being depleted at alarming rates, according to new NASA satellite data that provides the most detailed picture yet of vital water reserves hidden under the Earth’s surface.

        

        Twenty-one of the world’s 37 largest aquifers — in locations from India and China to the United States and France — have passed their sustainability tipping points, meaning more water was removed than replaced during the decade-long study period, researchers announced Tuesday.

        Thirteen aquifers declined at rates that put them into the most troubled category. The researchers said this indicated a long-term problem that’s likely to worsen as reliance on aquifers grows. -via: Genesis Nanotechnology: http://genesisnanotech.com/2015/06/nasa-data-suggests-world-running-water/#.VYWNKFVViko

RT also has coverage of the NASA study:

        A joint study conducted by scientists from NASA and the University of California has revealed that the world’s water reserve levels have become dangerously low.

       

        The main reason is humanity’s constantly growing demand for water.

       

        The researchers have concluded that “significant segments of Earth’s population are consuming groundwater quickly without knowing when it might run out.”

       

        The scientists used NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites between 2003 and 2013 to take precise measurements of the world’s groundwater reservoirs, yielding the most detailed view of the planet’s underground water reserves to date. The GRACE satellites detected changes in the Earth’s gravitational pull, as large volumes of water under the ground create stronger gravitation.

       

        The study has showed that about one third of Earth’s largest groundwater basins – 13 of the planet’s 37 – are being rapidly depleted while receiving little to no recharge. - via RT: http://rt.com/news/267898-nasa-study-world-water/

Flooding In Bangkok

Five hours of heavy rain in Bangkok, Thailand reached 7 inches on June 8th, 2015. That's a lot of rain for a city with a prevalence of impervious surfaces and an inadequate sewer system.

I know Bangkok very well as I lived there for 15 years. I've driven through flood waters hoping my car could make it through the waters. I've sweated it out until 11 pm waiting for my kids to make it home from school in the flood waters. I've gasped at seeing a photo of my son standing in flood waters up to his neck.

Bangkok may not be the best example for flooding in cities as the ratio of paved surfaces to unpaved is higher than in many other cities, however; it is a good case study for what's to come for many cities across the world.

City planning in Bangkok was not carried out with cooperation between various departments or with a view of the city as a whole. And it shows.

In pursuing my MSc is Sustainability Management at Columbia University, I submitted a research paper on Bangkok that included a review of the city's transportation woes—a major contributor to flooding during heavy rains. I found that many canals in the city had been paved over to make way for roadways for more cars. I also found that the current number of roads in the city could handle 1.2 million vehicles while the number of registered vehicles in the city was 7. 8 million. It is obvious that there is a huge problem in Bangkok, yet city planners and government agencies don't seen to be able to tackle the problem effectively.  

There is no simple solution to problems in a city like Bangkok. Poor planning is just one of the many woes. In addition to the recent rains plaguing the city, the rains of 2011 also made the news worldwide. The city was inundated with what was called the "worst flooding in decades." Read more here: http://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/worst-flooding-in-decades-swamps-thailand/100168/

Unfortunately, more heavy rain and flooding can be expected for the city. Efforts to address issues that contribute to the flooding are not going to be easy to solve. In the meantime, more flooding like that in June can be expected.

Photos of the flooding that ensued after the heavy rain in Bangkok on June 8th:

Image via @NotThatBobJames on Twitter

Image via @NotThatBobJames on Twitter

More Water Woes in Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that hot water has been shut off in the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio after water samples tested positive for Legionella bacteria.

From the article by Zack Lemon:

        According to a memo from the Department of Administrative Services that was obtained by The Dispatch, three of six samples from the building’s hot water system in the tower tested positive.

        As a result, all hot water faucets and devices have been shut off; hot water tanks and pipes have been drained; and “heavy chlorination” will occur this weekend. 

        The memo says hot water is expected to be restored by Monday. Until then, liquid hand sanitizers will be provided in restrooms and kitchen areas.  

        Additional samples will be taken on Monday and sent to a lab for testing, which can take as long as two weeks.  





Legionella bacteria are usually harmless, but precautions are necessary as people can develop pneumonia by breathing in droplets. Anyone with medical problems and the elderly are more susceptible to becoming ill. Deaths have been reported during previous outbreaks.

More details on Legionnaire's disease can be found in the full article at the link below.

This incident at the Rhodes Tower follows an alert that was issued for elevated nitrate levels in water in Franklin County, Ohio on June 8th. Although unrelated, the two incidents remind me of how much more attention water news is getting nowadays. My hope is that we all will do more to preserve and protect our water sources by taking steps towards action. This is no time to sit back and think that government regulations are looking after the people's best interests in all areas. Know where your water comes from and pay attention to what vulnerabilities are there that may threaten your water resources.

Water rights are an area of concern around the world. Is water a basic right? I firmly believe that access to clean water is a human right and one that needs to be protected. I also believe that the best waterkeeper for your area is you! No one is going to look after your best interests like you will.

Become a water activist!


Read the full article on the Legionella bacteria outbreak from The Columbus Dispatch here: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/06/19/legionella-bacteria-rhodes-tower.html

Don't Drink The Water In Franklin County, OH!

An alert has been issued in Franklin County, Ohio warning of elevated levels of nitrates in drinking water.

The advisory—issued through WBNS 10TV—reads as follows:

        The Columbus Division of Water says areas impacted by the nitrate advisory include portions of west, central, and southwest Columbus, as well as Grandview Heights, Grove City, Hilliard, Lincoln Village, Marble Cliff, Upper Arlington, Urbancrest, and Valleyview. [Map below.]

        The city is warning residents that infants below the age of six months who drink water containing nitrates in excess of the maximum contaminant level could become seriously ill and, if untreated, may die.  Residents who live in the designated service area and have an infant below the age of six months are advised to purchase bottled water to use in baby formula.

DO NOT BOIL THE WATER!

The Columbus Division of Water warns that boiling tap water can actually increase the level of nitrates, be sure to tell your family and neighbors that boiling tap water is NOT recommended!

Low-income families can contact the Ohio Department of Health for bottled water for use with infants and pregnant women.


Read the full story here: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/06/08/columbus-ohio-elevated-levels-of-nitrates-found-in-franklin-county-water-advisory-in-effect.html