There is a shift occurring. Once upon a time, bottled water was all the rage. As our landfills over flow with plastic and the true environmental costs of bottled water begin to show themselves, many people are choosing to put down the bottle. We are constantly bombarded with unnecessary, wasteful and idiotic things to purchase… but few as stupid as bottled water.

Janet Larsen, director of research at the Earth Policy Institute, cites a “backlash against bottled water as more people are realizing what they get out of the bottles is not any better than what they get out of the faucet.”…and at a fraction of the cost.

The California based Pacific Institute, contends that, in 2006, more than 17 million barrels of oil were consumed in the production of plastic bottles s for US water consumption. That does not include the oil used in transportation. To add insult to injury, the leading producers of ethylene, the main raw material for PET plastic bottles, include ChevronPhillips, Exxon, Shell, British Petroleum and Dow Chemical – some of the world’s most prolific polluters. AND, it’s cheaper to produce bottles out of raw materials than out of recycled materials. It’s no wonder that 80% of all of these bottles end up in landfills.

Bottling water for the American market demand produces more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and consumes three liters of water for each liter of bottled water produced.

That makes no sense at all.

This is simply additional evidence of the unsustainable nature of our consumer driven society. If you built a financial portfolio that consisted of a $1 return on all $3 invested, with $2 being lost along the way, you’d be broke. And when it comes to issues of freshwater, we are breaking the natural system.

I could go on and on about this. If your interest has been piqued and you want to read more, try a couple of the links provided below -

New Internationalist - “Message in a Bottle”

The Pacific Institute – “Bottled Water”

Take Back the Tap – (a personal favorite)

EarthSense – “Drinking Bottled Water is Dangerous to the Health of your Watershed”

There is plenty of information out there to satisfy the thirsty mind. A quick Google search will keep you busy for days/weeks/months/years.

Today, Monday March 22nd, 2010 marks the 17th annual World Water Day which seeks to raise awareness of global water issues from Reykjavik to Rio, and from Boston to Bangalore.

A recent UN report found that more people die from dirty water than from wars and violence worldwide. The Christian Science Monitar reports that “This [statement] includes 2.2 million people whose deaths are attributed to diarrhea, mostly from dirty water, and 1.8 million children aged under five who succumb to water-borne diseases. This equates to one infant every 20 seconds”. Read the entire CSM article here.

To aid in this effort, National Geographic magazine has dedicated it’s current issue to the important role water plays in the survival of our planet. With inspired pictures that tell stories and stories that paint pictures, National Geographic brings the water issue to the forefront. Read the articles and peruse the pictures here.

World Water Day is about Change. We are currently a planet of 6 billion. In the next 50 years we will be a planet of 9 billion. If our valuable resources are not cared for now, if action is not taken today, then tomorrow may be a pipe dream.

(from Circle of Blue, see link below) – Monday, March 22, 2010 marks World Water Day, a 24-hour observance held annually since 1993 to draw attention to the role that freshwater plays in the world. In recent years it has focused global concern on the dwindling supply of clean water.

In January, global business and elected leaders assembled in Davos at the World Economic Forum learned one more striking fact that underlies international concern. By 2030, WEF experts said, people will withdraw 30 percent more water than nature can replenish. Unless practices for using and conserving water shift dramatically, shortages will hit communities and businesses, especially agriculture, which uses 70 percent of the world’s fresh water.

Read more @ Circle of Blue.org

Stopping Household Leaks Can Save Enough Water to Sustain Colorado Consumers for Nearly Three Years

U.S. Homes Leak 1 Trillion Gallons of Water Annually; EPA Promotes Fix A Leak Week March 15-21 To Shed Light On Household Water Waste

DENVER, March 2 /PRNewswire/ — According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. homes waste 1 trillion gallons of water each year through common, easy to fix, household leaks.  That’s roughly the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami combined, and nearly three times the amount of water used by consumers statewide in Colorado. What’s more, the EPA estimates a typical household leaks 11,000 gallons of water per year – enough to fill the fuel tank of a Boeing 757.

This year, the EPA is promoting “Fix a Leak Week” March 15 – 21 to remind Americans of the importance of checking household plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems. Colorado-based Ace Hardware owner Andy Carlson says, “Fixing a household water leak is one of the easiest and most cost effective home improvement projects consumers can do.  The tools are inexpensive and the payoff is immediate.”  Carlson advises consumers to start with toilets, faucets, showerheads and outdoor spigots.

Every graph tells a story…especially this one.

EPCOR, Edmonton’s water provider, released this graph the other day to illustrate the demand that can be placed on a utility.

It is estimated that on the 28th of February, 2010,  about 80% of Canada was watching the Olympic Mens Gold Hockey game.

Imagine the demand placed upon a water provider if everybody in a given area flushed at the same time…like during a period break or at halftime. All water and wastewater providers are federally required to have the infrastructure to meet this demand.

Low flow showerheads are making a comeback! Dr. Peter Gleik of the California based Pacific Institute writes that, after years of neglect, the US Dept of Energy will begin enforcing the water efficiency standards laid out in the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. This is the same law that regulated that all new toilets must be 1.6 gpf or less.

Read the full article here

When it comes to water, every drop counts. It is good to see the federal government stepping up to the plate and committing themselves to actively working for water efficiency…again.

An average low-flow showerhead (2.5 gpm or less) will use about 44% less water than it’s non-efficient counterpart. That is a substantial savings! And, in a good showerhead, you will never notice a difference.

If you’re looking to learn a bit more and get the best shower for your dollar, here is a comprehensive review of low flow showerheads.