the Informer

Reusable water bottles have become popular, and the environmental reasons behind that were presented in a documentary at the university. The film, “Tapped,” was presented to students, faculty and staff on Tuesday to show the affects of bottled water. The film was presented by professor Katharine Owens, of the politics and government department, and professor Dennis Wasko, of the biology department in Hillyer College. They hoped to help show students what plastic bottles can do for the environment and to be more affiliated and aware of our surroundings. The environment RLC in Hawk Hall also raffled off a Brita water filter and stainless steel water bottles. Bottled water is seen as a virtue to people throughout society. It is simple, light-weight and enjoyable. The population generally does not realize what is actually in the bottle and what the bottle is made of, which was explained in the film. Bottled water and the companies that make it are seen as being creative for giving citizens what seems to be more reliable. For researchers and dedicators who don’t appreciate bottled water, it is seen to be a disastrous idea to mislead consumers. The debate between consultants and water bottle companies argues the public does not know what is actually being provided within their product. The research explains that the public is told that bottled water is better than tap when in reality it is coming from the same source. Throughout the film, investigators explained what the public actually sees from their water bottle is not what the reality might be. The filmmakers did not say bottled water companies are lying. However, companies target their messages to make consumers believe that bottled water is better than tap water. When citizens see things like “pure” and “safe” on their products, it is indirectly implying that tap water may not be as reliable as bottle water. Because these are things consumers like to see, their money goes out of their pockets and straight to the companies to keep producing more hazardous bottles. Not only do consumers not understand the main ideas of bottled water, but they have no idea where it actually comes from and who it may affect. When Amanda Brown, senior editor of Atlanta Magazine, asked people if they in fact knew where their water source was coming from, she stated, “No one knew the answer.” What is more disturbing is what used to be some of Atlanta’s best water sources are now dried up pieces of land due to drought. Citizens of Atlanta explained they have specific limitations on how often they can mow their lawn or the amount of car washes they can have due to lack of water supply. This affect does not seem to stop companies from taking water and selling it back to the consumer. In other states, like Maine, bottled water companies simply take water without notifying the public. The citizens interviewed for the film were mortified when they found out their water was being processed and sold for production. A debater proposed, “Why should an ecosystem be drained so people on the streets can drink water?” Though the water seems to be an issue, the plastic itself is causing more people to have doubts on plastic containers. People of Corpus Christi, Texas, are affected every day by the production of these plastic bottles, especially the people who have the corporation as their neighbor. Residents of this town are disheveled and feel unappreciated with where they live. Many citizens who live next to the producers suffer from extreme breathing disabilities. What researchers and developers have found are different elements within the plastic. Some of it is made up of the same elements found in oil products. Specifically some elements are Tuolumne, which have traces from gasoline and paint thinners and Styrene, which is a cancer-causing agent. These toxic elements can damage the everyday customer and no one knows about these factors. Owens and Wasko assessed that students need to help the community to save water and reduce the amount of plastics used. Owens stated, “Even the people who came for extra credit… Hopefully they will talk and spread the word.” Wasko explained, “These aren’t meant to be scare tactics… Drop $20 once [on a reusable bottle] instead of $1 a day.”