For the longest time I can remember, you have always worked hard to fend for our family. I remember the time you spent on the golf course in 100oF and the sun shining on your face. When I was young, I always wondered what kept your body active and strong in the hot burning sun. This question stuck in my mind for many years until I finally realized that it was water that kept you energetic.
On your left hand, you always carry Nestle bottled water and whenever it runs out you would go back into the golf cart and grab some more. Without water, I am positively sure that you will get dehydrated by the time you finish work. With all the sweat and tears, I can feel that you must be really tired with all the work that you do. Mom always says you spend too many hours working on that golf course; drawing and hoping that this course will turn out to be challenging and liked by other golfers.
I remember you telling me that passion is all that one needs to succeed in any undertaking but I was too young to understand what you meant then. It was not until I got to college that I understood what you meant. Last summer, spending time with you at the golf course was amazing. I learned so much from you and from your co-workers but one thing I disliked is that being a golf course designer requires that you stay in the sun for too long.
I almost fainted last summer while walking at the golf course with you but luckily your water was there to save me. There is also something that I noticed from you. You drink a lot of water! Every ten to twenty minutes you would stop at the kiosk and purchase bottled water. Sometimes, you stored too much in your golf cart, and in a day you finished around seven bottled water. By the time you finished a course, you probably consumed 2,555 bottled waters per year!
Think about it! There are 365 days per year and every day, at the golf course, you consumed approximately about 7 bottles of water. That means you take 2,555 bottles of water in a year. This total number of bottled water consumed excludes the water that you take away from the golf course.
Thus you not only 2,555 bottles of water but you spent about 38,325 baht which is about $1,282. You always said that money does not fall down from the sky? Also, we always have to be cautious with what we are spending our money on because money is hard to find and your “to-do list” for this year said you want to try to save more money. Dad, I think I can help you save $1,282 this year and the following year.
Seattle University has offered me many opportunities to learn new things and make a difference. Currently, I am taking Environmental Ethics 481 with Professor Boyle and last week in class we watched a film called, Flow. After watching this film, I am more concerned with the lack of clean water than global warming. One of the statistics that struck me is that of the 6 billion people on earth, 1.1 billion do not have access to safe, clean drinking water (Flow 1).
Now, when I purchased bottled water at a convenience store I always think of those people who do not have access to clean drinking water. Bear in mind that, studies have shown that tap water is cleaner than bottled water. With this revelation, therefore, you have no business buying bottled water.
According to “Environment; Green Bottles Offer an Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Traditional Plastic Bottles” plastic water bottles contain Bisphenol A, a BPA that causes a variety of health problems (13). It takes around 1,000 years for plastic water bottles to decay, and a few bottles are recycled. Most of the bottles are burned or buried in landfills. However, both methods of disposal result in the release of toxins such as dioxins into the environment.
Because dioxins may harm our health, I suggest that you stop buying plastic water bottles. I know it is hard for you to immediately stop purchasing bottled water but bottled water has been found to be no purer than ordinary tap water (Chemistry at Duke 1). Tap water can is usually obtained from sources like groundwater, streams, or even lakes. Tap water cannot be compared to bottled water since its distributors are more concerned about its purity and they do all they can to purify it.
If they found out that tap water is contaminated, public water suppliers are “required to notify citizens of the contaminant, its level in the water supply, its health effects, and measures that can be taken to prevent illness.” (Chemistry at Duke 1). Tap water is also good because it is usually purified before distribution to ensure that consumers get clean water (Bottled Water Reduction 1). Dad, I think it is so much safer, in the long run, if you start drinking tap water instead of bottled water because of the fact that it is adequately regulated. Thus my suggestion that you start taking tap water is out of my love and care for you.
Bottled water not only impacts the local community but it also affects the global community mainly due to the way in which every step in its manufacturing is carried out. Its manufacture is outright exploitation of natural resources (Parag 625). Furthermore, it has been proven that water bottles do have an enormous impact to our environment and they also affect our health in a negative way (Green Bottles).
According to Flow, the Coca-Cola Company has received a lot of criticism due to the negative health effects resulting from consumption of its products (8). The Coco Cola Company owns a variety of bottled water like Dasani and Nestle. They are constantly buying land around the world to open new plants and exploit water resources (Flow). Dad, if only each of us takes a positive step towards conserving the environment by avoiding environmentally unfriendly products that are not compulsory, then the world would be a better place.
The impact that bottled water has on the environment should get us all worried. Recycling of plastic water bottles is normally avoided by the relevant stakeholders for a variety of reasons (Bennett 1). Thus these bottles are left to pollute our environment. Furthermore, research at the Pacific Institute shows that, its takes three times the amount of water contained inside the bottle to manufacture the plastic bottles. Dad, did you also know that the process in producing plastic bottles includes many ounces of oil?
From that process, this will later on results in air pollution. Think about this dad, if air pollution increase, your golf course grass would not be as green in the near future. If you care about your golf course like you always tell me, I think it is time you might consider changing to reusable bottles.
In order to save $1,282 yearly, I recommend you start considering Green Bottles. Green Bottles created by Yip Bop are environmental friendly bottles made out of stainless steel. They are suitable for every occasion. They can be used at work, during activities like travelling, hiking or even shopping (Green Bottles 13). Because you are drinking more water as part of a healthy lifestyle in order to stay energetic in the sun, Green Bottles is the one for you.
Green Bottles has long life duration because they are constructed of high quality food-grade stainless steel approved by the FDA. In addition, Green Bottles come in variety of designs for all hot and cold beverages. Surprisingly, Green Bottles are suitable for hot and cold weather because they are capable of keeping cold drinks cold and keeping hot drinks hot (Green Bottles 14). They are reusable, dishwasher safe and recyclable. Perhaps, Green Bottles have a sleek and stylish look and thus they are comfortable to carry around (Green Bottles 15).
The most important reason I recommend Green Bottles is because some Green Bottles have filters to purify water while you drink so it is good and safe for you. Dad, if you are interested in using Green Bottles, I will order for you online now. They are not expensive and prices vary from $2.00 to $30.00. If your colleagues are interested too, we can also order for them. Green Bottles can be purchased singly or in multi-packs. Remember, they are available in many colors like red, blue, green, silver, black, orange, and white. As for you, I think a large 40-ouce size container would suits you more since you drink lots of water. I thus strongly recommend the use of green bottles for environmental conservation and financial relief.
It is important that you get clean drinking water because your health and financial welfare are of great concern to me. There are ways you can stay healthy and at the same time conserve the environment while saving. This can be achieved by changing to reusable bottles and drinking from tap water. It has been shown that sometimes bottled water may not be as clean as they are advertised. A study from Duke University has proved that bottled caps are kept in a moist environment which may lead to growth of bacteria (7).
There have also been a number of incidences in which bottled water was found with contamination by consumers. You must have noticed in the course of your life that the climatic conditions are substantially changing. Our sky is getting more polluted and the seasons are no longer predictable. It therefore calls for every one of us to make efforts towards environmental conservation. The use of tap water will help you achieve this objective and you would have lived a life that cares for the generations to come.
Works Cited
Bennet, Terri., (2010). Bottled Water Everywhere, and All That Plastic Stinks. Tribune News Service, 22(7), 499-636. Web.
“Cruising Chemistry – How Is Water Purified?” Chemistry at Duke. Web.
“Environment; Green Bottles Offer an Environmentally Friendly Alternative to Traditional Plastic Water Bottles.” Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. 2010: Research Library, ProQuest. Web.
Flow. By Salina Irena. Oscilloscope Laboratories, 2008.
Parag, Y., & Roberts, J. (2009). A Battle Against the Bottles: Building, Claiming, and Regaining Tap-Water Trustworthiness. Society & Natural Resources, 22(7), 625-636. Web.