How Safe & Healthy are Bottled Waters,If they are? A Preliminary Review

Compilation & Introductory  Comments by: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Etafa Emama  Ligdi  Research Coordinator  [Water Resources & Watershed Management] E-Mails: etafa_emama@yahoo.com;   ee.ligdi@gmail.com;             ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How Safe & Healthy are Bottled Waters, If they are? A Preliminary Review HCCS-0101 Introduction & Comments Urbanization for non urban population comes with a lot of funny things: loss of oneself,  as the sense of community and belongingness is lost, and almost everything is priced  and posed for sale. Development and market economy which is expanding fast, is  contradicting with traditional customs and beliefs. For example, there are still  areas in the country where milk and milk products are, freely provided if available, but  not commercially sold. As a result, the majority, are losing pace with the advancements  in business and technology. They are confused, and especially in urban areas just  opt for following suit without social or economic considerations. There is an Oromo saying, which goes as ‘Tolla xalliyaniitu balleessee!!’’. It roughly means ‘Gratis was abolished by Italians’. It denotes the quintessence that businesses & communities  shall no longer provide anything free of charge; along with signifying the bygone sense of ‘on the house’ and essence of without payment. They were gratifying, or may be  prophesizing what has to become of gracious acts, as they practically witnessed that  services with no charge and their use without payment are going to their graves    with the function orchestrated by external influences ‘more precisely by the then  contemporary modernists . What was then started with buying and selling of eggs and  chicken to the colonial army, the pricing, and commercialization of products ‘expanded a lot since. But, if water was the yardstick, the colonial army has failed in the water front for  so long as water defied the rulings and remained for long a local asset, communal,  and free. Just as other public assets such as grazing lands and fire wood sources,  which are accessible for all in some communities and religions; and as air, and the sunshine? Knowledge transfer, and experience sharing is however, sweet and rewarding while done  in partisanship, dignity, mutual respect, and benefit sharing leading to a win-win situation.  None the less, we have always been keen in following “Modernization”- even though the  concept is mostly known not for what it really means. Conversely, water resources have remained to be a local asset, and water (especially  drinking water) has until very recently stayed put and viewed as a social commodity for  the common good. Hence, even in the cosmopolitan areas where various cultures have  melted together, the quest for a free glass of water to quench your thirst is seen as a  gentleman’s request and responded to with joy. As a consequence, despite the handful of orientations and….ism’s we aspired/or forced to copy  and follow in the last century, the overriding principle of the population outside the conference rooms has remained so. While it is, at times, very amazing to observe that water is distinct to almost all land based  natural resources, and still remains without cost and free for all; the cultural and religious  roots of this belief and act along with the local knowledge accompanying it surely deserves  to look into. Besides, the practices of conservation and sustainability of the resource which  has surpassed the test of time, I think, is certainly among the assets to draw our policies and  programmes from to solve the water crisis in sight and irreversibly maintain the quantity and  quality of water ecosystems Issues in urban water supply have shown … potential opportunities exist   Even in the urbanized population centres, water is apparently seen as a right for all to access  clean drinking water. Hence, it is usually subsidized, sometimes with progressive tariff; the large volume consumers paying more per volume and contributing to the subsidy of the low  volume consumers. The other major problem further aggravating the supply of drinking water is that very few big  institutions are using the bulk of the water produced. There are also disparities in the allotted time in terms of status of areas. Very recently there were areas getting water for 2-3 hours per 2 weeks; when the other neighborhood across the main road has flowing tap water 24/7. The added issue is that our tap water, even if available does not meet the international  quality standards.In conclusion, the consecutive trials to solve the supply shortage, and  judicial balance of the needs in city water supply, indicated and opened up opportunities  of business in Bottled waters (Natural/Purified, etc…). It seems to have created a market for  bottled waters in hotels, conferences and those on the move. Expatriates, foreigners,  and Ethiopian diaspora have been the fertile market ground and outlet at the start. Are complementary, if managed Privatization of public water supply, however, a serious and complicated issue. Leaving  that aside the introduction of private water bottling businesses is not a bad thing as they  aim at and are intended for specific markets and specific targets. I think, there is no way in the near future that they will dramatically affect the city water supply shares. As a result,  privatization of bottled waters and the associated businesses shall never, even for a moment  create the notion of replacement and hampering our overall efforts to meet the millennium goals. Commercial Business (buying and selling) is what holds the consumer generation upright.  Markets are not bad. They are even better when free and regulated to safeguard consumers’  rights and resource sustainability; among others .It is the greedy & selfish some who only focus  on their profits with no regard to the benefits /effects on society who are the black sheep in the  industry.. After all, the raw water they are pumping out is a public property. Shouldn’t we 1.       Put in standards and pay more for quality 2.       Continuously monitor and random sample of products after Licensing. 3.       Provide vigorous Education and transparent info for the consumer What’s Up...in the city? In the urbanized garrison villages of the 20th century, partisanship to our self identity is eroding and bi-partisanship is overriding our decisions. The idolized characters in the electronic media, films and  fashions, in general; and  tourists, the diaspora and expatriates -  Working or not working here, Regional or  International, War or Peace corps and of course the celebrities… all have been aspirations  of the young and the “learned!’’ for some time now. Nonetheless, it has only been not more than a decade since we started to see the  commercialization of drinking water in plastic bottles. With number of brands available  nowadays, every corner shop and kiosk is full of number of brands and sizes. If you ask are they expensive? I say yes. Half a litter is around 5 Ethiopian Birr, ETB (Utmost 25 US Cents), with a litre costing twice as much. By the way, a m3 (1000 litres)  of the piped tap water in this city is priced at 1.75 ETB. Whereas that amount of bottled  water costs 10,000 ETB. That is roughly over 5,700 times higher. I know there are investment and running costs, and provisions for profits. This is in no way  the complete accounting. It is just an indication..a simple example to comprehend the trend. Notwithstanding, the business of bottled water is booming even among the locals. In addition  to all the jargon of the tabloid media, the desire of being noticed and noted as one who is ‘modern’ force of change for the other’s sake, socially conscious, concern for health, but  above  all ‘’status’’ are driving the business. In addition, for visitors, and new comers to the city, the notion of the fact that the city’s tap water is not of expected standards, along with lack of information and product  availability in the move created a fertile ground for the sales. What about the effect on Locals The business has created choice for those in real need and able to pay for. Nonetheless,  for the commoner the situation became different. As a result, I think the lock up in a dilemma of being positive and follow  ‘IDOL’s’ by being pro active; and the unfortunate scenario  of not being able to afford the cost has forced “the to be “consumer generation of this poor  nation to carrying plastic water bottles mostly  filled with tap water.  Compelled or obligated – they only know best. But they are in the footsteps of the consumer generation and the globalization era-in their minds closing in from the far away land.  What Then... In an East African regional workshop in Addis Ababa, a Kenyan hydrologist once said that  the immediate signs ,he looks for, for our failure to supply adequate and safe drinking tap  water for the community are the parading plastic bottles on our conference tables  as new ‘new substitutes’, and lines of donkeys, (and very recently old ISUZU trucks) roaming  around in our cities with loads of Plastic containers (-locally called ‘jericans) in search of water. My reply was ‘’Yes, the latter does reflect our inability to completely cover the access.  But the former is only a sign of provision of drinking water supply with choice, and hence complementary. It only targets a certain section of the society that are may be enlightened  and health conscious. That are able and willing to pay more for quality (largely expatriates,  the diaspora, tourists and foreign visitors; and to some extent the desperado moving with  situations,’’ The business of bottled waters shall however continue to supplement the overall efforts  of enabling access to clean drinking water through good business practice, and  transparency-supplying educative and enlightening information- at least putting in info  which is easily accessible and READABLE. If well managed, these businesses shall never create the notion of being replacements for  urban water supply and hamper our efforts towards the Millenium Goals. In conclusion, the bottled Plastic water is a big business. It is also becoming so here.  Some of the developed springs for community use are changing hands for ‘investment’.  A big business, indeed!   It is nowadays more than common to see number of truck loads  unloading platic bottled waters at every building with a cafeteria, conference halls, and offices.  However, what does the Modern Science say? Not the Pseudo science of the adverts and  commercials, but the Real deal… the facts about Plastic waters, Bottled waters –Purified  and Natural. Let us be frank, at least to our selves. How many of us are willing and capable of checking the contents of the items we purchase & consume. Be informed, be careful….  Read and Think…The following are the summary of the  scientific facts on bottled and purified waters from the reviewed studies.  What does the Modern Science say in a nutshell? Bottled Waters ·           Is bottled water a “healthy water?" It depends. Ask yourself: "Is the water hard? Is it moderately high in TDS?" ·                      Be advised to Purchase only natural spring or artesian well waters that come closest to the         "healthy water" criteria - hardness 170 mg/l and TDS 300 mg/l. Purified Water ·          However, the research on heart disease and cancer shows healthy water is hard and moderately high in TDS(total dissolved solids). Creating a "healthy water" means removing the harmful agents but keeping the beneficial minerals. ·          The study according to a leading authority on mineral metabolism reveals that "Minerals in drinking water are more easily and better absorbed than minerals from food" ·          Mineralized water (valuable body minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium) is needed for all cellular functions and if there are no minerals in your drinking water your body will rob the minerals from somewhere in your body to satisfy its needs. One can take mineral supplements to replace them however; it is not easy to replace the minerals in our bodies in the same form that we lost them. The Compelling Evidence ·          These numerous studies have led the authors to advocate that "healthy water" is one that contains moderate amounts of TDS (total dissolved solids), is hard, and has an alkaline PH . ·          The animal experiments referred to also dramatically and clearly support the main conclusions observed from the human studies. Namely, hard water is healthier than soft water. As a consequence therefore, it is imperative to see how pure & healthy bottled waters are, by preliminary look at some of the brands I got my hands on, and comparing it with Michigan mineral-premium natural water. The following is an excerpt from the essay on ‘’Why Mineral Water is the Best Drinking Water?’’ by the Watershed wellness organization in Michigan. Is it? Yes. Let’s read it; it is from the heart of America-the USA.  I deliberately presented only the releavant part (to our discussion) of the full text with a table below depicting the contents of the available brands here. For the full text please refer to the Reference given below. Finally, I sincerely acknowledge the  Watershed wellness organization in Michigan for their informative text below.    Box: 1: Why Mineral Water is the Best Drinking Water? Bottled Waters: Are All Created Equal? Bottled water is big business. And it usually tastes better than what comes out of your tap. But, is it “healthy water"? It depends. Ask yourself: "Is the water hard? Is it moderately high in TDS?" Most bottled water labels in the US do not give the information you need to know the answers to these questions. Request a complete water analysis from the company. Keep in mind many bottled waters are simply processed water using distillation, reverse osmosis, de-ionization or filtration. Frankly you can do this yourself and save money. With over 700 brands of bottled water available in the US, around 80% are processed water. Purchase only natural spring or artesian well waters that come closest to the "healthy water" criteria - hardness 170 mg/l and TDS 300 mg/l. Michigan Mineral - Premium Natural Water has a Hardness of 260 mg/l and TDS 362 mg/l. Purified Water: To Drink or Not to Drink De-mineralized water has little or no minerals. This is the result if you use a distiller, a reverse osmosis unit (RO), or de-ionization (ion exchange resins). However, the research on heart disease and cancer shows healthy water is hard and moderately high in TDS (total dissolved solids). Why do people purchase these de-mineralized or water softening systems? Usually their thinking goes something like this. "I know I should drink water, but it's so polluted with chlorine, chemicals and toxic metals, that it's not safe. So I'll get rid of these harmful things and all will be OK." Not really. Creating a "healthy water" means removing the harmful agents but keeping the beneficial minerals. The study reveals that "Minerals in drinking water are more easily and better absorbed than minerals from food", according to Dr. John Sorenson, a leading authority on mineral metabolism. Purifying devices remove everything from the water, harmful bacteria and beneficial minerals. This stripped water cannot sustain life even in a fish bowl. All fish require minerals to prosper, and if allowed to live in these types of water will perish. If this type of water is ingested for long periods of time, it can leach out valuable body minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium. Mineralized water is needed for all cellular functions and if there are no minerals in your drinking water your body will rob the minerals from somewhere in your body to satisfy its needs. One can take mineral supplements to replace them however; it is not easy to replace the minerals in our bodies in the same form that we lost them. Chlorination: Heart Disease & Cancer Is the chlorine in our municipal drinking water acting as a catalyst triggering tumor development both in atherosclerosis (heart disease) and cancer? In the late 1960's Joseph Price, MD.., wrote a fascinating, yet largely ignored book entitled, Coronaries, Cholesterol, Chlorine. Based on his experiments he boldly shows, "Nothing can negate... the basic cause of atherosclerosis and  ... heart attacks and most common forms of strokes is chlorine. The chlorine contained in processed drinking water." Drinking chlorinated tap water destroys beneficial bacteria in the body which will weaken and eventually damage one's immunity, and should also be avoided. Animal Studies: The Compelling Evidence The research presented in other sections from Healthy Water has been based mainly on human studies usually looking at large populations or epidemiological analysis. These numerous studies have led me to advocate that "healthy water" is one that contains moderate amounts of TDS, is hard, and has an alkaline pH. What do the animal studies reveal? Most animal experiments use water that is made "hard" or "soft" to which various harmful substances like cadmium, lead, chlorine or fluoride, have been added. What is usually found is that animals drinking the hard water have less of the harmful agent in their tissues than the animals drinking the soft water. The animal experiments dramatically and clearly support the main conclusions observed from the human studies. Namely, hard water is healthier than soft water. Source:  Why Mineral Water is the Best Drinking Water? Watershed Wellness Centre, WWC 6439 W. Saginaw Hwy. | Lansing, MI 48917 | Tel: (888) 826-4448 | Fax: (517)886-1402 Copyright © 2009 watershed.net. All Rights Reserved Michigan Mineral-Premium Natural Water has Hardness of……… 260 mg/l and TDS ……………...362 mg/l. Reference: Why Mineral Water is the Best Drinking Water? Watershed Wellness Centre, WWC 6439 W. Saginaw Hwy. | Lansing, MI 48917 | Tel: (888) 826-4448 | Fax: (517)886-1402 Copyright © 2009 watershed.net. All Rights Reserved. 50 references of various scientific research studies cited for the full text Box 3a: PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS (MINERAL ANALYSIS)  of Some bottled (+Mineral) waters in 2009 as  per Factory labels Labels Contents Bottled (Spring) waters Mineral  waters Remarks AQUA ADDIS Spring water *1 ABYSSINIA SPRINGS AQUA SAFE HIGHLAND YES  Mineral Spring water *2 AMBO Mineral water (Old Glass bottle) (1 litre) Michigan (USA) Mineral water/ (Mineral-premium Natural water) Calcium  [mg/l] 3.2 12 31.1 1.2 72 193 Magnesium  [mg/l] 1.95 3.4 2.6 0.8 46 58 Sodium [mg/l] 10.8 34.1 28.5 1.2 252 0 Potassium  [mg/l] 1.65 5.4 5 0.7 35 Bicarbonates[mg/l] 73.2 134 189.2 1 1128 Chlorides  [mg/l] 7.6 7.5 1.6 1.4 32.5 Dissolved Solids [mg/l] 82 - PH 6.7 7.4 7.5 7 7.4 Aluminium  [mg/l] 0 Manganese [mg/l] - 0.15 Iron  [mg/l] - 0 - 0.08   *3 Flouride  [mg/l] 0.27 Nitrate  [mg/l] 3.1 Nitrite [mg/l] 0 Sulphate  [mg/l] 4.5 11.4 1.2 0.77 Phosphorous  [mg/l] - - - 0.6   ? 4 Zinc  [mg/l] - - - 5 Total alkalinity  [mg/l] Hardness   [mg/l] 260 Total dissolved Solids, TDS  [mg/l] - 149 288 at 105 0C 10 362 *1-Typical Analysis     *2-Ingredient analysis   Box 3b: PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS (MINERAL ANALYSIS) of Some Bottled (+Mineral) waters in 2009/11 as per Factory labels                                                                          Labels      Contents           Bottled (Spring) waters                         Mineral  waters                             Remarks AQUA ADDIS Spring water *1 ABYSSINIA SPRINGS     AQUA SAFE     ORIGIN Purified Mineral Water YES  Mineral Spring water *2 AMBO Mineral water  (Old Glass bottle) (1 litre)   AMBO Mineral water     (plastic bottle) (0.5 litres) Michigan (USA) Mineral water/  (Mineral-premium Natural water)   Calcium  [mg/l] 3.2 12 31.1 7.5           1.2 72 1.2  193  Magnesium  [mg/l] 1.95 3.4 2.6 2.5  0.8 46 0.8  58 Sodium [mg/l] 10.8 34.1 28.5 22.5  1.2 252 8.8  0 Potassium  [mg/l] 1.65 5.4 5 3.1  0.7 35 1.1  Bicarbonates[mg/l] 73.2 134 189.2 91.6  1 1128 Chlorides  [mg/l] 7.6 7.5 1.6 7.7  1.4 32.5 0.4  Dissolved Solids [mg/l] 82 - PH 6.7 7.4 7.5 7.2  7 7.4 Aluminium  [mg/l] 0 Manganese [mg/l] - 0.15 0.8  Iron  [mg/l] - 0 - 0.08   *3 0.05 Flouride  [mg/l] 0.27 Nitrate  [mg/l] 3.1 Nitrite [mg/l] 0 Sulphate  [mg/l] 4.5 11.4 1.2 0.77 Phosphorous  [mg/l] - - - 0.6   ? 4 Zinc  [mg/l] - - - 5 Total alkalinity  [mg/l] 32.4 Hardness   [mg/l] 260 Total dissolved Solids, TDS  [mg/l] - 149 288 at 105 0C 10 45.5  362 *1-Typical Analysis     *2-Ingredient analysis *3- Total Iron