Let me begin by saying that the United States still fares far better than the rest of the world in public water (both in quality and availability). Just ask anyone who's taken a trip down south. Far south. Water is so easy to get that most of us just take it for granted; which is why it's no surprise this recent study has been receiving national attention. Better go get your Brita filter now before they sell out tomorrow.
The study maintains that the city water distributed to more than 40 million Americans has traces of everything from "medicines used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, asthma, angina, and in some places, traces of a sex hormone." No, seriously. That's quite a cocktail. Fortunately, the research states that each drug is found only in the parts per thousand and would take massive amounts of consumption to yield any undesirable effect. Unfortunately, most people won't pay attention to that part.
Long live the bottle.
So after reading several articles similar to the one linked above, I began to wonder what the ultimate response will be to all these shenanigans. Bottled water, anyone?
By coincidence (or not), Pepsi & Starbucks have recently gotten a little smitten with one another, launching a new bottled water campaign.
I'm not necessarily implying that all of this media is premeditated, but who's to say it isn't? Bottled water has long been on the rise.
And to think I drank out of the garden hose as a child.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Down the drain and back again
2 reactions:
Check out this article:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080309/ap_on_re_us/pharmawater_i
"Even users of bottled water and home filtration systems don't necessarily avoid exposure. Bottlers, some of which simply repackage tap water, do not typically treat or test for pharmaceuticals, according to the industry's main trade group. The same goes for the makers of home filtration systems."
I agree. The bottled water industry should be still be taken for what it's worth (which isn't 100% credible... duh!)
The point isn't whether or not people SHOULD begin buying bottled water. More so- it's the timing that matters. A credible report showing pharmaceutical content in public drinking water is obviously a problem. It's the perception to which I am referring- not to be mistaken with the quality of the actual product.
Strategic relations, my friend. Whether or not it was pre-meditated.