Why are people spending money on bottled water when many have a safe water source, right from the nearby tap?
Do people think it is safer to drink?
Locally, the Peterborough Utilities Commission (PUC) manages our water to meet and exceed government requirements for water testing.
It produces a compound that can be detected in the taste of the water, even after treatment.
Bottled water comes in individually packaged, plastic bottles.
Also, fossil fuels are required to produce that bottle.
It takes one-quarter of a bottle of oil to produce each plastic bottle and transport it to the store.
“Someone living in Peterborough, Ontario may not imagine that their plastic water bottle could end up in the ocean,” explains Jenn McCallum, GreenUP Water programs co-ordinator, “but, we are surrounded by water in this area and any plastic bottle that ends up in the Otonabee River could find it’s way through the watershed to Rice Lake, into the Trent River, to Lake Ontario and finally to the Atlantic Ocean.
Reusable water bottles are available in many local stores, including the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer St. N. in downtown Peterborough.
You can also find the Ptbo H20 mobile drinking water station at several events in and around the Peterborough area.