It is about consumption.
Ignorance about the hidden water used in the bottled water industry, for example, is bound to hasten the looming disaster, as Zille proposes that SAB bottle 12 million litres of water to help address the water crisis in Cape Town.
Ironically, this will waste even more water, as we in effect will be polluting and using 96 million litres of water in production of the 12 million litres.
It takes seven to eight litres to make every litre of bottled water.
So essentially eight litres of clean water is wasted through the manufacture of the plastic bottles, and not only that – there is pollution of water in the process.
The real solution lies not in bottling but rather in getting people to provide their own storage containers and provide stations for people to fill.
The issue cuts deeper into consumption, too.
The International Water Explorer Programme has just been launched in the Western Cape; it is not a luxury add-on education programme but rather an emergency intervention strategy.
Any school or eco-club can participate in the programme for free by signing up: www.waterexplorer.org.
Bridget Ringdahl Water Explorer Programme Manager

Hospitals, key economic and industrial areas and densely populated areas with a higher risk of disease would be exempt from a water cut-off, said municipal authorities, who plan to open a disaster operations center on Monday to prepare for a possible closure of taps in a city known internationally for its natural beauty and tourist attractions.
South Africa’s second-biggest city ramped up contingency plans as the water crisis hurt tourism and politicians bickered over alleged failures to offset a looming disaster blamed on explosive population growth over the last two decades and several years of drought that scientists say was possibly exacerbated by man-made global warming.
Security forces would guard 200 water collection points where residents can pick up 25 liters (6.6 gallons) daily if the tap cut-off occurs, authorities said.
Providers of bottled water are being encouraged to increase supply so people have the option of buying water, and water tankers would deliver to homes for the elderly and other care facilities.
Cape Town is run by the opposition Democratic Alliance party, which says the national government of the ruling African National Congress party has failed to deliver water to all municipalities as required by law.
On Sunday, the ANC’s provincial branch said the "Day Zero" warning was an opposition gimmick to drum up a sense of "gloom and doom" and suggested its own solutions, including reductions in production by brewers and soft drink companies.
"We need water, not sugary and alcoholic drinks," the party said.
Meanwhile, tourism is taking a hit.
Agencies have received cancellations from domestic and international travelers, said Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy, according to the African News Agency.
He was asked about the city’s crisis at a news conference.

Some businesses in Swan River, Man., won’t open Monday and services are being scaled back as crews work around the clock to find a solution to a water shortage that’s led the town to call a local state of emergency and bring in truckloads of bottled water for residents.
The state of emergency was called Sunday after officials noticed water from the community’s well had mysteriously stopped flowing to the water treatment plant around 8 p.m. CT Saturday.
Schools will also remain closed in the community Monday, and McKenzie says many businesses and restaurants have also decided not to open until the taps start running again.
"We’re trying to find out what the problem is but nothing has been found at this point in time."
Earlier in the day Sunday, Swan River’s deputy mayor, Lance Jacobson, told CBC News the town’s two main wells "just quit pumping water to the facility," and that officials are hoping to get a third well working and pump water from it overland if necessary.
‘It was just insane’ Meanwhile, McKenzie says two semi-trailer loads of bottled water and a tanker of potable water has been brought in and is available to residents at the Swan Valley Regional Secondary School.
She said the town’s grocery stores had sold out of water within hours of opening.
"Everybody has been reducing the amount of water and the different businesses and community organizations," he said.
The mayor wouldn’t speculate on how long the emergency water supply will last, but remains hopeful a solution will be found soon.
"Hopefully some of the options that we’re working on will resolve the situation within the next 24 hours."

Wait a couple of minutes, and the silt-like particles observed in a glass of tap water from Tammi Justice’s Opelika household on Rockledge Street will settle.
“It certainly on some days affects the look,” Elijah said.
Colder temperatures over the last few weeks, including the recent freezing weather, have decreased the algae in Saugahatchee Lake, said general manager Dan Hilyer.
As a result, there have been no indications of any peculiar odor or taste going into the city’s distribution system.
“But we don’t have those that I’m aware of now, and haven’t had any since after Christmas.” As for whether anything else other than algae could be causing the issue, Dan Hilyer said, “No.” “No, that’s what’s causing it,” he added.
It’s not causing it now, but that was the culprit, yes.” An increase in algae is a naturally occurring event in surface water sources and will happen “every now and then,” assured Jeff Hilyer, chairman of the Opelika Utilities Board.
But this is a naturally occurring event that could happen again.” ‘Still have concerns’ Justice, who has always preferred to drink water from a filter, mused that the cloudy water from her faucet could be an issue with her home’s plumbing.
The water’s taste and odor has improved from how it was months ago when others in her neighborhood were complaining, Ridley said, although she still is wary about giving the water to her 15-year-old yorky, “Buddy,” who has kidney disease.
Readers reach out First noticing a peculiar odor and taste about two months ago, Perdomo said her family went away for the Christmas holiday and later found that the problem was still evident when she returned.
Because her family lives in a historic home that was built in the early 1900s, Perdomo at the time wondered if the home’s age may have affected the water.

Messmer, a Rye Democrat, said she introduced HB 1632 because she “wanted to educate the public about their water.” “Most times when we have an issue with a public water supply people turn to bottled water.
Messmer wants people to know what’s in their bottled water and whether it’s safe.
Andrea Amico is co-founder of Testing for Pease, a local group that has pushed for people exposed to PFASs at the former Pease Air Force base to learn more about the health effects that could come with the exposure.
She called Messmer’s legislation “a good idea because we’ve seen a significant amount of water contamination throughout the state of New Hampshire.” “When that happens, many people start using bottled water as a result of a public water supply being contaminated.
Amico’s husband and two of her children were exposed to the water at Pease.
“I think it would be really important to know how safe bottled water is, because otherwise we could just be getting a false sense of security from drinking it,” Amico said.
Providing information on the label of a bottled water container can help educate the public about what potentially dangerous chemicals is in the bottled water they’re paying for, she said.
The bill could face some strong opposition.
Bottled water producers are required by law to monitor and test for all substances listed in the FDA bottled water standards of quality regulations.” The association noted that “FDA bottled water regulations preempt any standards or labeling requirements adopted by a state legislature or agency.” The group also questioned the feasibility of putting the information required under Messmer’s bill on a bottled water container.
The study determined that including a long and detailed list of specific substances found in bottled water on the product labeling was not feasible because ‘such information would be excessive in limited label space, particularly on the small, single serving bottles,’” the association added.

Dubai: How safe is bottled water in Dubai?
Authorities took to social media to assure residents that all bottled water is completely safe, after a flurry of rumours questioned the safety of mineral water.
On its official Instagram account, Dubai Municipality acknowledge that a number of articles and photos were published on social networking sites, claiming that some brands of bottled water were harmful to residents and contained a high level of acidity.
An investigation was immediately carried out by the Food Safety Management Department at the municipality, who said, “these rumours are not based on scientific facts, studies or accredited sources.” Dubai Municipality further clarified that residents should not believe such rumours, as “any scientific statement must be issued by specialists of the same field, and must be supported by scientific evidence or based on scientific references that are accredited and known.” According to the UAE and Gulf Standards No.
UAE.S GSO 1025: 2014 for bottled water, the pH level of bottled water should be between 6.5 and 8.5.
The Dubai Central Laboratory carried out tests for the products under question, and confirmed that the pH levels were within the acceptable percentage.
The municipality pointed out that, “the pH level in drinking water is a quality characteristic and has no health effect.
Mineral water doesn’t specify the natural pH because natural water has its own acidity, according to its origin.” All products in Dubai’s markets are deemed as safe, confirmed an official at the department of food safety, and re subjected to rigid tests either during the manufacturing process or when they are imported and circulated.

Dubai Municipality has responded to rumours circling social media regarding bottled water in Dubai.
The Municipality took to Twitter to rubbish the news, which stated popular brands of bottled water on sale here could be harmful to humans depending on the alkaline/acidic content.
The response included an in depth analysis of the water The ministry stated the rumours on social media are not based on scientific facts, studies or approved sources.
And the evidence to prove it… "1.
Any scientific statement must be made by persons who are competent in the field they are talking about and be supported by scientific evidence or based on recognized scientific references.
According to UAE and Gulf Standard No.
UAE.S GSO 1025: 2014 for bottled water, the pH (pH) should be between 6.5 – 8.5.
3 – The number of hydrogen in the drinking water is a quality characteristics and has no health effect.
The evidence that the standard mineral water did not specify the natural pH because it is natural water has its own acidity according to origin.
4 – All food products in the local markets are subject to the control of the Food Safety Department, either during manufacture, import or circulation and be verified that they conform to the technical regulations and specifications, laws and legislation approved.

Warriors for Clean Water claims Decatur’s water is contaminated with heavy metals and can cause kidney failure.
Decatur Utilities calls the claims unwarranted and unsubstantiated.
Here’s what Decatur Utilities wrote in a letter it sent to WAAY 31: “Decatur Utilities assures customers that its drinking water is safe Decatur Utilities monitored a press conference held today by Ron Mixon of Warriors for Clean Water and Dr. John Rose, DO (Doctor of Osteopathy).
The Decatur Utilities service area was lumped into a region referenced in a study alleging a link between levels of heavy metals in local drinking water and instances of kidney failure.
Decatur Utilities provides its customers with safe, clean drinking water that exceeds state and federal quality standards.
Contrary to the claim made by Mr. Mixon, DU’s water treatment process is multi-staged and includes screening, chemical addition, settling, filtration, and disinfection.
Decatur Utilities performs more than one million tests in-house and at third-party independent laboratories each year to monitor the level of contaminants in the drinking water provided.
Levels of other contaminants are well below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM).
In August, Decatur Utilities received notification from the EPA that its Water Treatment Plant (WTP) had surpassed state and federal regulatory treatment standards for water quality for the fourth straight year (2013-2016).
“ Article Comments

Messmer, a Rye Democrat, said she introduced HB 1632 because she “wanted to educate the public about their water.” “Most times when we have an issue with a public water supply people turn to bottled water.
Messmer wants people to know what’s in their bottled water and whether it’s safe.
Andrea Amico is co-founder of Testing for Pease, a local group that has pushed for people exposed to PFASs at the former Pease Air Force base to learn more about the health effects that could come with the exposure.
She called Messmer’s legislation “a good idea because we’ve seen a significant amount of water contamination throughout the state of New Hampshire.” “When that happens, many people start using bottled water as a result of a public water supply being contaminated.
Amico’s husband and two of her children were exposed to the water at Pease.
“I think it would be really important to know how safe bottled water is, because otherwise we could just be getting a false sense of security from drinking it,” Amico said.
Providing information on the label of a bottled water container can help educate the public about what potentially dangerous chemicals is in the bottled water they’re paying for, she said.
The bill could face some strong opposition.
Bottled water producers are required by law to monitor and test for all substances listed in the FDA bottled water standards of quality regulations.” The association noted that “FDA bottled water regulations preempt any standards or labeling requirements adopted by a state legislature or agency.” The group also questioned the feasibility of putting the information required under Messmer’s bill on a bottled water container.
The study determined that including a long and detailed list of specific substances found in bottled water on the product labeling was not feasible because ‘such information would be excessive in limited label space, particularly on the small, single serving bottles,’” the association added.

WATERPROOF, La, (KNOE) – The Town of Waterproof is completely without water.
People say its been that way for weeks.
said Debra Cameron, owner of Stop N’ Shop in Waterproof.
Waterproof has been without water for almost a month.The mayor says cold weather started the problem.
Others get their water elsewhere.
"it is not the town council and the mayor’s fault, it’s the Tensas rural water fault," said Herbert Williams, Waterproof resident and former member of Waterproof’s board of Aldermen.
"We need to stop blaming the mayor because this is not the mayor’s fault.
She says no water.
I’ve lost two to three weeks of customers telling them, ‘I can cook for you today because I can’t wash my hands,’” said Cameron.
"We have elderly people down here suffering.