WHY WATER SHOULD BE REGULATED BYTHE GOVERNMENT

 The following paper looks at the critics move to stop the production and the use of bottled water from a critical point of view. It can be observed that bottled water has been in production for long but with the enlightenment on environmental conservation insights today, the matter is becoming a concern to many people across America. This paper therefore looks at the rationale behind this move by critics who are apparently calling for the regulation of bottled water by the US food and Drug administration (FDA) as a result. In fact arguments have arisen claiming that indeed tap water is safer since better policy actions to ensure its safety are well enacted and taken into account well.

Rationale for the need for government intervention

This move by several critics who include environmentalists, students as well as leaders has in fact been backed by meaningful insight on why actually there should be better measures of regulating bottled water. Therefore these can be looked upon under the following basis.

Prescience of contaminants

Scientific evidence has shown the presence of contaminates in clear bottles especially those made of polycarbonate plastic. These chemicals are harmful to the human body as research has shown. They have been known to cause infertility among the mice as well as disrupting the human endocrine system, by changing the normal production of estrogen in the body. The Nalgene, a component chemical in these plastics is responsible for leaching of Bisphenol-A which is quite harmful.

Additionally the presence of lower sperm counts for male adults who use the plastics has been observed as an effect of the (BPA), Bisphenol-A chemical.

The use of stainless bottle in brands like Klean Kantlene has been responsible for the contamination of water by iron elements that though not harmful in the short run, they might lead to future complications.

Lack of proper means of disposal, reuse and recycling

Several people have complained of the lack of proper mechanisms to dispose such non-biodegradable waste especially in places such as areas that use the plastic bottles on a large scale. These bottles and cans that are at most times used and thrown away by irresponsible people end up in the pacific ocean where they take long time, a thousand years to breakdown in the period  within which they harm fish which consumes them as they appear like food. Therefore critics are of the view that actually, the producers of this bottled water should indeed internalize their negative effects to the environment through setting up reliable mechanisms of recycling their wastes.

Uneconomical

The approach being used by not only the bottling firms but corporations and institutions is indeed very uneconomical. The shipment of drinking water through air has indeed been argued to be insensible in the regard to the world’s view on energy conservation. This leads to the burning of fossil fuels through the air transport as well as contributing to non-biodegradable wastes in the environment for something that can be easily affordable with even a better quality from taps as seen in the water vending machines installed by Gavin Newsom, the mayor for San Francisco in 2007 in city buildings.

Appraisal of the critics view

The critics view on this regard can therefore be appraised. It is a sound campaign to have such measures enacted as it has been seen through the above insight that indeed apart from prestige, nothing more comes along with bottled water with repute to quality.

Conclusion

In conclusion therefore, it is undoubtedly wise to embrace the critics view. The recent developments on people’s view on bottled water seeks to strengthen this motive. Better methods of water conservation as well as sound environmentally friendly ideologies need to be embraced as a result.

References;

Knopper, M. (2008, May). Bottled water backlash. E : the Environmental Magazine, 19(3), 36-39. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1475949361).Link to reference: http://search.proquest.com/docview/229069630?username=rasmussenc&password=welcomeKrogstad, A. (2009, January). Purifying the business of selling water. E : the Environmental Magazine, 20(1), 10-11. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from Research Library. (Document ID: 1626604811).Link to above article: http://search.proquest.com/docview/229047238?username=rasmussenc&password=welcome