Posted on 12/03/2008 8:06:57 PM PST by neverdem
Bottled water sales are exploding! According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation the wholesale value of bottled water sold in the United States during 2006 was about $10.99 billion - a 60% increase over what was sold during 2001.
Some Bottled Water History
The economic value of "special water" was first cultivated in Europe during the late 1700s when people began visiting natural springs to drink the water or bathe in it. Then in 1767, Jackson's spa in Boston began bottling their water. This increased their income and shared the water with people over a broad area.
In the early days of the water industry, "mineral water" and "spring water" were the most popular types of bottled water. Many people believed that "mineral water" had a medicinal effect and that "spring water" had a special purity because it had just emerged from the ground and had not been used. The industry began with these perceived benefits of bottled water and perception remains a driving factor for sales...
(Excerpt) Read more at geology.com ...
I remember a sign in a Burlington Wyoming rest room.
It said “Flush the toilet, Basin can use the water”
bottles?
Maybe it's just me, but this looks a lot like "about $11 billion." Strange to ballpark estimate something to 4 significant digits.
When I was a kid, I thought it was so strange that someone would pay for water in a bottle. I still do.
I realize there are instances where people need it for certain traveling situations, and cases where there are issues with the drinking water in the homes in some areas, but over 10 billion in sales???
Mostly tap water.
7-11
When I am thirsty for water and I am in a convenience store, I automatically go for the most expensive bottled water. This is because I feel that the more I pay for it, the better the water will be. But no matter how much I pay for it, it tastes the same. So I’m thinking that I might have to reconsider my method of water purchasing.
Here in New Zealand you are much better off drinking tap water than buying bottled water. Tap water is one order of magnitude cleaner because it is processed to Drinking Water standards. Bottled water, on the other hand, is processed only to Food Grade: still perfectly acceptable but not nearly as pure.
I suspect this would be the same case in most parts of the US: tap water is normally processed to a pretty hi standard of cleanliness, even if it doesn’t taste particularly nice.
Waitakere City water — the stuff that comes out of the tap where I live — has been judged the best tap water in the world. It’s delicious, particularly ice-cold.
Anybody who buys bottled water here in NZ is a mug.
the 3/4 of the earth surface is water, yet we pay more for it than we do gasoline (when you buy these 20 oz. bottles in the convenient store). Is it a coincidence Evian spelled backwards is naive? Jars of dirt has to be next.
Fuji is the best tasting bottled water, because its got that pretty 3D landscape scene on the back label ... I used to like Poland Spring because of its clean taste, but they recently changed the plastic bottle to a *green* thinner texture, which seems skimpy to me (but it *is* "greener"), so I don't particularly like Poland Spring no more. Volvic still has a robust square plastic bottle which is pretty good in that it doesn't tip over so easily, but the water inside is so-so at best. What I do is to save the Volvic square bottles and refill them from filtered tap water, and then I'm good to go :)
Yes, refilling Volvic botles with filtered tap is my current passion as far as bottled water goes .......
MM
People think the economy is in trouble but we still live in a place where people will still buy water for a two bucks a bottle.
I’m calling BS on the whole thing.
My tapwater at home comes from my own well. I’ve had it tested. Its about as good as water gets. I’m good with that.
We have great water, people often take water home with them when they visit, my grandson has rated all 6 or our wells with our house well rating #2, he always takes water from home wherever he goes. I have probably purchased about 100 bottles for convenience over the last 10 years but why pay for something that you can get basically for free.
Without fail, our guests would examine the fancy bottle and proclaim how fine our taste in wine was as they guzzled down our bargain wine.
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