Water. How Can Something So Simple Become So Political?

30 June 2008

This morning we spoke with Elizabeth Royte, who has examined the bottled water industry.

And it is some industry! Over the last eighteen years it has grown from a 115 million dollar industry in the US to 11 Billion.

Is this a good thing? Is it just as good to be drinking from the tap. Elizabeth says, in the US at least, tap water is just as good as bottled water. Indeed my dentist says I should drink tap water as much as possible, because here in Australia our water is fluoridated (he says fluorine fights tooth decay, although there are plenty of fluoridation opponents who disagree).

In many countries that we broadcast to across the oceans, safe drinking water is an isssue, and often tourists and locals are urged by health authorities to drink bottled water.

Which brings us to a big issue: is there enough good water in the region? According to a guest from last week, Colin Chartres from the International Water Management Institute, too much water is being wasted. It takes one litre of water to grow one CALORIE of food, which means the average Australian consumes up to 3000 litres of water in their food alone. Heavy meat eaters consume even more since cattle, piggies and sheep have to graze for a long time before they get the chop.

Bottom line is: if you’re got good water, count yourself lucky, and please don’t abuse the privilege. There are plenty of people who are wasting it. And plenty more who need the stuff.
- Phil