August 2015, Vol. 70, No.8
Editor's Log
Editor's Log: Affording Water
By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief
Water is not free.
Those in the underground infrastructure market understand that. Maintaining the underground piping system alone costs billions annually. Public water treatment plants are expensive and must operate and be maintained around the clock. Increasingly, access to water supply plus transmission and distribution of that precious resource further adds costs.
Surely, the general public understands that water is not free as well? The public’s perception is somewhat convoluted. Too many still just don’t understand how expensive it is to make sure clean, safe potable water is available upon demand – after all, it is just water being pumped down a pipe from a well, isn’t it? On the other hand, check out the still-growing bottled water craze of the past 20 years.
A different kind of water industry was born a few decades ago. Taking advantage of the steady growth in exercise, proper nutrition and overall health, marketing gurus were able to sell the concept of taking ordinary water, perhaps run it through a filter, then bottle it in convenient quantities and sell it at a ridiculous price, all the while promoting “healthy, better tasting, pure water.” Absolute genius.
Images of mountain streams or bubbling Artesian wells attract people to what has to be a superior quality H2O, right? It just stands to reason that this natural, fresh water has to be better tasting and a very healthy experience, right?
This industry went from a couple of glass bottle, mineral water suppliers to scores of companies generating regular water in cheap plastic containers. Private companies even have their labels slapped on water bottles for additional marketing efforts. We’ve all learned to expect the availability of bottled water anywhere, anyplace we go. Gone are the days of getting ice water from the sink or hose and using with paper cups for a quick drink when you were thirsty. Now, we have ice chests with expensive bottles of water. In virtually every office – and often homes – is the bottled water machine. Many dispensers offer a cold water option for even more convenience.
I admit that frequently, bottled water tastes better. I understand and appreciate the convenience of having fresh water readily available. But bottled water is generally not any safer than tap water.
Indeed, often private water bottling companies don’t have near the amount of regulations, inspections and standards to meet that public works treatment plants do. But nonetheless, the impression of safer, cleaner water in a bottle remains, even perpetuates.
I know about fresh spring water, right out of the ground. Where I grew up, we had a small lake on our ranch, fed by natural springs. We installed a pipe and faucet at the source of the springs. Frequently when out and about working on hot summer days, I’d head to the springs for a refreshing, great tasting drink of pure spring water. Tap water from the house just couldn’t match up. Of course, our house water came from our own well and the same aquifer as the spring water. But there was something about water coming through pipes and filters to the sink that changed the taste – or so I thought.
Have you paid attention to how much a small bottle of water costs these days? I wonder if, for the huge percent of Americans that have a major bottled water drinking habit, they’ve ever realized that they are paying much more for bottled water on a monthly basis than their entire residential water bill.
It looks like there is a good chance the next federal budget will include additional cuts to programs like the Clean Water Act and State Revolving Loan Funds, historically essential sources for municipalities trying to fund water and sewer programs. But by now, that is no surprise. Those programs were meant as temporary measures and funding levels have been declining for years. States and cities should be aggressively pursuing other funding options. There is continued talk of some kind of water infrastructure program that would be funded through a variety of sources but no traction has been reached to date.
So, while the bottled water industry booms, public works programs battle to keep water systems up and running, continuing to seek new sources for this precious resource. States are frequently turning to surface water to sate their residential and commercial habits. But purchasing surface water is more expensive and there is no end to the complaints and objections from the public when the water bill rises.
Unless it’s in a bottle – and that’s worth paying for.
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