The Effects of Plastic Water Bottle Pollution

Plastic water bottles are one of the most popular options Americans reach for when they are thirsty. This is mainly because plastic water bottles are a quick and simple way to take water on the go, they provide you with certainty the water is clean (or so you think), and they can be easily disposed of once you are done with them. But, is that actually the case? Plastic water bottles aren’t good for the environment for a variety of reasons and often end up polluting the planet. So, what exactly are the effects of plastic water bottle pollution?

Plastic water bottle pollution has numerous negative effects, most of which impact the environment and the natural planet as a whole. Plastic water bottles often end up in landfills, in the ocean, or on the side of the road instead of the recycling bin. Plastic can kill animals, leak harmful chemicals into water supplies and soil, and ultimately disrupt entire ecosystems. Not only does this pollute our environments, but it hinders our ability to recycle those plastic bottles (which required many valuable resources to produce) and use them for other purposes.

Americans drink more bottled water than any other country in the world, throwing away 35 billion plastic water bottles a year, with only 12% of those (4.2 billion) ultimately being recycled. That means around 30 billion plastic water bottles end up in landfills, the ocean, or other natural environments every year. It takes plastic water bottles nearly 1,000 years to decompose, so they continue to leak harmful chemicals like BPA into the environment during that process, affecting plants, animals, and even causing health issues in humans.

At Aqua Clara, we provide access to clean water by designing, developing, and disseminating clean water technologies to benefit those who live on less than $2/day. We also aim to reduce the number of people who purchase bottled water by offering our Universal Cartridge Filter, which reduces many different contaminants and is now available at Wal-Mart. Our Universal Cartridge Filter fits most household filter products, includes a rubber seal to protect against contamination, and will purify your home's drinking water at a reasonable price. The proceeds of these filters help fund our projects all over the world, so consider helping us make a difference by purchasing a filter today!

About Aqua Clara International

Scientists long ago discovered how to purify unsafe water. To us, the central issue has been in designing solutions that are both sustainable and scalable and that can reach the millions in need while at the same time continuing to function without sustained outside input. Our target populations are those individuals and families who live on $2 per day or less.

We are a technology transfer organization. Our niche in clean water continues to be in designing science-based technologies that utilize locally available materials where possible and then transferring what we learn to those working in areas of need. The cost of our technologies varies by country and is dependent on the prevailing costs of raw materials, such as plastic containers, PVC piping, sand, etc. Learn more by visiting our website.