BOTTLED WATER TECHNOLOGY AND ITS GLOBAL RAMIFICATIONS: AN OVERVIEW

Since ancient times, humans have used some form of water carrying vessel to transport water for consumption. In modern times, bottled waters of various sizes and volumes, predominately made of plastic, are produced for public consumption. Particularly since 1990s, bottled water has become a major global commodity available in every corner of the world. From technology perspective, bottled water can be considered a decentralized technology which distributes water for human consumption via a portable container, i.e., bottle, instead of a pipeline which is a required component for transporting water in conventional centralized water infrastructure, i.e., public water supply system. In general, decentralized water systems refer to small-scale water supply systems that use available local water resources and supply drinking water to small communities or low population areas. However, the decentralized concept also applies to water bottling industries that produce bottled water in a certain location and then export it to distant lands for consumption. This article discusses the rational beyond global expansion of bottled water, components of bottled water technology, and its ramifications related to community development, human health, energy consumption and environmental impacts.