Natura^® Water

Transporting Water

This aspect of bottled water is a source of huge amounts of pollution. After producing the bottles (and causing pollution), bottling the water (and causing pollution) then comes shipping the bottles across the world (and causing even more pollution).
Most often bottled water is transported by the semi truck-load. Driving the water around the country and continent causes massive amounts of exhaust which converts to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases and Global Warming. The fuel needed for the trucks comes from the oil rig operations that are doing their part in polluting not just the air with the emissions from machinery but are also causing pollution in the process of producing oil.

When the bottled water makes its way across the ocean the pollution can be just as great. The fuel used to power the ships releases greenhouse gases. There is the chance of oil leaks and spills. And there is a new form of pollution that is ruining water habitats and ecosystems everywhere, especially the Great Lakes. Invasive species are plants and animals that are not naturally found living in the waters of the Great Lakes but have been introduced accidentally and are taking over the habitats of the naturally occurring species of plants and animals.
The tanker ships use water to compensate for the load they are carrying. The ballast water helps keep the ship at a safe depth in the ocean. The ships take on water in the harbour and then head out to sea. When approaching their destination, it was common practice to empty the ballast water at the new harbour. However, when the ship filled up with ballast water, they also brought along a few critters that are not common to the waters of the new harbour. The introduction of new species is a form of water pollution that is often overlooked. And although bottled water is not the main cause of these invasive species the fact that water is shipped over seas means that bottled water is contributing to the pollution of vast areas of water.
The amount of oil needed to make the bottle, fill it and ship it releases an estimated 250 grams of greenhouse gases per bottle of imported water. Some analysts state that when one quarter of the water in each bottle was replaced with oil that is an accurate description of the amount of oil used.

Source:
Bottled Water a Fact Sheet from the Safe Drinking Water Foundation
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatics/ballast.shtml
http://www.epa.gov/owow/invasive_species