bottled water argumentative essay

Should Bottled Water Be Banned? Essay

Plastics is one of the products that are leading in polluting the environment. Some of the goods made of plastic include plastic water bottles. Bottled water is the most consumed drink and beverage across the world. This is since the product is easily accessible and cheap. They are bought in large numbers and end up being irregularly disposed of, thus polluting the environment. Plastics are detrimental to the environment; they affect the soil, water, air and eventually lead to climate change and global warming. Although plastic bottled water is a better alternative to sugary drinks, plastic bottles are a threat to the environment, hence they should be banned.

Banning bottled water would be the right decision that would help reduce waste and protect the environment. The main component in water bottles is plastic. Plastics are a product of fossil fuels; when they are burned, they produce persistent organic pollutants (POP) (“Should Bottled Water Be Banned” 1). This is the polluting component of plastics. Although they are burnt, they still remain persistent in the air for a long time. When this happens, it forms its own clouds or merges with the existing ones forming polluted air. They are rich in toxic chemicals. Air pollution, one of the factors contributing to climate change, is caused by harmful emissions as a result of human activities. Factories and industrial facilities manufacturing plastic products are the major contributors to air pollution.

Banning bottled water is a correct decision since plastics are harmful to our health when ingested or inhaled. Plastics are made of petroleum products that also contribute to air pollution. Regulating emissions from these agents will therefore ensure that air pollution is reduced not only in the community but globally (“Should Bottled Water Be Banned” 2). Most communities lack proper waste disposal mechanisms; one of the harmful ways of disposing of wastes is burning – this often leads to air pollution.

Plastics are a threat to aquatic life. Aquatics such as fish are at a danger of being extinct because of plastics being disposed of in lakes, oceans, and seas. When consumed by fish and other aquatic creatures, the plastics block the breathing system of the animals and they end up suffocating. On the other hand, since ocean currents and air affect the climate, when they are polluted, they cannot form enough precipitation to form clouds that would eventually lead to rains. Unfortunately, some of the aquatic life such as fish find themselves on our tables as food; hence, we are jeopardizing our health when we use bottled water. Besides, they are a threat to aquatic life as when they are consumed by aquatics, they cause complications and may lead to death. When plastics are burnt, they pollute the air. When this occurs, they cause the greenhouse effect which is associated with climate change and global warming. Plastics adversely affect the soil since they cannot be decomposed and utilized as nutrients in the soil.

A ban on bottled water would protect the local water supplies from exploitation. Bottling plants are the cause of dried-up wells and wetlands or a depletion of the streamflow in the areas they are set up (“Should Bottled Water Be Banned” 2). Deposits of plastics in oceans interrupt the flow of oceanic currents. Due to destructive human activities such as the use of plastics, global climate has been fluctuating, and climate patterns have been difficult to predict. Recent research indicates that the conveyor belt has been affected as well. The oceanic conveyor belt is a system that facilitates the movement of oceanic currents. Unfortunately, climate change is threatening to change the pattern of how the circulation of oceanic currents occurs. One of the consequences of its interference in the flow of ocean currents is that it could either slow or stop the conveyor belt entirely. One of the effects of climate change on the oceanic conveyor belt is that it leads to a rise in global temperatures.

Although the use of bottled water may be cheap to purchase, it is costly to maintain and dispose of. One of the consequences of the use of plastic bottles is climate change. Due to harsh climatic conditions, such as droughts, governments have been forced to initiate food distribution programs that are costly (“Should Bottled Water Be Banned” 3). Climate change and global warming also have detrimental impacts on agriculture, which is one of the leading income-generating sectors in most countries. There has been a change in climate all over the world with some parts of it experiencing extreme climatic conditions such as high temperatures or lack of rainfall. These environmental issues affect the quality of life. Recently, it has become hard to predict the climate in most parts of the world, as weather patterns have changed.

In summary, it is evident that bottled water does more harm than good to both humans and the environment, and hence they should be banned. They are harmful in the following ways: First, plastics do not decompose easily. This means that when they are burnt, they stay in the air longer, and since they contain pollutants, they contaminate the air. Due to plastics’ inability to be decomposed, they pose a threat to both the vegetation and insects, animals, and microorganisms in the soil. It has also been scientifically proven that it interferes with the flow of oceanic currents which leads to a rise in global temperatures. Some of the impacts of climate change on a diverse population include food shortages, aridity, acid rain, high temperatures, lack of rainfall.

“Should Bottled Water Be Banned? – Top 4 Pros and Cons.” ProCon , 2018. Web.

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"Should Bottled Water Be Banned?" IvyPanda , 30 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/should-bottled-water-be-banned/.

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IvyPanda . 2023. "Should Bottled Water Be Banned?" October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/should-bottled-water-be-banned/.

1. IvyPanda . "Should Bottled Water Be Banned?" October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/should-bottled-water-be-banned/.

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IvyPanda . "Should Bottled Water Be Banned?" October 30, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/should-bottled-water-be-banned/.

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Should Bottled Water Be Banned

Categories: Natural Resources Water Quality

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Published: Aug 31, 2023

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Bottled Water Vs. Tap - Argument Essay

Favorite Quote: “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” - Malala Yousafzai

How often do you think about the water you drink, and where it comes from? You might not give a second thought before grabbing a plastic water bottle off a store shelf, or filling up a cup with your sink faucet. But really, there is worldwide debate on the usage of bottled and tap water that has been ongoing for decades. With increasing environmental concerns of bottled water, many people have been calling for a return to tap water. Tap water is not nearly as detrimental to the environment as bottled water, and it is just as safe, as well as cheaper. On the other hand, bottled water enthusiasts claim that tap water is unsafe. It is said by some to contain more contaminants than water bottles. Bottled water is also very convenient to buy and use. After reading numerous articles, it can be concluded that tap water is the overall better choice of water source. Implementing this choice would require the participation of communities. A large consumer of water is schools worldwide. Schools should have tap water offered to their students instead of water bottles, because tap water is safer, cheaper, and better for the environment as a whole. If schools all over started implementing tap water instead of bottled, they, as well as the whole world, could benefit greatly. Even though the appeal of bottled water’s convenience may seem to outweigh tap water’s advantages, tap water would still be the better option.

Tap water is better overall than bottled water and would be a better water source for schools. First of all, tap water is safe and sanitary for people to drink. For example, the article, “Bottled versus tap: Which is safer?” by knowledgeable author, Elena Conis, addresses this exact point. In paragraph six of the article, it states, “...tap water in the country meets the EPA’s drinking-water standards, which regulate the levels of roughly 90 different contaminants…” Tap water is purified and regulated thoroughly, ensuring that it is safe for drinking purposes. This proves that tap would be good to use in schools, because there are little to no health risks involved. Similarly, in the same article, it talks about the monitoring methods in tap water facilities opposed to bottled. In paragraph 11 of the article, it says, “And while large public water suppliers are often tested for contaminants up to several times a day, the FDA requires private bottlers to test for contaminants only once a week, once a year, or once every four years, depending on the contaminant.” Public tap water suppliers are required to be monitored and tested for contaminants multiple times a day. This further reinforces the safety of tap water. In comparison, bottled water companies are not checked for contaminants nearly as often, proving that tap water is the safer option. Finally, one last advantage of using tap water is cost. In an article titled “City Council Shuns Bottles in Favor of Water From Tap” by scholarly author Jennifer Lee, the price of bottled and tap water is discussed. As Lee wrote, “Bottled water costs 4,000 to 10,000 times as much as tap water.” This shows that tap water is superior to bottled water because it costs extremely less. People could save numerous amounts of money by using tap water instead of bottled water. This is also another reason schools should implement tap water. School funds are wasted on bottled water that they could just as easily get from their taps. If they switched to tap water, schools could use the money saved from not buying bottled water on more important things that require funding. Also, if schools cannot afford to buy bottles for their students, and did not offer tap water, kids would go the whole day without having any water. That can have devastating impacts on a child’s growing body. All in all, the advantages of tap water over bottled water include the safety and cost. These advantages outweigh the convenience offered by bottled water. Schools should have tap water offered to students because it is safe and significantly less costly for schools.

While there are many reasons pointing towards the conclusion that tap water is a better choice, there are also many negative factors of bottled water that make it obvious that tap water should be used instead. For starters, bottled water has actually been proven to have more contaminants than tap water. For instance, the article, “Bottled Water Quality”, written by The Pacific Institute, discusses the evidence of an experiment conducted on bottled water quality. This is shown in the text when it states, “Altogether, 26 samples of 13 bottled water brands collected from different bottled water plants in Mumbai were tested for pesticides (or poisonous chemicals) most commonly used in India. The results of the study showed pesticides in every example.” The experiment concluded that every single bottle had traces of dangerous chemicals. This means that every time someone drinks a bottle of water, they could be ingesting harmful substances. This shows that bottled water is dangerous and shouldn’t be consumed by anyone, especially not children in schools. Another reason bottled water is the wrong option is the waste of supplies used to make it. For instance, in the article, “Goodbye, Bottled Water?” by brilliant author, Gail Hennessy, it states, “...1.5 million barrels of petroleum are used to produce plastic water bottles in the United States each year. ‘That’s enough to supply 250,000 homes with electricity for a year…” There is so much petroleum wasted on making bottles that are dangerous and pollute the environment. The resources used to make bottles could easily be used for many other things, but instead are being swallowed up by bottled water consumers. Schools’ carbon footprints would hugely increase if they offered water bottles, because they would be indirectly using up so many resources. Finally, one last point against bottled water is its infamous pollution aspect. This is talked about in the same article when it states, “More than 1 billion plastic water bottles end up in California’s landfills each year, taking 1,000 years to biodegrade and leaking toxic additives such as phthalates into the groundwater.” The one-use bottles from bottled water end up littering the earth and even leaking toxic chemicals into the ground. These chemicals can then go back into the tap and bottled water that we drink. If people stop using bottles, all water would be much safer. Schools shouldn’t offer bottled water, as they would be contributing to the massive epidemic of water bottle pollution. It is just as easy for them to let students drink tap water that decreases their pollution output and is safer and cheaper.

All in all, tap water is the best source of drinking water and should be offered to children in schools. Tap water is safe and regulated, cheap, and better for the environment. On the other hand, bottled water is dangerous and contains chemicals and contaminants. It is expensive for the consumers, it wastes resources on production, and pollutes the world, as well as the water that goes back into those same bottles. Billions of bottles are still being used by people everywhere, despite the obvious fact that they are hurting us and the environment. It is understandable that bottled water is convenient, but are people willing to sacrifice the worlds well-being for that convience? It is undeniable that bottles should not be used anywhere, especially not in schools. Children’s health and futures are put at stake by the water they are given. That’s why it’s essential to switch to tap water. Using it can be the difference between a healthy world of healthy people and ailment and pollution. Every person that uses tap water contributes to change. Even just one school using tap water instead of bottled could make a big difference. The switch to tap water and essentially a better world is within our grasp. It all depends on you. So, what will you do next time you’re thirsty?

Another school assignment. I made it last year. I find it helpful to use as an example for writing argument essays.

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Bottled Water vs Tap Water Persuasive Essay

Trying to figure out how to write a persuasive essay about the merits of tap water versus bottled water? It’s a complicated question and well worth exploring in your essay, as there’s an important debate going on about the benefits of clean bottled water opposed to the harm to the environment a plastic water bottle may cause.

First of all, in your introduction, once you’ve hooked your audience with a shock fact or a clever opener, set out your thesis statement clearly. This is what you are setting out to persuade your audience of, so it’s important that it’s clear and decisive, not muddled or wishy-washy. See the samples below for some ideas on how to start your essay.

Introduction examples

Hook & Thesis: When you buy a bottle of water, you’re expecting clean and fresh water, perhaps taken from mountain springs, as is often depicted on the bottles. But what you’re actually getting is just treated tap water most of the time. Australia’s drinking water is some of the safest in the world, so next time you need a drink, just head for the tap!

Hook & Thesis: Put down that plastic water bottle! You’re about to spend an average of $2.53 for something you could get for just 1 cent: pure clean fresh drinking water. So why is tap water better than bottled water? Let’s find out.

The body of your essay should then consist of the points you want to make to back up your thesis. Remember, these points do not need to be evidence-based, they can also be emotional anecdotes or anything you think will win people over to your point of view. It’s also worth considering what arguments people might use against you. If your thesis is that everyone should drink tap water, you need to answer the response that bottled water is more convenient or think about what reply you would give to someone who lived in an area where tap water was undrinkable. In addition, you want to explain the benefits of tap water – is it really just as pure as bottled water for everyone?

Your conclusion is where you sum up your points and call your readers to action. Whether you’re arguing the benefits of tap water or simply arguing against the use of bottled water in large amounts, you want the final result of your work to be getting people to change what they do. Here’s a few sample conclusions.

Conclusion examples

Conclusion: Tap water is just as pure as bottled water for the most part, and when you drink it, you do your part to help save our planet. So, don’t throw out those old water bottles, reuse them again, and then recycle them, and after that get yourself a sturdy water bottle that can be easily refilled indefinitely. You’ll be happy you did!

Conclusion: In order to really reduce the use of water bottles, infrastructure in Australia is going to have to change somewhat. Drinking fountains should be placed in public areas, and all restaurants should be obliged to provide free chilled drinking water on request. And finally, you should buy a good permanent water bottle. Put it in your car, carry it around with you, and totally eliminate the need to buy flimsy plastic water bottles again.

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