Bottled water feels economy’s bite

In the heat of the recession, bottled water is becoming the newest luxury for a growing number of Australians.

Based on a study of 1500 people, The Bottled Water Alliance has found that 97% of Australians believe bottled water is overpriced and 60% say they plan to buy less bottled water in the current economic climate.

The cost is significant, with a recent study by Choice magazine finding that Australians drink 150 million litres of bottled water a year, costing an annual total of $123 million.

Environmental concern is also playing a role in attitudes towards bottled water.  Bundanoon in NSW is raising awareness by likening bottled water to plastic bags, in its campaign to become Australia’s first ‘tap water only’ town.

The “Bundy On Tap” campaign is appropriating the green shooping bag trend by urging businesses to stop selling bottled still water, and offer customers a reusable “Bundy On Tap” drink container that can be refilled with tap water.

“One of the main reasons why people buy bottle water is its taste. With the variation in tastes of the different local water supplies across the country, more people prefer the consistent refreshing taste of bottled water,” says The Australian Bottled Water Institute

But Scepticism is starting to sink in, with the Bottled Water Alliance study revealing that 73% of Australians think buying bottled water is naïve.  Only 23% think that Bottled Water is cleaner and safer than tap water.

Bottled water can be divided into several categories. Spring water from underground is the most common type, but it’s not necessarily untreated. Artesian water is a step above, with the supposedly more pure water coming from deeper underground. Purified water has been distilled to remove bacteria, dissolved organic material, and minerals.