Bottled Water Overtakes Soda, guns for Tap Water

According to Bloomberg News (8-2-2016) Susan Wellington, president of Quaker Oats Co.'s U.S. beverage division issued a prediction in 2000:   “When we’re done, tap water will be relegated to showers and washing dishes".  It could be on track to becoming reality.  As multi-national corporate water bottlers market their wares as healthier, safer, more convenient and tastier than municipal tap water, consumers are buying...and buying.... (and of course, throwing away and throwing away)...

Of course, the trend away from sodas and sugary drinks is healthy, but healthier than tap???? In general tap water is as safe if not safer- and subject to more intensive and frequent regulatory checks from the EPA (as opposed to the FDA which regulates foods and bottled water). In rare isolated municipalities, when public water infrastructure has been neglected, the dire consequence of a contaminated water supply can become a reality.  Flint Michigan is one such example.  $384 billion will be required to maintain and upgrade the country's water supply.  We will need to support a public financing system for these improvements- and not become a third world country whose residents are afraid of their own tap water.