A customer walks into a Whole Foods in Longmont, Colorado on Dec. 15, 2016. RJ Sangosti / The Denver Post via Getty Images
A brand of bottled water manufactured and sold by grocery-store giant and Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods contains potentially harmful levels of arsenic, according to research conducted by Consumer Reports.
<p>Consumer Reports, a non-profit consumer advocacy group, said that tests of Starkey Spring Water label showed arsenic levels ranging from 9.49 to 9.56 parts per billion, which was three times higher than any other brand in their testing. Out of the 45 brands that Consumer Reports tested, only Starkey water registered an arsenic level above three parts per billion.</p><p>While the legal limit for arsenic in bottled water is 10 parts per billion, Consumer Reports wrote that its experts believe that the level present in Starkey Spring Water does not adequately protect public health.</p>
<p>Drinking a single bottle of Starkey probably will not harm you, said Dr. James Dickerson, CR's chief scientific officer. "But regular consumption of even small amounts of the heavy metal over extended periods increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and lower IQ scores in children, and poses other health issues as well," he said, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/24/whole-foods-bottled-water-arsenic-found" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported.</p><p>In an emailed statement, Whole Foods said the company's "highest priority is to provide customers with safe, high-quality and refreshing spring water," according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/24/whole-foods-bottled-water-arsenic/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>.</p>
<p>"Beyond the required annual testing by [a U.S. Food and Drug Administration] certified lab, we have an accredited third-party lab test every production run of water before it is sold," the statement said. "These products meet all FDA requirements and are fully compliant with FDA standards for heavy metals."</p><p>The new findings come as part of a joint investigation between Consumer Reports and The Guardian that covers how clean, fresh water is both inaccessible and unaffordable for many Americans as bills pile up during the coronavirus pandemic. The report also covers how the bottled water that Americans are consuming is often not safer or healthier than tap water, according to <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whole-foods-starkey-spring-water-sold-on-amazon-contains-high-levels-of-arsenic/" target="_blank">Consumer Reports</a>.</p>
<p>"I think the average consumer would be stunned to learn that they're paying a lot of extra money for bottled water, thinking that it's significantly safer than tap, and unknowingly getting potentially dangerous levels of arsenic," said Erik Olson, senior strategic director of health and food at the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy organization that has <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/resources/bottled-water-pure-drink-or-pure-hype" target="_blank">researched bottled water quality</a>, according to <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whole-foods-starkey-spring-water-sold-on-amazon-contains-high-levels-of-arsenic/" target="_blank">Consumer Reports</a>.</p><p>Since Whole Foods introduced Starkey Spring Water in 2015, the brand has faced several problems. Whole Foods had to recall more than 2,000 cases of water after tests showed arsenic levels that approached or exceeded the federal limit of 10 parts per billion in late 2016 and early 2017, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/24/whole-foods-bottled-water-arsenic/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>.</p>
<p>The Food and Drug Administration, which enforces federal bottled water regulations, issued a statement after the report that said arsenic is a "naturally occurring element" that cannot be removed entirely from the environment or food supply, as <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/06/24/whole-foods-bottled-water-arsenic/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a> reported.</p><p>"Based on the CR test results for arsenic, the three Starkey Spring Water products are in compliance with FDA's allowable level for arsenic under the quality standard regulations for bottled water," the statement said. "The FDA is committed to limiting consumer exposure to arsenic to the greatest extent feasible and we will announce updates to our guidances when available."</p>
<p>It's important to note that the FDA's guidance is only for bottled water adherence to federal guidelines. Some states, like New Jersey and New Hampshire, have seen the threat arsenic poses to child development and have lowered their legal limit to 5 parts per billion. However, that regulation only applies to tap water.</p><p>In other words, Starkey Spring Water is legal in a store, but illegal if it came out of the tap in certain states, according to <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/bottled-water/whole-foods-starkey-spring-water-sold-on-amazon-contains-high-levels-of-arsenic/" target="_blank">Consumer Reports</a>.</p>
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Mt. Rainier and Reflection Lake on Sept. 10, 2015. Crystal Geyser planned to open a bottling plant near Mt. Rainier, emails show. louelke - on and off / Flickr
Bottled water manufacturers looking to capture cool, mountain water from Washington's Cascade Mountains may have to look elsewhere after the state senate passed a bill banning new water permits, as The Guardian reported.
<p>The state, with its glacier-fed springs and rainforests, will become the first state in the country to put a total ban on new bottling operations looking to plunder the state's natural resources. The proposal is one of several in the works in Washington to protect local groundwater and to fend off the growing bottled-water industry, as the <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/14/washington-state-opens-groundwater-fight-against-bottled-water-companies/" target="_blank">Tribune News Service</a> reported.</p><p>The bill, once signed into law, will go into effect retroactively and apply to all new permits filed after Jan. 1, 2019, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/18/bottled-water-ban-washington-state" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.</p><p>"Washington State is carving the path towards a groundbreaking solution," said Mary Grant, the director of Food & Water Action's public water for all campaign, in a statement, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/18/bottled-water-ban-washington-state" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported. "This legislation … would ban one of the worst corporate water abuses – the extraction of local water supplies in plastic bottles shipped out of watersheds and around the country."</p><p>Across the country, local activists have warned that bottling companies are taking their water almost for free and then shipping it elsewhere, leaving local aquifers depleted.</p><p>"I was jolted to the core to realize the depth and breadth and magnitude of how they have lawyered up in these small towns to take advantage of water rights," said Washington state Sen. Reuven Carlyle, who sponsored the bill to ban bottling companies from extracting groundwater, as the <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/14/washington-state-opens-groundwater-fight-against-bottled-water-companies/" target="_blank">Tribune News Service</a> reported. "The fact that we have incredibly loose, if virtually nonexistent, policy guidelines around this is shocking and a categorical failure."</p><p>One of the jolting actions was revealed in leaked emails after Crystal Geyser planned to open a bottling plant near Mount Rainier. Locals feared that the company's plan to pump 400 gallons a minute from the site would lead to dry wells. In emails, Crystal Geyser mounted a legal campaign to sue the local subdivision opposing the plant and then it intended to conduct an underground public relations campaign to garner support for their proposal, as the <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/14/washington-state-opens-groundwater-fight-against-bottled-water-companies/" target="_blank">Tribune News Service</a> reported.</p><p>"Pumping water out of the ground, putting it in plastic bottles and exporting it out of the state of Washington is not in the public interest," said Craig Jasmer, a leader of the Lewis County Water Alliance, the group that sprung up to oppose the Randle plant and has pushed for the statewide ban, as the <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2020/02/14/washington-state-opens-groundwater-fight-against-bottled-water-companies/" target="_blank">Tribune News Service</a> reported.</p><p>Crystal Geyser has recently proven its disdain for public safety. Last month, the company pleaded guilty to storing toxin-laden <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wastewater">wastewater</a> in arsenic in eastern California, and then delivering the water to treatment plants without disclosing its hazard, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/18/bottled-water-ban-washington-state" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported.</p><p>The Environmental Priorities Coalition, a network of groups including Americans Rivers, Audubon, and Sierra Club Washington State, advanced the legislation on its highest priorities list, saying it would stop "new water bottling plants from proliferating in Washington state, effecting small rural community water supplies necessary for both agriculture and threatened salmon species," as <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/17/safeguard-public-welfare-and-public-interest-groundbreaking-measure-washington-state" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a> reported.</p><p>"Washington's waters belong to the people of Washington," said the Center for Environmental Law & Policy, according to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/17/safeguard-public-welfare-and-public-interest-groundbreaking-measure-washington-state" target="_blank">Common Dreams</a>. "There has been an increasing number of proposals to locate commercial water bottling plants in Washington. These plants would allow Washington's water to be taken for the benefit of corporations and users outside of the local area, perhaps out-of-state."</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/18/bottled-water-ban-washington-state" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> noted that the tide is turning against bottle-water manufacturers, with bills also introduced in Michigan and Maine, and local measures introduced in Oregon and Montana.</p>
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Australian School Runs Out of Water as Shocked Residents See Bottled Water Giants Taking Resources
12 December 2019
Popular
Two tankers leaving the Tamborine Mountain after being held up for two hours by TM Extinction Rebellion on Dec. 6.
A school in Queensland, Australia sent a note home to parents asking them to send their children with extra water bottles since its water supply has run dry, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
<p>Tamborine Mountain State School, which is about 25 miles from the Gold Coast, has remained open, though it has urged parents to keep their kids home if they can. It said the toilets, which are on tank water, are working, but the sinks are not. Instead, the school is using hand sanitizer, according to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-12/calls-for-water-emergency-declaration-in-tamborine-mountain/11791740" target="_blank">ABC</a>. </p>
<p>The Queensland government started to send emergency supplies to the school, which is not on the water grid, but relies on bore water. The bore in the ground that supplies the school has run dry. While the students attend school without water and supplies are trucked in, some are shocked to see that some truck are headed the opposite way to deliver water to bottling plants for beverage companies like Coca-Cola, as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/queensland-school-water-commercial-bottlers-tamborine-mountain">The Guardian</a> reported.</p>
<p>"I was staggered," one local resident, Craig Peters, told <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/queensland-school-water-commercial-bottlers-tamborine-mountain" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian Australia</a>. "It was more or less the final straw for me. The school's bore is 50 meters deep and has never ever had these issues before. We had an award ceremony at the school yesterday and earlier in the day [the school] sent out an SMS about the water situation. At the conclusion of that ceremony they said give serious consideration to not sending kids to school for the rest of the week because of the lack of water."</p>
<p>Peters, who is active in the group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TamborineMountainSaveOurWater/">Save Our Water - Tamborine Mountain</a>, added, "The school bore has been operating since the school was there. There's many other bores that have run dry. We are the largest community in Australia that doesn't have reticulated water. If it doesn't rain, people get water trucked in to fill their tanks. Now the government is buying water back from Coca-Cola to bring here, which is where it came from in the first place."</p>
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f5b990d013f9f5b562d84cf2560f62c3"><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/TamborineMountainSaveOurWater/photos/a.492194697475318/3056773477684081/?type=3&theater"></div></div><p>Peters wants the local government to declare a water emergency, which would stop the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">bottling</a> of underground water that people need, as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-12/calls-for-water-emergency-declaration-in-tamborine-mountain/11791740" target="_blank">ABC</a> reported.</p>
<p>However, the Natural Resources Minister, Dr. Anthony Lynham told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-12/calls-for-water-emergency-declaration-in-tamborine-mountain/11791740" target="_blank">ABC</a> that since groundwater is not regulated, his department does not have the authority to limit commercial water extraction. </p>
<p>"I do have the power to limit take in a declared water shortage — but that is everyone's take, including local farmers, households, and businesses," he said. He added that farmers use 84 percent of the ground water and commercial bottlers take only five percent, according to <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-12/calls-for-water-emergency-declaration-in-tamborine-mountain/11791740" target="_blank">ABC</a>. </p>
<p>Therefore, the unregulated water situation on Mount Tamborine means there is no authority to cease commercial operations in times of severe drought or to ensure that locals receive the water that is available, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/queensland-school-water-commercial-bottlers-tamborine-mountain" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian</a> reported. </p>
<p>The cost of water is steep for local residents. Parent Hillel Weintraub told <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-12/calls-for-water-emergency-declaration-in-tamborine-mountain/11791740" target="_blank">ABC</a> that he boils water for his nine-year-old son before sending him off to school and that he's paying nearly $1,000 per year to buy water from a delivery truck since his groundwater has run dry. </p>
<p>The council of Scenic Rim, which oversees Mount Tamborine, also punted on the chance to prioritize local residents over commercial operations. The Scenic Rim mayor, Greg Christensen, tabled a motion to address the crisis in September, as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/queensland-school-water-commercial-bottlers-tamborine-mountain" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian</a> reported. </p>
<p>"Council is aware that local water carriers are expressing concerns that the supply of water for household delivery on Tamborine Mountain is reduced, and with no rain predicted soon, may become critical," Christensen said, according to the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/12/queensland-school-water-commercial-bottlers-tamborine-mountain">The Guardian</a>. "There is no legal recourse for council to require water suppliers to provide additional water for local use. Once a development has been approved, it may continue to conduct the use indefinitely as approved."</p>
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Bottles of mineral water are pictured in a Nestlé water bottling plant located in Castrocielo, central Italy, on July 5, 2016. GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP / Getty Images
Nestlé cannot claim that its Ice Mountain bottled water brand is an essential public service, according to Michigan's second highest court, which delivered a legal blow to the food and beverage giant in a unanimous decision.
<p><span style="background-color: initial;">The three-judge panel that sits on Michigan's Court of Appeals said bottled water is not a public water supply, and Osceola Township was completely within its rights to reject Nestlé's bid to put a booster pumping structure in an area zoned for agricultural use, as the </span><a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/03/nestle-ice-mountain-bottled-water-osceola-court-of-appeals-zoning/2598332001/" style="background-color: initial;" target="_blank">Detroit Free Press</a><span style="background-color: initial;"> reported.</span></p>
<p>"The circuit court's conclusion that [Nestlé's] commercial water bottling operation is an 'essential public service' is clearly erroneous," the judges wrote, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/05/nestle-bottled-water-michigan-osceola-private-public" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> reported. "Other than in areas with no other source of water, bottled water is not essential."</p>
<p>The issue in question is that Nestlé wants to increase the amount of water it takes from the groundwater in Michigan's Osceola County from 250 gallons per minute to 400 gallons per minute. Environmental groups say the 250 gallons per minute that Nestlé takes from the groundwater is already too much. They say the effect is already seen in lower levels of nearby wetlands, rivers and streams, according to the <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/12/03/nestle-ice-mountain-bottled-water-osceola-court-of-appeals-zoning/2598332001/" target="_blank">Detroit Free Press</a>. Nestlé, however, contends that its operation causes no harm. </p>
<p>Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality approved a permit for the increase last year, but that decision is awaiting an appeal. In order to extract so much water, the Nestlé needs a booster pump station along the pipeline that carries water from the well to tanker trucks, as the <a href="https://apnews.com/1ff6658e4e8a47be8257737a51493123" target="_blank">AP</a> reported. </p>
<p>The owner of the property where Nestlé wants to install the booster pump station agreed to the project, but the township said the structure is not allowed in an area zoned for agriculture, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/1ff6658e4e8a47be8257737a51493123" target="_blank">AP</a>. </p>
<p>For Nestlé to carry out its plan, it has to prove that it provides an essential public service, which the court rejected as implausible. The ruling may have a ripple effect on Nestlé's ambition to privatize water around the country, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/05/nestle-bottled-water-michigan-osceola-private-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian</a> reported.</p>
<p>"What this lays bare is the extent to which private water marketers like Nestlé, and others like them, go [in] their attempts to privatize sovereign public water, public water services, and the land and communities they impact," said Jim Olson, an environmental attorney in Michigan, according to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/05/nestle-bottled-water-michigan-osceola-private-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian</a>. Olson, who has previously battled Nestlé, added that any claim that the food giant is an essential public service or a public water utility is "ludicrous."</p>
<p>The Michigan environmental attorney Jim Olson, who did not represent Osceola township but has previously battled Nestlé in court, said any claim that the Swiss multinational is a public water utility "is ludicrous."</p>
<p>Olson said the decision is a huge victory. "In the context of the larger question, 'Who owns the water?' — in this round, the state and public do, because selling containerized water for profit is simply private, not public," Olson said to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/05/nestle-bottled-water-michigan-osceola-private-public" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://apnews.com/1ff6658e4e8a47be8257737a51493123" target="_blank">AP</a> reported that Nestlé argued that the township's denial of the zoning permit was a backdoor way of stopping the company from ramping up its water production. The judges, however, said there was no proof of that. </p>
<p>"Ultimately, the township is attempting to enforce its zoning ordinances," according to the opinion by Judges Cynthia Stephens, Deborah Servitto and Amy Krause, as the <a href="https://apnews.com/1ff6658e4e8a47be8257737a51493123" target="_blank">AP</a> reported. "Enforcing a zoning ordinance is neither exceptional nor forbidden."</p>
<p>The judges' comments about Nestlé not being a water service nor returning anything to water table provided a boon to environmental groups and Native American tribes contended that the permit to increase production to 400 gallons per minute should be overturned. </p>
<p>"[Nestlé] extracting water and sending it to other places where it cannot return to the water table, and, critically, doing so faster than the aquifer can replenish, is an 'irretrievable' depletion unless the pumping is reduced or halted," the judges wrote, as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/05/nestle-bottled-water-michigan-osceola-private-public" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Guardian</a> reported.</p>
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New Jersey Gov. Murphy said 6,500 households in Newark have signed up for lead service line replacement, and so far more than 900 service lines have been replaced. Edwin J. Torres / Governor's Office
Newark water is safe to drink, if you use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved filters issued by the city, according to new test data that city and state officials announced Monday.
<p><br/></p>
<p>New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced that more than 1,700 samples were taken from 300 homes. The tests showed that the filters were tested and 97 percent of the filters worked effectively once the tap was turned on. That number rose to 99 percent when the tap was allowed to run for five minutes before a sample was collected, as the <a href="https://www.apnews.com/24cc04e2caea44b8ac0d7e1eade51495" target="_blank">AP</a> reported.</p><p>"These results are a welcome jolt of positive news that allows us collectively to charge ahead in implementing our short-term, midterm and long-term solutions," Murphy said at a news conference on Monday, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> reported.</p><p>Newark officials had handed out more than 38,000 <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/lead">lead</a> filters to address the issue, but two filters <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/newark-lead-crisis-2639800364.html" rel="noopener noreferrer">tested last month</a> showed levels of lead as high as 57.9 parts per billion — nearly four times the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion, as the <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/lead-filters-working-in-newark-tap-water-safe-to-drink-officials/" target="_blank">New York Post</a> reported. The failed test spurred the city and religious groups to distribute <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water" rel="noopener noreferrer">bottled water</a> to nearly 14,000 homes.</p><p>The PUR filters issued by the city reduce traces of lead to less than 10 parts per billion, the test showed, according to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/newark-water-filters-test-safe/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>. However, scientists say there is no safe level of lead in water. High blood lead levels may impair a child's mental development and damage organs, while even small amounts can affect a child's intellectual development, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.</p><p>"We thank God that the filters work, but we are not in any way having a victory lap," said Ras Baraka, Newark's mayor, as the <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/lead-filters-working-in-newark-tap-water-safe-to-drink-officials/" target="_blank">New York Post</a> reported. "It is good news in a long and arduous task to make sure we have clean drinking water."</p><p>Baraka is looking to lead by example, insisting that he drinks the water now, as <a href="https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/09/23/n-j-officials-to-announce-results-of-newark-lead-filter-testing/" target="_blank">WCBS</a> reported.</p><p>Since it is not a victory lap, the city will continue to distribute bottled water until a final report on the test samples is issued and all doubt about the efficacy of the filters is removed. Additionally, the city will launch a community assistance program to help ensure all affected residents are using the filters correctly, according to the <a href="https://www.apnews.com/24cc04e2caea44b8ac0d7e1eade51495" target="_blank">AP</a>.</p>
<p>New Jersey recognizes the scientific consensus that there is no safe level of lead in the water, so it is waiting for President <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/trump-watch/" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump</a> to sign a bill that allows $100 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to be used to replace lead pipes in New Jersey, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/newark-water-filters-test-safe/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p><p>Gov. Murphy said that 6,500 households in Newark have signed up for lead service line replacement, and so far more than 900 service lines have been replaced. The city is replacing the lines at no cost to homeowners thanks to funding recently secured by Essex County. The Essex County Improvement Authority announced in August that it will lend $120 million to Newark to replace lead pipes, which will allow the city to fix 18,000 lead service lines in two to three years, instead of the initial expectation of eight to 10 years, as <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/us/newark-water-filters-test-safe/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> reported.</p><p>The National Resource Defense Council, which has sued Newark over lead levels and its mismanagement of its water problems, welcomed the results, but expressed caution.</p><p>"We say 'trust, but verify,'" Erik Olson, a senior director at the group, said, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/23/nyregion/newark-water-crisis.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> reported. "The city, state and federal Environmental Protection Agency should provide all test results and the protocols used to test the filters to the public so Newark residents can feel confident that filters will protect their health. Anything less than full transparency will breed further distrust and skepticism."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">8 Ways to Protect Yourself From Lead-Contaminated Water <a href="https://t.co/cZ9hUXBVwR">https://t.co/cZ9hUXBVwR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Waterkeeper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Waterkeeper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/foodandwater?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@foodandwater</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/waterforpeople?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@waterforpeople</a></p>— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) <a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/status/991496260619251713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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By Tara Lohan
It was 1985 and privatization, deregulation and free trade were in the air. Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and President Ronald Reagan were negotiating a free trade deal — a precursor to NAFTA. Among the goods it would cover: "Water, including … mineral waters … ice and snow."
<p>That set off alarm bells for Canadian activist Maude Barlow, as she explains in her new book <em><a href="https://ecwpress.com/products/whose-water-is-it" target="_blank">Whose Water Is It, Anyway? Taking Water Protection into Public Hands</a></em>:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;"><em>I asked myself, Who owns water and who is making decisions about this precious resource? I had always assumed that water belongs to us all. But I was about to learn that the world was straining its water resources even then and that a number of private corporations and interests were moving in to take control of and profit from growing water scarcity.</em></p><p>That year Barlow helped found the <a href="https://canadians.org/about" target="_blank">Council of Canadians</a>, a nonprofit focused on democracy, trade and environmental issues, and jumped headlong into a global battle to protect public control of water resources — a fight in which she's been a leading voice ever since.</p><p>Among her accomplishments, Barlow was instrumental in the United Nations' decision to declare access to <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/water">clean water</a> a human right in 2010. She's also received accolades for her efforts including the Right Livelihood Award and the Lannan Cultural Freedom Fellowship Award. She's currently the honorary chair of the Council of Canadians, chair of the board of <a href="https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/" target="_blank">Food and Water Watch</a> and a councilor with the Hamburg-based <a href="http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/" target="_blank">World Future Council</a>.</p><p>In <em>Whose Water Is It, Anyway?</em> she writes not just about the hazards of water privatization but about proactive efforts that communities are taking to protect water resources, including the <a href="https://canadians.org/content/booklet-blue-communities-project-guide" target="_blank">Blue Communities Project</a>, which started in Canada in 2009 and has spread to cities, universities, unions and faith-based organizations around the world. Blue Communities commit to defending water as a human right, protecting water resources for the public trust and banning bottled water from municipal facilities and events.</p><p>We spoke to Barlow about the different forms that water privatization can take, the solutions offered by Blue Communities and our biggest water threat.</p><p><strong>Q. </strong>What are some of the threats that water privatization poses to communities?</p><p><strong>A. </strong>Water privatization has been proven in many studies and in real experience to be a terrible mistake. Handing control of water services to private companies removes public oversight of a crucial source of life and of what should unquestionably be a public service.</p><p>Private water and wastewater services employ fewer staff, cut corners on source protection, provide poorer customer service and charge higher rates. More recently, pro-privatization proponents have argued that public-private partnerships (P3s) are better than full privatization in that they maintain government control over the water source. However, in practice, there is little difference between the older forms of full water privatization and P3s, as both have to incorporate the profit motive into providing water services. So public funds that should go into delivery of services and water protection instead go to investors.</p><p><strong>Q. </strong>You've worked with a lot of communities that have fought back against water privatization. What have you learned?</p><p><strong>A.</strong> Since 2000 some 267 municipalities around the world that had tried water privatization — including some big cities such as Paris and Berlin — have returned the management of their water services to public control. In many cases, the fight was long and intense and it cost the public money to buy back their water systems.</p><p>But there are many examples of increased quality control, more funding for water source protection and lowered water rates for the public once private investors are no longer a part of the equation.</p><p><strong>Q. </strong>Beside corporations controlling public water or wastewater systems, what are some other forms of water privatization?</p><p><strong>A.</strong> Water is bought and sold under water market regimes in California and other parts of the world. Water becomes privately controlled when a foreign investor, company or government gets control of local land and water in what are called "land grabs."</p><p>In other cases, when water is bottled for commercial sale, it is privately owned and many of the wells and water sources used by the big water bottling companies are under multi-year contracts.</p><p>Water is also considered a tradable good in "free trade" agreements and subject to the market disciplines of trade rules. Foreign investors can and have claimed ownership of water sources they use to produce their product in another country.</p><p>There is a mighty contest taking place in our world: Is water a commodity to be put on the open market like oil and gas or a public trust and a human right to be guarded as a commons for all time? This has been the fight of my life.</p><p><strong>Q.</strong> What's gained by becoming a Blue Community?</p><p><strong>A.</strong> A Blue Community is an act of hope. Instead of being against the many threats to water, a Blue Community offers a vision for the future based on the belief that water is a human right and a public trust. It also tackles the growing crisis of <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic pollution</a> by committing a municipality (or university or place to worship, etc.) to phasing out <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water" rel="noopener noreferrer">bottled water</a> on its premises.</p><p>Some Blue Communities take it a lot further. Berlin set aside a fund to promote safe tap water more broadly to the public and to provide <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drinking-water" rel="noopener noreferrer">drinking water</a> refilling stations throughout the city.</p><p>A Blue Community realizes that we cannot protect source water and watersheds if we turn the decision-making about local water sources over to private investors. The Blue Community Project is also a wonderful educational opportunity to teach about water, why it matters and how we have to care for it.</p><p><strong>Q. </strong>What keeps you up at night?</p><p><strong>A.</strong> The declining state of the planet's water sources. We humans are polluting, mismanaging, diverting and over-extracting water at an unprecedented rate and the supply of clean water is dramatically dropping just as the demand is skyrocketing.</p><p>We have made serious inroads toward fulfilling the 2010 United Nations resolution recognizing the human right to water but it cannot be realized if there is no clean water to be found. The water crisis, just like the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" rel="noopener noreferrer">climate crisis</a>, is a visceral threat to human rights as the competition for water is pitting rich against poor, urban against rural, industrial development against Indigenous survival, and region against region.</p><p>Only if we come together to protect water and share it more justly will we avoid the conflict that is hovering at the edges of our lives.</p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://therevelator.org/barlow-water-privatization/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Revelator</a>.</em></p>
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Sign placed by volunteers at the Joshua Tree National Park in California on Jan. 3 after the federal government's partial shutdown. MARK RALSTON / AFP / Getty Images
By Miranda Fox
The impacts of the government shutdown on the nation's national parks have been widely reported: overflowing bathrooms, decimated habitat and widespread litter resulted in parks that remained open without staff oversight and management. In response, individuals, organizations and corporations have volunteered to help out with the clean-up. One of these is Nestlé Waters North America, which released this statement last week:
"At Nestlé Waters North America, we believe that even one bottle or can that is not recycled properly is one too many. When we heard about the need in our national parks, we wanted to help."
<p>What Nestlé's press statement doesn't address is that this company's commitment to creating single-use products like <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">bottled water</a> makes it one of the largest contributors to the problem. In fact, clean-up audits organized by <a href="https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/" target="_blank">#breakfreefromplastic</a> found that Nestlé's packaging was among the most frequently littered brands in nearly 200,000 pieces of <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> gathered around the world last year.<br></p><p>Parks report that plastic bottles make up to a fifth of their entire waste stream. The bottled water industry has been trying to stop national parks from going bottled-water-free for nearly a decade. In fact, a Nestlé-backed lobby group, the International Bottled Water Association, spent years lobbying Congress and the Department of Interior to rescind the National Park Service's bottled-water-free policy. And, in 2017, the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/trump-watch/">Trump</a> administration finally did—just weeks after Trump's Deputy Secretary of Interior David Bernhardt, who has ties to Nestlé, was confirmed.</p><p>To make matters worse, Nestlé has single-handedly depleted <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/water">water</a> supplies around the country to profit from selling bottled water, causing damage to environmental ecosystems—including national forest land in Southern California. We've been working to stop Nestlé's dewatering of the San Bernardino National Forest for four years, where it bottles water that it pays nothing for from public land. Last year, <a href="https://storyofstuff.org/blog/release-settlement-ends-nestles-expired-zombie-permit/" target="_blank">we forced Nestlé to renew its 30-year expired permit</a> to operate legally within the forest, but we continue to fight for greater environmental protections and to end this egregious use of public water.<br></p><p>Nestlé's marketing scheme is clever but transparent. It continues to obstruct policies and laws that would eliminate plastic waste and protect public, natural spaces. Nestlé is trying to present itself as the solution to the very problem that it profits from. Herein lies the danger of corporate-driven solutions: they never address the broken systems that they claim to fix because corporations are invested in safeguarding what benefits their own economic interests—the broken systems themselves.<br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEzOTc4OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MDc5OTIxNH0.NU5VUk0nyfeXahKSTZ9yvxcilPDju323HBhvIJYbXAc/img.jpg?width=980" id="4c4d9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="85f9391336c991d25196b392891bef04" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Charles Edward Miller / CC BY-SA 2.0</small></p><p>The feud between President Trump and Congress created a 35-day government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—and reports continue to surface detailing the wide-reaching effects of a government in crisis. Most disturbingly, around 800,000 federal employees missed a second paycheck and turned to food banks, despite expectations that they continued to work. Small businesses couldn't get loans, private companies didn't go public, federal courts were running out of money, and economic losses reached at least 6 billion dollars. Needless to say, these are just a few reasons why a functional government matters.<br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTEzOTc3OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNjQ3ODUxNn0.5cEE1TCSNNHZXBGNflyHRAxTvOrmItF2U1Or4EqwK_c/img.jpg?width=980" id="125ff" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="22d629dd51bdf727de12dae3025f1321" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">AFGE / CC BY 2.0</small></p><p>Functional government also matters because, in its absence, already minimal checks on corporate power become nonexistent. Moreover, broken and dysfunctional government systems open the door to corporations like Nestlé whose interests inherently intertwine with an ulterior motive: increasing their own profits. They offer false solutions to profit from problems much larger than overflowing trash bins in national parks, like taking over crumbling water infrastructure systems in major cities like Pittsburgh.<br></p><p>Corporations leap at the opportunity to perform services for positive PR, inspiring positive brand affiliation, or to participate in a public-private partnership. These allow corporations to build relationships with public institutions that pay them for contractual work or eventually sell their public services to the most well-connected private entity, or highest bidder, when debts become too high to reconcile. When the government shuts down, it creates opportunities for corporations to step in. And once they're in, good luck getting them back out.</p><p>However, ordinary folks have also been stepping up to volunteer their time to keep things running. These selfless acts should be celebrated and demonstrate what's great in America: people coming together for the common good, working to help others and build community. When services are performed for the public good and not for profit, whether by volunteers during emergencies, or (ideally) by functional, democratic governments, real solutions that tackle some of our greatest problems truly begin to take root. Watch our animation <a href="https://youtu.be/cpkRvc-sOKk" target="_blank"><em>The Story of Solutions</em></a> to learn more about real solutions and how to change systems so that they work better for us, and not corporations like Nestlé.<br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="c8c10" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="724H821576662826"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="984077401272483840" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Nestlé's Plastic Initiative Called 'Greenwashing' by Greenpeace https://t.co/iARQUzXHQv @Greenpeace… https://t.co/9bk6jNNeNO</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/984077401272483840">1523457310.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://storyofstuff.org/blog/nestle-shutdown-good-pr/" target="_blank">The Story of Stuff</a>.</em><br></p>
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Alchemy Goods / Bambaw / LuminAID
The holidays are coming and if you're stuck on what to give your eco-conscious friend or relative, we've got you covered. At EcoWatch, we're big fans of homemade presents, products that actually help the planet, and putting our dollars towards a good cause. This year, our staff has rounded up some of the best green gifts we've given and received, as well as the items on our wish list.
<p><em>Lorraine Chow, freelance reporter<br></em><strong>Best Green Gift: A Zero-Waste Notebook<br></strong>A very thoughtful friend gave me a binder full of ideas to encourage a trash-free lifestyle. The pages were filled with creative ways to use up food scraps, beauty and hygiene DIYs, as well as natural household cleaning tips and recipes.<br><strong>On My Wish List: Who Gives a Crap's Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper<br></strong>I wouldn't write a review about toilet paper unless it's actually that good, but I requested my family get me <a href="https://us.whogivesacrap.org/products/premium-100-bamboo-toilet-paper-48-double-length-rolls" target="_blank">this fancy, three-ply TP for Christmas</a>. It's soft, durable and doesn't contribute to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/deforestation">deforestation</a> because it's made of bamboo. The best part? Fifty percent of the company's profits go to help build new toilets in countries where they are needed.<br><br></p><p><em>Olivia Rosane, freelance reporter<br></em><strong>Best Green Gift: Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers Cookbook</strong><br>A cousin gave <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/138534.Moosewood_Restaurant_Simple_Suppers" target="_blank">this cookbook</a> to me when I was first learning to cook for myself. It has tasty <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/vegetarian">vegetarian</a> recipes (plus some fish), but also tells you how to cut costs and save food by substituting certain ingredients for what you already have in your fridge. Going meat-free is an <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/vegan-earth-footprint-2574241439.html" target="_self">important way to reduce your ecological footprint</a>, and this book will get you and your loved ones off to a delicious start!<br><strong>On My Wish List:<a href="https://www.ecosnackwrap.co.uk/" target="_blank"> </a></strong><strong>Eco Snack Wrap<br></strong>In my attempts to cut back on <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> waste, one of the hardest problems to solve has been finding a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability">sustainable</a> way to pack lunches and snacks while on-the-go. That's why I'm asking for an<a href="https://www.ecosnackwrap.co.uk/product-category/sandwich-wraps-and-pockets/food-bags/" target="_blank"> Eco Snack Wrap food bag</a> this year. Not only are they attractive and environmentally friendly, they are also ethically made at a factory in India chosen for its environmental and fair labor standards.<br><br></p><p><em>Jordan Simmons, social media manager<br></em><strong>Best Green Gift: Norwex BacLock® cloths<br></strong>My perspective on cleaning has shifted from chemical cleaning to zero-waste mechanical cleaning ever since being gifted a set of<a href="https://norwex.biz/en_US/microfiber" target="_blank"> Norwex BacLock®</a> cloths. The microfiber cloth is woven with an antibacterial agent that removes up to 99 percent of bacteria. The set includes cloths for body, face, windows and kitchen, which eliminates the need for products wrapped in plastic or laden with unnecessary chemicals.<br><strong>On My Wish List: Bambaw's Bamboo Safety Razor<br></strong>The zero-waste lifestyle has inspired me to wish for <a href="https://www.bambaw.com/products/bamboo-safety-razor" target="_blank">this bamboo and stainless steel safety razor</a>. The company strives to reduce waste while offering affordable, quality and zero-waste solutions.<br><br></p><p><em>Chris McDermott, news editor<br></em><strong>Best Green Gift: Alchemy Goods Franklin Wallet<br></strong>In my experience, being eco-conscious often meant paying a premium for lesser quality. Thankfully, Alchemy Goods does everything right. It's a surprising joy to take out this sleek and <a href="https://www.alchemygoods.com/collections/holiday-gift-ideas/products/franklin-wallet" target="_blank">durable rubber wallet</a> that shows no signs of wear after years. Made in the U.S. from reclaimed bicycle inner tubes, it won't slip from your pocket like vegan leather, nor fray like hemp.<br><strong>On My Wish List: Voltaic's OffGrid Solar Backpack<br></strong>This redesigned <a href="https://www.voltaicsystems.com/offgrid" target="_blank">backpack from Voltaic</a> in Brooklyn features highly efficient <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/solar">solar</a> panels and a Li-polymer battery to quickly recharge a cell phone, camera or tablet. Made from 33 recycled plastic bottles, it's also lightweight, UV resistant and waterproof. The possibilities for taking a long hike (or even getting lost) seem limitless.<br><br></p><p><em>Irma Omerhodzic, associate editor<br></em><strong>Best Green Gift: To-Go Ware Bamboo Set<br></strong>Thanks to my mom, I have this <a href="https://www.to-goware.com/product-repeat-utensil-set-141?color=agave" target="_blank">reusable to-go utensil set</a>. I try to make food at home whenever possible, but sometimes takeout just makes sense, and I feel guilty about the throwaway containers. My bamboo utensils offset my 'eco-guilt' a smidge. Bonus: The case that comes with the set is made of used plastic bottles.<br><strong>On My Wish List: YETI, The Rambler® 30 oz.<br></strong>I have my<a href="https://mybkr.com/collections/all/products/air-kiss-1l" target="_blank"> reusable glass water bottle</a> that I absolutely love, but surprisingly I have yet to own a coffee tumbler that I can reuse. You would think an editor would be well equipped when it comes to anything coffee related. Why am I wishing for <a href="https://www.yeti.com/en_US/drinkware/rambler-30-oz-tumbler/YRAM30.html?dwvar_YRAM30_color=white&cgid=gifts-for-gearing-up#start=1" target="_blank">this tumbler by YETI</a> specifically? The way I see it is that they produce high-quality products that should last a girl years!<br><br></p><p><em>Tara Bracco, managing editor<br></em><strong>Best Green Gift: Personalized Reusable Water Bottle<br></strong>I've been given several reusable water bottles over the years, but the one I use the most was from my friend Joe. It's lightweight with photos of the international nonprofit that we cofounded, The Project Solution. I love it because I no longer need to buy <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">bottled water</a> and the personalized photos make the reusable bottle extra special.<br><strong>On My Wish List: LuminAID's Packlite Supercharger<br></strong>LuminAID's solar-powered, inflatable lights were initially created for disaster relief, but after the founders appeared on Shark Tank, they expanded the business. Their lanterns are good for hiking, backpacking or other times you may not have access to electricity. The <a href="https://luminaid.com/products/packlite-hero-2-in-1-supercharger-ecom" target="_blank">PackLite Hero 2-in-1 Supercharger</a> is on my wish list because it's compact, good to have during a power outage and it can charge a phone. LuminAid lights are also waterproof, PVC-free and <a href="https://luminaid.com/pages/faq" target="_blank">can be recycled</a>.</p>
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With safety razors, only the blades need replacing. Your Best Digs / Flickr
By Meredith Rosenberg
Disposable items have become so ingrained in our daily habits that we may not realize all of the small, everyday actions that are adding to the amount of disposable waste that ends up in oceans and landfills. Here are five lifestyle changes you can make today to ditch the disposables and reduce your environmental impact.
<p><strong>Instead of: Shampoo bottles</strong><br></p><p>It's estimated that more than <a href="https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts/" target="_blank">eight million tons of plastic end up in the ocean</a>—every year. But water bottles aren't the only culprit; <a href="https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts/" target="_blank">plastic packaging contributes 40 percent</a> to the amount of plastic used by the average consumer. Shampoo bottles are included in that figure, and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> is still the most common packaging for them.</p><p><strong>Use: Shampoo bars</strong></p><p>But shampoo bars, which are simply concentrated shampoo in bar form, are steadily becoming more popular. Not only are they packaged in recyclable materials (or none at all), but they also tend to last longer than two bottles of shampoo. Plus, shampoo bars are more likely to be made with all-natural (and eco-friendly) ingredients.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc5NDU3Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5ODI1ODI1NH0.KcrPcVi083-MGOH800vNeoJIyFd4SiH_3iOGe68SBak/img.jpg?width=980" id="2c63b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1d81c64ad32bb8767515ea8464814fe7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit..."><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/foleymo/10010230156/" target="_blank">Micheal Foley</a> / Flickr</small></p><p><strong>Try: Ethique</strong><br></p><p>New Zealand-based <a href="https://ethiquebeauty.com/" target="_blank">Ethique</a> claims to be the world's first zero-waste beauty brand. Not only that, but Ethique's shampoo (and conditioner) bars are made with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability">sustainable</a> materials that are free of <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/palm-oil-health-impact-environment-animals-deforestation-heart-a8505521.html" target="_blank">palm oil</a>, a commonly used product that's partly to blame for <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/deforestation">deforestation</a>.</p><p><strong>Instead of: Disposable razors</strong></p><p>Based on the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/epa">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a>'s last estimates from 1990, Americans toss more than two billion disposable razors a year. The majority of plastic handles and blades can't be recycled, and disposables aren't designed to last more than a week or so.</p><p><strong>Use: Safety razors</strong></p><p>Safety razors debuted in the 19th century as an at-home alternative to the straight blades used in barbershops. Though the single-blade razors fell out favor with the introduction of disposable razors, they never disappeared. While the earliest versions were rust prone, today's models are made from stainless steel, and only the blades need to be replaced.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc5NDYzMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTA3MjM4MH0.NQCscfSx_fgRTrDDlqqwmnVKICrqKie0MMsVJrXfHoU/img.jpg?width=980" id="8059f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8f8028b41f1a3ee7e60eb674b9b7a98a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit..."><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/yourbestdigs/25379061277/" target="_blank">Your Best Digs</a> / Flickr</small></p><p><strong>Try: Edwin Jagger</strong><br></p><p>The <a href="http://www.edwinjagger.com" target="_blank">Edwin Jagger</a> razors (also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Edwin-Jagger-Double-Safety-Regular/dp/B003LW4L2W" target="_blank">Amazon</a>) are reminiscent of their earlier counterparts, and like most safety razors, provide a closer shave than disposables.</p><p><strong>Instead of: Floss picks</strong></p><p>Disposable floss picks have become more popular in recent years, but unless specified, they're not recyclable. The majority of traditional dental floss brands can't be recycled either, and even if they can, they're typically coated with chemicals that aren't <a href="https://www.ewg.org/research/pfcs-global-contaminants/pfcs-last-forever" target="_blank">biodegradable</a>.</p><p><strong>Use: Water flossers</strong></p><p>The American Dental Association approves flossing alternatives, such as Waterpiks. Water flossers replace disposable plastic by using water to clean gums. Besides being just as, if not more effective, than flossing, reusable water flossers eliminate the daily waste created by flossing. A good one should last for years, and the water and electric use is negligible.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc5NDY1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0Mzc5NDQ5N30.uKRISQdiXbb8wxOJsRYYLhN_aD3Y66acnQmzkW1rPCQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="cfbcb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="43b0ace40c139719a51732039e751c91" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit..."><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/yourbestdigs/38985352630/in/album-72157694460184555/" target="_blank">Your Best Digs</a> / Flickr</small></p><p><strong>Try: Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra</strong><br></p><p>The compact <a href="https://www.usa.philips.com/c-p/HX8332_11/sonicare-airfloss-pro-ultra-interdental-cleaner" target="_blank">Philips Sonicare Airfloss Ultra</a> doesn't hog as much counter space as other waterpiks, and is even small enough to take on the road. It can even pull double duty by using mouthwash instead of water to help remove plaque and clean gums.</p><p><strong>Instead of: Dryer sheets</strong></p><p>We've been conditioned to use dryer sheets for softer, static-free clothes, but not only are single-use dryer sheets not recyclable, they're also not necessary.</p><p><strong>Use: Wool dryer balls </strong></p><p>However, if it's hard to break the fabric softener habit, wool dryer balls are a more eco-friendly option. Effective wool balls should last for about 1,000 loads, or up to five years. Plus, they're a natural alternative to chemical-laden dryer sheets.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc5NDcxMi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNTc2NDM5OH0.7tJQr7ZoF5NHk_bsKYviT5Fa3FtJv59eosDbsydZDc8/img.jpg?width=980" id="26d45" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ebec4f17216254d2d621f6355160e540" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">miromiro / Getty Images</small></p><p><strong>Try: Woolzies</strong><br></p><p>Eco-friendly <a href="https://woolzies.com/" target="_blank">Woolzies</a> makes its <a href="https://woolzies.com/product/woolzies-6-xl-wool-dryer-balls-natural-fabric-softener/" target="_blank">dryer balls</a> from New Zealand wool; they also help with energy efficiency by reducing drying time by 25 percent. Plus, the product is hypoallergenic, which is good news for those who are sensitive to wool.</p><p><strong>Instead of: Plastic water filter</strong></p><p>Yes, plastic water filters are one way to combat the global <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">bottled water</a> trend; a recent report showed that <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-bottle-crisis-2450299465.html" target="_self">one million plastic bottles are bought every minute</a>. So while this option is better than bottled water, many <a href="https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/water-filters-1" target="_blank">water filters aren't recyclable</a>.</p><p><strong>Use: Charcoal sticks</strong></p><p>Thank to charcoal's natural ability to remove toxins, you may have noticed the activated charcoal trend appearing in everything from beauty products to ice cream. But charcoal sticks can be used on their own in a glass pitcher of water, replacing the need for plastic filters. Though they can't remove fluoride, charcoal does appear to reduce everything from lead to mercury. Sticks typically last about four months, after which they can be composted or repurposed to deodorize an area in your home.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xODc5NDc4OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NTUwNzY1Nn0.fAEyzqBLoR7zRy-Urqs-rM5aN2BoVt0Fu0AIPw6ye1I/img.jpg?width=980" id="686d8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="daa30b97e989cc8df14bd8a0ddc7a4c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Japanese Binchōtan (Japanese high-grade charcoal produced from ubame oak)</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit..."><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binch%C5%8Dtan#/media/File:Japanese_Binch%C5%8Dtan_(Japanese_high-grade_charcoal_produced_from_ubame_oak).jpg" target="_blank">STRONGlk7</a> / CC BY-SA 3.0</small></p><p><strong>Try: Morihata</strong></p><p>Though charcoal sticks aren't yet a mainstream water filter alternative, Japanese-brand <a href="https://morihata.com" target="_blank">Morihata</a> has developed a reputation for its <a href="https://morihata.com/collections/binchotan/products/case-pack-kishu-binchotan-charcoal?variant=3911665665" target="_blank">Kishu binchotan charcoal sticks</a>.</p>
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U.S. Allows Nestlé to Keep Piping Water From Drought-Ridden Southern California
28 June 2018
Popular
utt73 / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
The U.S. Forest Service offered Nestlé a three-year permit on Wednesday to keep taking millions of gallons of water from the San Bernardino National Forest in California, the Associated Press reported.
The offer has certain restrictions. Nestlé, which sells bottled water under the Arrowhead brand, can continue piping from the Strawberry Creek watershed "when there is water available consistent with the forest's Land Management Plan," according to the AP, citing the Forest Service offer. The watershed is currently rated as "impaired."
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California has suffered from years of recurring <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought">drought</a>. Last year's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/california-pineapple-express-2191904504.html">record-breaking rains</a> in the state's north brought some relief, but large swaths of the south—where the forest is located—remain in "severe" drought, according to the latest data from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
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Nestlé has 60 days to decide whether to accept the terms of the offer.
</p><p>
The Swiss food and beverage giant has been <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/nestle-bottled-water-drought-2012310851.html">criticized</a> by environmentalists for depriving the region's plants and animals of water. Additonally, the company had only paid an annual $524 permit fee to siphon off as much as 162 million gallons of water a year from Strawberry Creek and sell it back to the public in <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastics">plastic</a> bottles. Furthermore, that permit expired in 1988.
</p><p>
In 2015, the Forest Service was sued by environmental and public interest groups, who accused Nestlé of being allowed to operate its Strawberry Creek pipeline on a permit that expired 30 years ago.
</p><p>
The case was <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/nestle-water-san-bernardino-2575958681.html">settled earlier this month</a>, and required the agency to decide in 30 days whether or not to issue a new permit for the water pipeline and the company's associated activities in the San Bernardino National Forest.
</p><p>
Nestlé spokeswoman Alix Dunn told the AP the company provided 70 environmental studies during the application process and will "carefully review" the Forest Service offer.
</p><p>
"Californians are passionate about water and so are we," she added. "We take our responsibility as a California water steward seriously and Arrowhead's successful operations for more than a century point to our commitment to long-term sustainability."
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</p><div id="c8c10" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="63OQ9J1576662742"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="984077401272483840" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Nestlé's Plastic Initiative Called 'Greenwashing' by Greenpeace https://t.co/iARQUzXHQv @Greenpeace… https://t.co/9bk6jNNeNO</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/984077401272483840">1523457310.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Sir David Attenborough—who showed "heartbreaking" examples of the effects of plastic pollution on marine life in his Blue Planet II series—spoke with Sky News ahead of World Oceans Day about humanity's responsibility to save our struggling seas.
"We've become aware of what we've done to the world and the responsibility we have for looking after the wild world," he revered British naturalist said.
<p style="">
During the interview, Attenborough revealed that he gave up <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/bottled-water">bottled water</a> and applauds the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/uk-plastics-ban-2561478381.html">growing global movement</a> to reduce consumption of single-use plastics.
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In April, the British government <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-rallies-commonwealth-to-unite-on-marine-waste#history" target="_blank">announced</a> plans to end to the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in order to protect the marine environment.
</p><p style="">
<span></span>"There are so many simple things we can do," Attenborough told Sky News. "It's absurd to suggest that we can do totally without plastic but there are certainly so many, many areas where we use plastic without a thought."
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</p><div id="fe6a2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="V8JGVP1576662828"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1004973020035895296" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Sir David Attenborough says he’s “optimistic” people will change their plastic habits to save marine life… https://t.co/z8ZKz4QfRs</div> — Sky Ocean Rescue (@Sky Ocean Rescue)<a href="https://twitter.com/SkyOceanRescue/statuses/1004973020035895296">1528439214.0</a></blockquote></div>
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Attenborough expressed optimism that the damage to our oceans can be reversed, but urges us to act now to protect the natural world or "the human race will regret it."
</p><p style="">
To mark World Oceans Day, BBC Earth released a special video <a href="https://twitter.com/BBCEarth/status/1005041749671206912" target="_blank">message</a> from the legendary broadcaster about the importance of our blue planet.
</p><p style="">
"The presence of the ocean touches every living thing no matter where it lives. The air we breathe and the water we consume are ultimately linked to the seas. The ocean drives our weather and stabilizes our <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate</a>. Nowhere is more powerful and unforgiving, yet more beautiful and endlessly fascinating," Attenborough narrates.
</p><p style="">
"Yet for too long we have taken the ocean for granted. Our actions have pushed species to the brink, and had an impact on every ocean habitat no matter how remote or how deep. The effects of climate change have been softened by the oceans, but now we are facing the consequences. The seas are warming, rising and becoming more acidic. It's a sobering thought that coral reefs may be lost within the next century."
</p><p style="">
"We all need a healthy ocean, so we must change our ways," Attenborough continues. "Together with the right management we can repopulate the seas. We can reduce marine pollution and minimize the impact of ocean acidification. The oceans' power of regeneration is remarkable if we just offer it the chance. It's not too late."
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</p><div id="64d22" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="0H0T4X1576662828"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1005043438864257029" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">World Oceans Day: Saving Our Seas Starts With You https://t.co/6FMBuKVWtT @MarchForOcean @oceana @seashepherd… https://t.co/lFToPGr3uY</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/1005043438864257029">1528456003.0</a></blockquote></div>
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