Emergencies

The consistent quality and portability of bottled water means it has become a solution during emergency situations. In fact, tap water periodically experiences quality control problems that lead public officials to issue alerts calling on individuals to boil water before using it or use only bottled water for drinking, cooking, and brushing teeth. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionboth recommen bottled water for such emergency uses. Other options include boiling tap water.

In a weather-related or other emergency, an easily accessible supply of bottled water is essential. Because water treatment facilities can be affected during a power outage, tap water quality can become compromised. In that case, officials issue an alert calling people to boil their water or drink bottled water.  A CDC paper offering public health tips for individuals in this situation suggests the use of bottled water for anyone using infant formula that requires the addition water:

“If using ready-to-feed formula is not possible, it is best to use bottled water to prepare powdered or concentrated formula. If bottled water is not available, use boiled water. Use treated water to prepare formula only if you do not have bottled or boiled water.”

The September 11, 2001 disaster serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a robust bottled water industry. The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) reports that after the attacks, bottled water companies donated more than two million bottles of water to rescue workers at all locations. Similarly, the bottled water and beverage industry, in general, provided millions of bottles of water, other supplies, and financial donations to victims of Hurricane Katrina. Such donations are common.

Also consider the fact that many times when we do have emergencies, ranging from major events to shorter-term boil water alerts, retail outlets often run low on, or completely out of, bottled water because of increased demand. What will if we had much smaller supplies because many shops accepted the line that it is too wasteful to carry, as some shops have already done? The prospect of fewer people having adequate access to an emergency water supply could have serious, adverse impacts.

Even with existing resources, getting bottled water to residents in time of need can be a challenge. After Hurricane Rita in September 2005, the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) realized the importance of planning and keeping bottled water on hand. They formed the Rural Water Emergency Assistance Cooperative (RWEAC) to address such issues. The Texas Rural Water Association Director Tom Duck explained: “RWEAC was created in recognition of the fact that rural utilities are often the last to receive vital state and federal assistance in times and circumstances of an emergency as demonstrated during Hurricane Rita this past September.”