By Reynolds Hester

According to waterencyclopedia.com, “Every human needs water to survive… The human body makes use of water in all cells, organs, and tissues. This water helps regulate body temperature and also helps maintain bodily functions.” 

In 1973, scientists expanded the water industry by creating the first PET bottle. Following this development, the bottled water industry took off.

Over time, bottled water companies around the world have used minerals, filtration systems, and pH levels to adapt and perfect their water in order to quench their customers’ thirsts. For those with a refined taste in water, it can be very important to have the perfect sip. 

In a survey sent to faculty and staff in Collegiate’s Upper School, people were asked to choose from eight popular bottled water brands, or indicate no preference, and add a comment about their bottled water preferences. While everyone has their own reasons to choose one brand over another, the majority of responses declared taste or crispness as the deciding factor in their decision to purchase bottled water. 

Out of the 109 responses, the overall favorite brand of water, winning 22.9% of the votes, was Smart Water.

Results of the Match water brand survey. Image redit: Reynolds Hester

Smart Water’s mission, according to their website, is to provide “hydration to support everyday replenishment, active performance, healthy living and moments of pause & recharge. Every bottle is designed with the consumer in mind delivering superior hydration. Vapor-distilled for purity and added electrolytes for taste.”

Avery Ennis (‘24) picked Smart Water as her favorite brand because “I think that it’s because I can find that brand of water everywhere and know that it has a constant, fresh, clean taste.” 

While many people chose Smart Water for the taste, some chose the popular brand because of convenience or appeal. Both Keaton Rahman (‘22) and Vivian Boyd (‘24) said that the appeal of a sports cap or a squeeze top is their reason to vote Smart Water. According to Kari Embree at Plastictoday.com, smart Water introduced their sports cap in 2016 “as a result of consumer demand for instant consumption formats.” 

Averaging anywhere between $1.38 to $2.15 for a 700ml bottle of Smart Water, the brand can be known as a more expensive and high-end sip.

In contrast, receiving 20.9% of votes, Deer Park water is a cheaper brand not advertised for replenishing electrolytes, but instead for “natural refreshment at its finest.” For many consumers, the natural taste of Deer Park is what attracts them to the brand.

Deer Park Water.
Photo credit: Open Food Facts.

Robby Aboud (‘23) said that he chose Deer Park because their water is a “Good blend between refined taste and affordable cost.” 

According to their website, “Deer Park® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water is sourced from springs across the region: from the heart of Pennsylvania to the panhandle of Maryland to the northern border of South Carolina.” The Nestle-owned company is a go-to brand in the mid-Atlantic. 

In addition to the convenience, many people approve of Deer Park because of its taste. Audrey Fleming (‘22) said that Deer Park “doesn’t leave a chalky taste in my mouth like other brands.”

In America, bottled water, an industry which is estimated will be valued at or around 319.8 billion dollars by the year 2022, is the country’s number one packaged beverage. That being said, despite the efforts from some top companies such as smart water to create 100% recycled plastic bottles, the industry is having a significant effect on the environment. According to CBS News, 7 out of 10 plastic bottles are left as litter or dumped into a landfill. In the year 2020, it has become more evident than ever that the future of America and the world is affected greatly by our waste. In efforts to better the environment, the use of reusable water bottles is one cheap way that people can get involved in efforts to protect our future. 

Out of 109 responses, 15.7% said that they had no preference when choosing their favorite water source. A few of those responses specifically highlighted the wasteful aspect of plastic bottles and noted that they use a reusable water bottle instead. 

Upper School English teacher Pete Follansbee said that, “I only buy bottled water when I have to, because of all the waste those containers cause.”

According to National Geographic, “Plastic bottles and bottle caps rank as the third and fourth most collected plastic trash items in the Ocean Conservancy’s annual September beach cleanups in more than 100 countries.” Plastic bottles affect the environment more than the average person might realize, and this problem is only going to get worse. In an 2017 article in The Guardian, Sandra Laville and Matthew Taylor write about “the surge in usage of plastic bottles, more than half a trillion of which will be sold annually by the end of the decade.”

Water bottle pollution
credit: The Plastic Network. 

What can we do to help? At Collegiate, the installment and use of water fountains with bottle fillers is one way that the school community is contributing to the charge for a cleaner planet.

So next time you go to grab a plastic bottle of water, think about the consequences, and reach for a reusable container instead.

Featured image credit: Ivy Main.