Use Of Bottled Water Research Articles

Fluoride Risk Assessment of Different Brands of Coffee Commercialized in the Canary Islands

Coffee is part of our daily lives since it is a drink with a symbolic value, both in our social relationships and as a stimulating drink. The main objective of this paper is to conduct a risk characterization of fluoride overexposure from the consumption of these beverages; for this purpose, in the present study, the fluoride concentration was determined in 80 samples of different brands of coffee commonly consumed in the Canary Islands, and the risk derived from their intake was then evaluated. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the coffee brands soluble Nescafé Classic®, Saimaza®, Auchan®, Tirma® soft blend, and Hacendado® and the other analyzed brands. The brand that recorded the highest mean fluoride levels is “Hacendado descafeinado®” (0.308 mg/L). The problem with coffee is not the fluoride it contains but the fact that, according to the survey results, most coffee drinkers brew their coffee with tap water (over 51% of respondents use tap water). The results of the fluoride content in coffee prepared with tap water from the different areas of Tenerife in the Canary Islands (metropolitan, northern, and southern areas) have reported higher concentrations of fluoride: north (max. concentration found of 16.68 mg/L), south (max. concentration found of 8.47 mg/L) and metropolitan (max. concentration found of 4.73 mg/L). Coffee has not been identified as a risk of dietary overexposure to fluoride; however, the use of tap water for its brewing has been identified as a factor that considerably increases its concentration. Therefore, the use of bottled water is recommended, especially in regions such as the Canary Islands, which have high concentrations of fluoride in their water.

Consumption of Bottled Water and Chronic Diseases: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Plastic pollution is a growing concern. It can form smaller particles called microplastics (<5 mm). Microplastics can break down into even smaller pieces called nanoplastics (<1 μm). These minute particles can infiltrate human cells and tissues, with their health impacts still largely undetermined. On average, a liter of bottled water includes about 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the use of bottled plastic water (BW) and several health outcomes. Utilizing data from the Italian National Institute of Statistics' "Aspects of Daily Life" survey (N = 45,597), we employed logistic regression to explore the correlation between BW consumption and the prevalence of various chronic diseases, including hypertension, gastric/duodenal ulcers, and kidney stones. Adjustments were made for covariates such as education, age, gender, and economic resources. Our analysis indicated a statistically significant association between BW consumption and increased risk of hypertension (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-1.11), diabetes (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.18), gastric/duodenal ulcers (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.07-1.38), and kidney stones (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.03-1.32). The consumption of BW is associated with heightened risk for certain health conditions. Policymakers and healthcare providers should consider implementing targeted prevention strategies and awareness campaigns.

Ethics of Manufacturing and Supplying Bottled Water: A Systematic Review

Bottled water is one of the most consumed healthy beverages in the world. At a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3%, bottled water sales may surpass USD 500 billion by 2030. While this indicates how popular bottled water is among consumers, it does not underscore various ethical concerns raised against the product and its business concept. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the ethics of manufacturing and supplying bottled water. It uses a systematic review of the literature through the PRISMA method to determine the major ethical concerns surrounding these topics. A total of 107 articles were identified, and 31 were subjected to further reviews and analysis. The study found that the manufacturing and supply of bottled water may be unethical if it ends in deliberate pollution and artificial scarcity. Water is an essential product that should be made available and accessible freely to support lives. The use of bottled water has benefits because pollution is removed during processing, which prevents the spread of diseases. In addition, it is practical to transport and consume it. Water bottlers, however, seek to convert water into an exclusive product for profits. This draws attention to the ethics of justice, care, and professionalism which collectively protect consumers against corporate greed and exploitation. Water bottlers contribute to significant environmental pollution and have done little to recycle or reuse plastics to minimize the potential environmental damage. More than 80% of plastic bottles end up in waste and may be washed down into the oceans where they affect the marine ecosystem.

Age-dependent Radiological Risk Assessment of Radon (222Rn) in Samples of Commercial Bottled Water from Benin City, Nigeria

Radon inhalation as well as ingestion through the use of water has a high potential of causing serious harm to sensitive cells and organs of the body when absorbed into the bloodstream. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the radiological health damage caused by radon in drinking bottled water available in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Radon concentration was measured using a RAD7 electronic radon detector. The mean activity concentration radon is 137.18 ± 0.25 mBq/L. This mean value is slightly higher than 0.1 Bq/L recommended by the Standard Organisation of Nigeria but lower than the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 11.1 Bq/L set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and 100 Bq/L set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for consumption of radon in drinking water. The mean total annual effective dose is 1.07±1.91 (\(\mu\)Sv/y) for infants, 0.61±1.09 (\(\mu\)Sv/y) for children, and 0.70±1.24 (\(\mu\)Sv/y) for adults. The computed annual effective dose to the public by inhalation and ingestion radon through the use of bottled water in the study areas are lower than the 0.1 mSv/y limit recommended by WHO. The estimated average for the age group excess lifetime cancer risk are 3.21 ± 5.71, 1.836 ± 3.26, 2.086 ± 3.71 (x 10-6) for infants, children and adults respectively. These values are below the world average permissible levels. Hence, consumption of the water examined poses no serious health risk to consumers.

Theory of planned behavior to analyze students’ intentions in consuming tap water

Increased consumption of bottled water has a negative impact on the environment due to plastic waste. This study intends to assess the perceptions of Indonesian students toward tap water. This cross-sectional survey was conducted online using an online questionnaire. From 1,034 undergraduate students, our findings revealed that Indonesian students had a relatively low rate of bottled water consumption. Employing the framework of the theory of planned behavior, all factors were recognized as significant factors driving tap water consumption. Students who reported drinking two or fewer bottles of water per week perceive that tap water is safe and clean for consumption is practical, and has almost the same color, taste, and smell as bottled water. Students concede that consuming tap water is a habit and consider this action necessary to preserve the environment. As observed from demographic characteristics, students’ fields of study affect the choice of drinking water. This study has contributed to uncovering the identified factors that determine the habits of students consuming tap water. Apart from the importance of environmental education, increasing the availability of ready-to-drink tap water facilities and disseminating information regarding the benefits and safety of consuming this water are also important factors in reducing the use of bottled water.

Exploring the Relationship between Public Trust toward the Water Sector and the Use of Bottled Water within US Shrinking Cities

Exploring the Relationship between Public Trust toward the Water Sector and the Use of Bottled Water within US Shrinking Cities

Comparative Analyses of Physiochemical Parameters of Bottled and Tap Water in Lahore City

Objective: Drinking water quality is of great concern because of different water borne diseases and negative impacts on the health of humans. Increased trend of bottled water usage is seen around the world. The purpose of this study was to analyze the physiochemical and bacteriological quality of tap and bottled drinking water and campare their parameters. Methods: This study is carried out to determine the physicochemical and microbial properties of the bottled and tap water available in the Lahore city of Pakistan.15 different samples of each bottled and tap water were collected from different areas of Lahore. The investigated parameters were mainly total dissolved solid(TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), total coliform, Pseudomonas, sodium, arsenic, iron, colour and taste using standard analytical techniques available in the laboratory. The data was analyzed by SPSS software. Results: The results showed that among 15 different bottled water samples, 66.7% samples contain pseudomonas bacteria and 26.7% samples were contaminated with total coliform the other parameters (sodium, arsenic, TDS, iron ) were under safe limit whereas 100% of tap water samples were contaminated. Although some parameters of bottled water in Lahore city were within acceptable range, but most of the bottled water was contaminated with total coliform and pseudomonasthatis not safe to the consumers' health and none of tap water sample was safe. Practical Implication: This study will be made available to readers for the awareness of water quality and its problem concerned. As ill impacts of contaminated water particularly with above mentioned contaminents, include waterborne diseases and other many diseases. Conclusion: It is concluded from this study that the use of bottled drinking water is based on the assumption that it is pure. In thisstudy, 66.7% of bottled water and 100% of tap water samples were contaminated with total coliform and pseudomonas exceeding WHO standards. The findings of our study also suggest that as compared to tap water, the bottled drinking water may be safer to drink. Keywords: water, quality, contamination, bottled water, tap water

Occurrence of Potentially Toxic Elements in Bottled Drinking Water-Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Risks Assessment in Adults via Ingestion.

The presence of potentially toxic elements in drinking water can be dangerous for human health because of their bioaccumulation and toxicity, which is a huge concern for many researchers. In the case of bottled water, the exposure to toxic elements is achieved, especially by ingestion, leading to disorders of important functions of the human body. The aim of this study was the detection of some potentially toxic elements, from 50 samples of bottled drinking water, available on the Romanian market. Based on obtained concentrations, an assessment of the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk was performed. The concentrations of potentially toxic elements analyzed were below the maximum allowable limits, for all contaminants, excluding Pb and Fe. Moreover, the results of total risk via ingestion, showed that 30% of samples had an Hazard Quotient (HQ) < 1, and 70% had an HQ > 1; which implies a potential risk following the consumption of those samples. Concerning total cancer risk, 28% of the samples are in the acceptable level, while 72% of the samples are considered harmful and can lead to a type of cancer after repeated exposure. The study concluded that long term use of bottled water of poor quality may pose a hazard to human health; it is helpful for inhabitants to avoid ingestion of contaminated water.

Environmental Valorization of Rice Waste as Adsorbent Material for the Removal of Nitrates from Water

An innovative water-treatment process consisting in reducing the nitrate concentration by using an active silica filter obtained from ashes produced during rice-straw thermal treatment has been developed by the LIFE LIBERNITRATE project. A life-cycle assessment (LCA) was carried out to evaluate the environmental impacts of this innovative process, from the production of ashes and extraction and activation of silica to the water treatment. These results were compared to the environmental impact derived from the use of bottled water, instead of tap water, where traditional water treatments (i.e., reverse osmosis) may not be available due to the high installation and operating costs. The comparison showed that the proposed innovative process could contribute to reducing the environmental impact in almost all analyzed impact categories (from 20% for photochemical oxidation to 90% for abiotic depletion) with respect to the use of bottled water. In addition, if conveniently optimized (for example reducing the amount of active silica used per day), the innovative process could further reduce the ecological footprint and be more eco-friendly than the use of bottled water and could be applied to treating water in small towns where reverse osmosis may not be installed. The LCA proved that the innovative process could contribute to reducing the environmental impact of water-treatment technologies resulting in lower environmental indicators with respect to the use of bottled water.

A monthly evaluation of microbiological and chemical quality of bottled drinking water

Use of bottled water has flourished in Sri Lanka, owing to its high demand, however, the quality of commercially available bottled drinking water is questionable. The objective of the current study was to assess the monthly variation of microbiological and chemical quality of bottled water. Three brands were selected, twenty-four bottles of each brand were collected for analysis. Microbiological and chemical analysis were carried out monthly. Though the shelf life of bottled drinking water is one year, the experiment was terminated in eight months as bacterial counts showed a steady decline with time as follows. The results indicated that Total Coliform [TC], Fecal Coliform [FC] and Heterotrophic Plate Count [HPC] bacteria decreased throughout the shelf life. There were significant differences in TC (P&lt;0.05) and FC (P&lt;0.01) between microorganisms initially present and after eight months of storage. Even though SLSI permitted levels for presumptive TC is less than zero cfu per 100ml, the average count of TC was 139 cfu per 100 ml at the end of the first month. According to national and international standards, the FC count should be zero per 100 ml for drinking water. However, at the first month some bottled water samples exceeded this limit for presumptive FC, with an average count of 32.5 cfu per 100 ml. For HPC bacteria, only one brand exceeded the WHO guidelines (50 cfu/ml). No algal species were detected. Fungal colonies showed a reduction in number over an eight-month duration. <em>Penicillium </em>sp. and <em>Aspergillus </em>sp. were dominant. Chemical parameters were within the permitted levels, except hardness in water samples. The result of this study reveals that the bottled water industry needs to be monitored closely and continuously by relevant authorities, intending to provide safe bottled water to the public.

Public and Private Water: Analysis of Consumer’s Behaviors

In this work we have pointed out how the use of bottled water affects our economic, social and environmental system comparing this phenomenon to the use of public water. Trough a detaild analysis and a social experiment about preferences between public and private water (plastic bottled), we have tried to understand deeply how and why the phenomenon of bottled water is always increasing in Italy if we compare it to what happens in other countries.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 15 July 2021 / Accepted: 27 August 2021 / Published: 5 September 2021

Exposure to JUUL use: cue reactivity effects in young adult current and former smokers

BackgroundExposure to the use of first, second and third generations of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) elicits the desire to vape and smoke among observers, as well as facilitates smoking behaviour. Given...

Detection of bromate in packaged drinking water and its removal using polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes

AbstractThe use of bottled water is increasing every day even after the reported presence of microbial and other contaminants. The present study analyzed bromate in bottled water samples collected from four major cities in Kerala, India. It was found that about 40% of the samples contain bromate with a maximum concentration of 9.68 μg/L with an average of 1.56 μg/L. The study also includes the development of a multilayer membrane for the removal of bromate from water. Bilayers of quaternary chitosan salt (QCS)/sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) were deposited on polyethersulfone (PES) microfiltration membrane and which are employed for bromate removal studies. Deposition of six bilayers of QCS/PSS increased the rejection efficiency from ∼4% to ∼84%. The influence of different fabrication and feed parameters on bromate removal efficiency was also studied. Six bilayers of QCS/PSS deposited at pH 2 with 0.5 M NaCl were found to be effective in removing &gt; 90% of bromate from marketed bottled water samples with low energy expense. This study is recommended to implement such a multilayer system as a polishing step in the final stage of water purification in bottling plants to avoid possible contamination and toxicity of bromate in bottled water users.

Effects of Visual Exposure to IQOS Use on Smoking Urge and Behavior.

In this study, we examined whether visual exposure to the heated tobacco product (HTP) IQOS, which was authorized for sale by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019, acts as a cue to increase cigarette craving and smoking behavior among smokers. Young adult smokers (N = 105) were randomly assigned to view a video depicting use of either IQOS or bottled water. Main outcomes were changes in cigarette and e-cigarette desire and latency to smoke between the groups. We also examined participants' attitudes about the actors using IQOS and drinking water in the videos. Exposure to the use of IQOS acutely increased observers' ratings of smoking urge and desire for a cigarette and an e-cigarette. The IQOS cue, compared with the water cue, also produced a marginally significant shorter latency to smoke. Participants perceived actors as less likeable and friendly when using IQOS than when drinking water. Results showed that exposure to IQOS produced smoking urge and behavior in young adult smokers, implicating IQOS use as a smoking and vaping cue. As HTPs gain popularity, product impact on passive observers should be included in their risk-benefit profile.

Boiled or Bottled: Regional and Seasonal Exposures to Drinking Water Contamination and Household Air Pollution in Rural China.

Background:Inadequate access to safe drinking water remains a global health problem, particularly in rural areas. Boiling is the most commonly used form of point-of-use household water treatment (HWT) globally, although the use of bottled water in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is increasing rapidly.Objectives:We assessed the regional and seasonal prevalence of HWT practices (including bottled water use) in low-income rural areas in two Chinese provinces, evaluated the microbiological safety of drinking water and associated health outcomes, and estimated the air pollution burden associated with the use of solid fuels for boiling.Methods:We conducted cross-sectional surveys and collected drinking water samples from 1,033 rural households in Guangxi and Henan provinces. Temperature sensors affixed to pots and electric kettles were used to corroborate self-reported boiling frequencies and durations, which were used to model household air pollution (HAP) in terms of estimated particulate matter in aerodynamic diameter () concentrations.Results:Based on summer data collection in both provinces, after controlling for covariates, boiling with electric kettles was associated with the largest log reduction in thermotolerant coliforms (TTCs) ( TTC most probable number), followed by boiling with pots (), and bottled water use (); all were statistically significant (). Boiling with electric kettles was associated with a reduced risk of TTC contamination [risk ratio , ] and reported diarrhea (, ). TTCs were detected in 51% () of bottled water samples. For households boiling with biomass, modeled concentrations averaged ().Discussion:Our findings suggest that where boiling is already common and electricity access is widespread, the promotion of electricity-based boiling may represent a pragmatic stop-gap means of expanding safe water access until centralized, or decentralized, treated drinking water is available; displacing biomass use for water boiling could also reduce HAP concentrations and exposures. Our results also highlight the risks of increasing bottled water use in rural areas, and its potential to displace other sources of safe drinking water, which could in turn hamper efforts in China and other LMICs toward universal and affordable safe water access. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7124

Blackwater Event: Water Management and Remediation at a Major Medical Center

Background: The CMS and the CDC recommend that all healthcare facilities have an effective water management program (WMP). Our WMP has been in place since 2010; it includes members from facilities operations, infection prevention and control, environmental services, and industrial hygiene. The team meets regularly to discuss current water issues, reviews validation data and water testing reports. Description of event: In April 2018, we suddenly experienced discolored water and sediment at multiple water fixtures throughout the 3.3 million square-foot hospital campus. The hospital incident command structure (HICS) was activated to assist in investigating and managing the situation. Immediate response: Water was deemed unsafe while the cause was being investigated. Bottled water was distributed to 950 hospital patients, and &gt;8,000 staff and visitors. The impact included alternative methods for hand hygiene, the use of bottled water for food preparation and drinking, and the elimination of showers for patients and staff. The dialysis unit used an independent water supply that was not affected. Investigation and remediation: The hospital had 2 sources of domestic cold water: municipal water and a private well that had been in use since 1912. An investigation revealed that the well pump had malfunctioned, drawing gravel into the potable water supply. This overwhelmed the plumbing, blocked toilets and likely dislodged biofilm from the pipes. Early testing showed high levels of corrosion byproducts (ie, iron, copper, and lead) and bacterial contamination in the water, including presence of Legionella. Remediation involved isolating the well, switching to municipal water as the sole source of potable water, flushing the system, and retesting. Overall, 105 technicians flushed the water system including 6,000 water fixtures, 125 drinking fountains, and 95 emergency showers and eyewashes; they sanitized and cleaned 130 ice machines and tested 240 backflow preventers. We retested 437 water samples after remediation; all parameters had returned to the normal range. The existing water process flow diagrams were used to guide sampling for water testing. Conclusions: The hospital’s water system was brought back on line in 78 hours after the first report of “black water.” An active, mature WMP with multiple facilities technicians trained in water sampling enabled a quick response. Coordination through the HICS structure streamlined the response and enabled clear communication throughout the process.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

HIGIENIC PROBLEMS OF USING PACKED WATER AND PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARDS BOTTLED WATER SELLING AT RETAIL CHAINS

Water is one of the most important compounds of the environment, the quality of which determines the health and life of all living things on the plane. That is why the quality and safety of water are subject to special requirements established at the legislative level. And if initially only the quality of water in the centralized and non-centralized water supply of the population was normalized, now requirements are also imposed on bottled water that is sold in retail chains. The goal is to identify the main hygienic problems of using bottled water by the population. Methods: General scientific, hygienic, sociological using questionnaires, analytical. Results: In the presented scientific work, we evaluated the attitude of the population of the city of Voronezh and the region to the use of bottled water. The majority of respondents prefer to buy bottled water in the volume of 5 liters more often in home stores or large supermarkets for drinking and cooking, focusing on the price and not focusing on the manufacturer and shape of the bottle. We have analyzed the main hygienic requirements for packaged water. The technical regulation of the Eurasian economic Union 044/2017 describes the requirements for organoleptics, Microbiology, chemical composition, impurities, etc. In contrast to SanPiN 2.1.4.1116-02 in the technical regulations, quality and safety requirements are regulated depending on the purpose of bottled water: water for children under 3 years of age, water for children over 3 years of age and just drinking water. Conclusion: based on the data obtained, we have developed an algorithm for the population aimed at protecting consumer rights when purchasing bottled water in retail chains.

Assessment of Bottled Water Quality in Kermanshah City Based on Calcium and Magnesium Hardness: Consumer Awareness and Laboratory Studies

: Today, the use of bottled water has increased significantly for various reasons, such as the low quality of tap water, presence of hazardous chemicals in piped water, ease of transport, and accessibility. Therefore, considering the quality features of bottled water is of utmost importance. The present study was conducted in the two stages of questionnaire and laboratory with the aim of determining the correlation between the quality of hardness when bottled water is purchased and evaluate the calcium and magnesium contents in the laboratory. The applied questionnaire was designed based on water hardness in four sections of knowledge and attitude, and its validity and reliability were confirmed. The calcium and magnesium contents were determined using standard methods and the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry apparatus. The obtained results indicated that the most important indicators of purchasing bottled water were softness availability, brand, and coldness. Contrary to consumer claims, the most commonly used bottled water (60% of the brands) were observed to be those with high hardness. Therefore, it could be concluded that factors such as availability, marketing, and percentage of the consumption market are the most important influential factors in the consumption rate of bottled water.

Tap Water, Bottled Water or In-Home Water Treatment Systems: Insights on Household Perceptions and Choices

This article addresses household strategies for coping with perceived tap water quality issues. By using a household survey (n = 581) in Catalonia (Spain) and three models, this article analyses the drivers and motivations behind the installation of in-home water treatment systems, and the use of bottled water for drinking and cooking. The main explanatory factors of the higher consumption of bottled water were the perception of poor tap water quality, the lack of in-home treatment systems, and the presence of children at home. Income did not appear as a significant variable explaining the use of bottled water, unlike in other studies. The presence of in-home treatment systems is related to factors, such as perceived bad water quality, larger households, and single-family housing. Income and housing tenure appeared as explanatory variables only when considering systems requiring some kind of installation: lower incomes or renting a multi-family house reduce the probability of having an in-home water treatment that required installation because of important investments and operating costs, and the space needed in the housing units. In-house water treatment systems may become a solid alternative to bottled water when tap water raises problematic perceptions related to bad taste, odor, or lime presence.

Fake Meat: Beef's Bottled Water

It should not be a surprise that AWWA discourages bottled water as an everyday beverage. In fact, during their orientation, new employees are told that we opt for tap water and that bottle-filling stations in our headquarters building are available, so AWWA staff can fill their reusable water bottles at the tap—and they do. The friction between tap water and bottled water is familiar and one with a long history. The introduction of bottled water and its convenience by big, for-profit manufacturers was disruptive to those providing tap water and, as we all know, tap water providers do not have the large advertising budgets to level the playing field. None of this is new. But today there is a new attitude toward bottled water, and it's not positive. The fact that bottled water is orders of magnitude more expensive than tap water may no longer be the most powerful argument in favor of tap water. For some time now, purchasers have been concerned about the massive negative impact that discarding plastic water bottles has on the environment, both on land and in the water. The environmental argument is positive for tap water. The trend that reusable water bottles are in vogue, serving as a symbol that says “I care about the environment,” is also a plus. Supporting this trend is the fact that reusable water bottles have greatly improved the ability to keep water cold (or hot, for beverages such as coffee or tea). All of this poses an interesting theory that advocating tap water over bottled water is not to save money but to protect the environment. While environmental concern over bottled water is not new, it certainly is gaining momentum. What may have been overlooked in the past is that the millennials—who are soon to be the largest demographic—are entering their prime purchasing years and they care about a sustainable and environmentally friendly world. This may be the game changer for numerous “green” efforts. Consumer preference battles, such as tap water versus bottled water, are not confined to the water sector. Recently, the introduction of “fake meat” has created quite a buzz. Fake meat is a plant-based product that generally looks and tastes like meat. You may have heard of the Incredible Burger or Beyond Meat products. As bottled water has been disruptive to tap water, so is fake meat to the beef industry. In response to fake meat's emergence and disruption, the beef industry is fighting back. One tactic is to protect the name brand of “meat” by working to block use of the word to describe plant-based products. And while I understand that, I am not sure the word meat in the label is influencing purchasers. For many, plant-based “meat” products provide a tasty alternative to the traditional veggie burger as well as to beef burgers. However, like bottled water, plant-based burgers are currently more expensive than similar beef products. Also, there is disagreement over which is healthier. As this conflict unfolds, we'll be watching to see whether the most convincing reasoning in favor of plant-based “meat” products is that they're more environmentally friendly than beef. According to Impossible Foods’ website, its burger requires 75% less water and 95% less land and generates 87% lower greenhouse gas emissions than a beef burger. But is that enough to motivate purchasers who are traditional meat eaters? Only time will tell. This column is not really about water and meat, as intriguing as both topics might be. Rather, it expresses my thoughts about how innovative market disruption affects traditional and established sectors such as tap water and the beef industry. Market innovations also focus on purchasers’ preferences because these are what ultimately allow disruption to be successful. Further, this column points to the need to gauge how purchasers’ preferences can change and how these shifts drive innovation and markets. Of the market changes that all companies must address, it seems logical that adjusting to the environmental and sustainable preferences of the millennial generation will be important because they will shape markets as boomers fade away. My bet is millennials will select a sustainable environment over lower price. If that is true, it should be a benefit for tap water and not so much for bottled water. By extension, this generational focus could be an advantage for plant-based meats over beef. Even if it turns out that environmental and sustainable preferences do not carry the day for tap water, you can rest assured that AWWA will continue to frown on the use of bottled water as a regular beverage. For those who have the luxury to drink safe tap water, there should be no other choice.