International Bottled Water Association | MEDIA RELEASE | May 20, 2015
IBWA statement on bottled water and the California drought
Alexandria, VA – “The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is aware that some organizations and individuals are incorrectly claiming that the bottled water industry is a major contributor to California’s ongoing drought.
Bottled water companies use a very small amount of water when measured against almost any other industry, are dedicated to responsibly protecting and preserving our vital water resources, and helping people live healthier lives. Sustainable water sources are the single most important aspect of our business. Water resource management, therefore, is a priority for the bottled water industry.
In California, the bottled water industry accounts for only 0.02 percent of all water used. To put that in context, Los Angeles uses in three weeks what the entire U.S. bottled water industry uses in one year. Most of the bottled water from California sources is sold in California.
Many IBWA member companies in California have already implemented a variety of water conservation strategies, including: auditing total water use within their facilities, looking for leaks in all of their piping and tanks, planting drought-resistant vegetation at their facilities, training employees about water conservation techniques, and implementing water use restrictions at their facilities.
The bottled water industry is a strong partner in California’s economy. The total economic impact of the bottled water industry on the California economy is $15.5 billion. We directly employ 18,550 people and are responsible for creating an additional 40,000 indirect and induced jobs in California. Total taxes generated by the bottled water industry in California are $1.6 billion, of which $661 million are state taxes.”
For more information please visit www.bottledwater.org.
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Media Contact:
Jill Culora
jculora@bottledwater.org
703.647.4609
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. Founded in 1958, IBWA’s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.
In addition to FDA regulations, IBWA member bottlers must adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice is a mandatory annual plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.
IBWA is proud to be a partner with Keep America Beautiful and a supporter of Drink Up, an initiative of former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which encourages Americans to drink more water more often – whether from the tap, a filter, or in a bottle. Choosing water is always the healthy choice.
