CAP: Bottled water does more harm than good

Lai Cheng May 1, 2025 0 Comments

An advertised promise for safer, purer and healthier water has led Malaysians to consume an average of 150 litres of bottled water annually. Convenience, health considerations and a lack of trust in municipal tap water quality, have propelled this trend. Over the past two decades, bottled water has become a part of every social function. Gone are the days when water was served from a jug.

But in reality, plastic bottled water may not be safer, purer or healthier. In fact, it can be toxic, contaminated and harmful, besides being a huge threat to the environment.

Health Concerns

Microplastic contamination is a major concern. Research indicates that drinking bottled water may expose consumers to tiny plastic particles known as microplastics. In fact, studies consistently show that bottled water contains significantly more microplastics than tap water. A study published by Environmental Pollution (Volume 315, 2022) found microplastics in eight brands of bottled water from major supermarkets and retail shops in Malaysia.

The safety of bottled water is also questionable due to frequent contamination recalls. Contamination such as arsenic, mould, faecal bacteria, yeast, algae, kerosene, bits of glass, and even cricket particles have been reported. In December 2020, Singaporean authorities recalled bottled water imported from Malaysia due to the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa – a bacterium found in faeces, soil, water, and sewage. Just six months earlier, another brand of bottled water from Malaysia was also recalled due to the same contaminant.

Recently in the US, there were five reports of acute liver failure in children and 11 reports of non-viral hepatitis in adults after consuming bottled water. In 2024, Dasani bottled water by Coca-Cola in the UK was found to contain high levels of bromate. In 2007, Canada issued a warning of excessive arsenic levels in an imported mineral water brand.

Bottled water also contains plasticisers and other chemicals that may disrupt the endocrine system. A 2013 German study identified almost 25,000 chemicals in bottled water, many of which were present at levels high enough to cause significant hormone disruption.

Environmental Impact

Beyond health concerns, bottled water are also widely viewed as an environmental menace due to the energy consumed in producing and transporting it. It is estimated that 1.5 million barrels of crude oil are used annually around the world to produce plastic used in bottled water. Worldwide, around 2.7 million tons of plastic are used annually to manufacture water bottles. Shockingly, 90% of the cost of bottled water goes toward the label, cap and bottle.

The manufacturing of plastic bottle is potentially harmful since it generates over 100 times more toxic emissions compared to producing the same amount of glass. Bottled water is hauled long distances for distribution, burning massive quantities of fuel. After consumption, bottles are often dumped. Discarded plastic bottles create mountainous rubbish heaps.

Incinerating plastic bottles releases toxic by-products such as chlorine gas and ash containing heavy metals, which are harmful to both human and animal health. If buried, plastic bottles can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. A single plastic bottle takes about 450 years to decompose. Over 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already polluting the oceans, and by 2050, there could be more plastic than fish in the sea by weight.

Most bottled water is packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), indicated by the number “1” at the bottom of the bottle. When exposed to heat, even when sealed, PET bottles can leach chemicals into the water. In Malaysia, bottled water is being transported in lorries where temperature can exceed 30°C. These bottles are then stored in warehouses for indefinite periods before sale.

Recommendations and Alternatives

In light of the growing trend of bottled water consumption in Malaysia, CAP urges the following measures to be taken for health and environmental reasons:

  • National, state governments and local authorities to ban plastic bottled water from their facilities. Schools, colleges and universities should do the same.
  • Progressively eliminate plastic bottled water in the country.
  • Set up more drinking water refill stations.
  • Improve the quality of tap water supplied to consumers.
  • Make clean drinking water easily available in public places, gatherings, meetings and conferences.

Meanwhile consumers are advised to obtain refreshing water from the tap. Let the tap run for a while before collecting water for drinking. This is to prevent any unpleasant taste in the water.  Adding a slice or two of lime or lemon into a jug of water would also make water refreshing. Invest in a good-quality reusable bottle, preferably glass or stainless steel, for refilling purposes.

The call to reduce and eventually eliminate single-use plastic bottles, should be a core element of the global plastic treaty, recognizing their significant contribution to plastic pollution.

 

 

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association of Penang

Letter to the Editor, 1 May 2025