Sure, they make life easier. But they’re also hurting the environment.
Directions
Read the article, then answer the question below.
Directions
Read the article, then answer the question below.
Guess how many bottles of water Americans buy every year?
Nearly 100 billion.
Stack those up, and you could make a tower that stretches from Earth to the moon—60 times!
Why do we love bottled water so much? It’s so easy—you just grab it and go, and throw out the bottle when you’re done. And it’s healthy, compared with sugary sodas and sports drinks.
But there’s more to the story. Let’s soak it all in.
Guess how many bottles of water Americans buy every year?
Nearly 100 billion.
Stack those up, and you could make a tower that stretches from Earth to the moon—60 times!
Why do we love bottled water so much? It’s easy: You just grab it and go, and throw out the bottle when you’re done. And it’s healthy, compared with sugary sodas and sports drinks.
But there’s more to the story. Let’s soak it all in.
Bottled = Bad
The truth is, bottled water often isn’t any better than the water many people can get from a tap.
In fact, more than half of all bottled water is tap water. This includes popular brands like Aquafina and Dasani, which sell tap water that has been run through a filter.
And chances are that the water from your faucet has been tested more thoroughly than what you’re guzzling from a bottle. That’s because most cities check tap water to make sure it doesn’t contain dangerous germs or chemicals. Bottled-water companies aren’t required to test as strictly.
Perhaps the biggest objection to water bottles: They create a ton of trash. Remember those 100 billion bottles we use every year? Less than 30 percent of them actually get recycled. The rest go from trash cans to landfills, where they turn into mountains of plastic bottles that can take hundreds of years to break down. Or they are left behind as litter in our streets and parks, or in oceans, where sea animals can eat them and get sick or die.
The truth is, bottled water often isn’t any better than the water many people can get from a tap.
In fact, more than half of all bottled water is tap water. This includes popular brands like Aquafina and Dasani, which sell tap water that has been run through a filter.
And chances are that the water from your faucet has been tested more carefully than bottled water. Most cities check tap water for dangerous germs and chemicals. The rules for bottled water are less strict.
Perhaps the biggest problem with water bottles: They create a ton of trash. Remember those 100 billion bottles we use every year? Less than one-third of them get recycled. The rest go to landfills, where they can take hundreds of years to break down. Or they are left behind as litter in our streets and parks. Some end up in oceans, where sea animals can eat parts of them and get sick or die.
ANTHONY DEVLIN - PA IMAGES/PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES
Most water bottles aren’t recycled. And it can take up to 700 years for the plastic to break down!
A Case for Bottled Water
But not everyone can simply avoid bottled water. Around the world, more than 2 billion people have water that contains harmful germs or chemicals. If they were to drink this water, they could get seriously sick or even die. So for them, bottled water isn’t a convenience. It’s a necessity.
Some bottled water contains fluoride, which protects your teeth from cavities. If your tap water doesn’t contain fluoride, bottled water could be a healthy choice for you.
Another reason to consider bottled water: If it weren’t available, you might drink a sugary beverage, like lemonade, soda, or a sports drink. And those drinks are a big part of why so many Americans are overweight.
So what’s your opinion? Should bottled water get the boot?
But not everyone can just avoid bottled water. Around the world, more than 2 billion people have water that contains harmful germs or chemicals. If they were to drink this water, they could get very sick. They could even die. They don’t drink bottled water because it’s easy. They drink it because they need it.
Some bottled water contains fluoride, which protects your teeth from cavities. If your tap water doesn’t contain fluoride, bottled water could be a healthy choice for you.
Also, if there were no bottled water, you might drink a soda or a sports drink. Sugary drinks like these are a big part of why so many Americans are overweight.
So what do you think? Should bottled water get the boot?
Should you buy bottled water?
Go back to the article and find information to support each side.
Should you buy bottled water?
Go back to the article and find information to support each side.
This article was originally published in the February 2019 issue.
This article was originally published in the February 2019 issue.
Can't-Miss Teaching Extras
Plastic water bottles aren’t the only problem. Direct your students to National Geographic’s Kids vs. Plastic page for more information about single-use plastics. They’ll find tips for reducing plastic use, directions for making paper straws, info about how plastic affects animals, and more. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/kids-vs-plastic/pollution/
Your students can learn more about the global water crisis at water.org.
More About the Story
Skills
main ideas and supporting evidence, opinion writing
Complexity Factors
Purpose
The debate presents pros and cons of bottled water.
Structure
The text is linear. It consists of an introduction followed by two sections that each present a side of the argument.
Language
The language is mainly conversational but includes a few higher-level words, such as thoroughly and necessity. There are also rhetorical questions, a metaphor, and other figures of speech
Knowledge Demands
The text refers to fluoride and to the distance between Earth and the moon.
1. Preparing to Read
Have students preview the text features. Ask:
2. Reading the Debate
Read the debate as a class or in small groups.
Have students read the debate a second time. Prompt them to mark the types of support the author presents to back up each side, including:
3. Discussing
As a class or in groups, have students discuss:
4. Writing
Have students complete the chart in the magazine.
Distribute the activity “Write an Opinion Essay.” The lower-level version guides students to write a three-paragraph essay on the debate topic. The higher-level version prompts them to bring in additional evidence and write six paragraphs, including a rebuttal of the other side. With either version, hand out our Opinion Writing Toolkit, which offers writing tips and transition words.
