Opinion

(Editor's Note: The following is a response to a letter from Jane Lazgin, director of corporate communications for Nestlé Waters North America, which appeared in the September 27, 2007 issue of The Westbury Times. Lazgin's letter was in response to Long Island Water Conference Chairman Edward Shuloff's letter "Bottled Water Doesn't Make 'Cents,'" which was printed in the Sept. 21 edition of this paper.)

At least Jane Lazgin and I agree that water is a healthy beverage. It is much better to drink water than the additive-laden beverages that line the shelves of supermarkets. But, where we part company relates to the consumers' best source for quality water. Ms. Lazgin feels that to acquire good water, we should leave our homes, drive to the store, and purchase bottled water at a cost that is at least 100 times the cost of pure tap water. I don't think so.

The tradition of the American buyer is to seek the best quality at the most reasonable cost. Since bottled water is very expensive when compared to the cost of tap water, buyers of costly bottled beverages are not going to be persuaded that laying-out much more money than is necessary for packaged water is smart family economics.

And, since treated tap water is the best water available, why would anyone pay more for a product whose quality is not better than the water that flows from a home faucet. Knowing that better water cannot be manufactured, many bottlers of water simply fill their vessels with tap water. They know it's the best.

Don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to bottled water. There is, after all, a time and a place for everything. If I were to hike across Death Valley or trek across one of America's dry deserts, I think that I would carry with me bottled water. However, since more than 99.9 percent of Americans do not reside in either Death Valley or the desert, but live in homes where unlimited amounts of fresh, treated water is readily available, I think the wise approach to water consumption is to turn on the tap.

Ms. Lazgin's health advocacy stance is commendable, "... we should be doing all we can to encourage Americans to make a healthier lifestyle choice and drink more water...." I just don't think that we need to check the funds in our bank accounts when we are thirsty and want a drink of fine, refreshing water.

Edward Shulroff
Chairman, Long Island Water Conference