In a state looking to protect its waters, Michigan Senator Patty Birkholz steps up to defend those who say bottled water harms the environment. In response to a column by Mike Delp, Birkholz writes in the Traverse City Record-Eagle:
Michigan citizens must study issues concerning water protection thoroughly. Otherwise, they will lose sight of our main goal, which is to protect Michigan’s natural resources.
Mr. Delp’s column focused on bottled water usage. If he had studied current usage in Michigan, he would have learned that bottled water is a small percentage of overall use and not a significant threat, any more than agribusinesses or other commonly accepted water users.
The senator then goes on to outline the real challenges to the mitten-shaped state’s water systems, “while keeping [water] available for reasonable use at the same time.”
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters. 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, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high quality bottled water products. Additionally, IBWA requires member bottlers to 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 Model Code is an annual plant inspection by an independent, third party organization.
For more information about IBWA, bottled water and a list of member‚ brands, please contact
Jill Culora, IBWA‚ Vice President of Communications at 703-647-4609 or [email protected].
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