Looking Forward from World Water Day 2017
Include USA Brita
“Drink more water” is a prescription that for too many people around the world is easier said than done. As it stands, one in ten people (663 million people - twice the population of the United States) are currently living without access to safe water. Cited by the World Economic Forum as being the #1 global risk to society in terms of devastation and impact, this water crisis stands in the way of the health, safety and economic empowerment of people in both developing countries and first world nations.
Access to clean water is a basic human right, yet millions of people are still walking miles to collect from their nearest water source, sharing unprotected wells with livestock, and paying 5 to 10 times more for water than their higher-income counterparts. Being 65 percent water, we can do so much better.
Yesterday March 22 was World Water Day, a global initiative started by the United Nations to recognize the importance of water conservation and improving access to freshwater around the globe. World Water Day may be one day out of the year, but taking the time to reflect on the delicacy of our limited natural resources and the impact we have on the ecosystems around us have the chance to make long-lasting impacts that we can carry forward.
Legislative Action
It is important to remember that access to safe drinking water is as much a domestic issue as it is an international one. In New Jersey, where TerraCycle is based, nearly two dozen school districts recently reported elevated levels of lead in their water per the results of state mandated testing ordered for school districts, charter schools and early-learning centers last summer. This prompted the proposal of a bill that would require all public water systems to invest in its infrastructures according to industry best practices and submit a report to the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection on an annual basis.
Improving drinking water through legislation mandates the allocation of resources necessary to foster accountability and progress reporting; like all matters of infrastructure, limitations come down to be a matter of economics. While lobbyists and special interest groups often spearhead the movement of lawmaking, it is citizen testimony that voices true public interest. Follow and track the progress of bills, attend committee hearings and contact your legislators to speak up for action in your area.
Corporate Action
Companies and major brands are taking responsibility for the impacts their products and packaging have on the sustainability of our water sources. Brita, the water filtration brand, for example, is solving for their difficult-to-recycle water filters, faucet mounts, and other Brita product and packaging waste through the free, national Brita Recycling Program. Recycling prevents these waste streams from ending up in waterways and landfills, and reduces demand for virgin raw materials that often require significant quantities of water to extract from the Earth. Further, Brita filters offset the demand for plastic bottles (300 for every Brita filter).
Brita’s TerraCycle program also allows consumers to raise money for charities dedicated to improving access to safe water at home and abroad. For every unit of waste collected for recycling, participants earn points that may be redeemed as cash donations to nonprofits like Charity: Water, a nonprofit that provides clean drinking water to families in developing countries.