Animal and Wildlife Science

"TAP That!"

Around the world the business of bottled water is growing remarkably even in water scarce countries like South Africa.  In 2005 it was estimated that South Africans drank almost 196-million litres of bottled water. By mid-2010 this figure was estimated to be about 568-million litres1. 

Our research will focus on the ongoing debate of the quality of bottled and tap water. The study area for this project will be Pretoria.

Main Objectives

• Quality assessment and comparison of bottled and tap water:
  • Chemical water assessment
  • Biological water assessment
  • South African water standards
     
• Environmental impacts of using bottle water:
  • Production environmental impacts will be assessed
  • Disposal environmental impacts
  • Recycling initiatives by either the producer or an external company
     
• Social impacts of drinking bottled water:
  • Factors influencing the buying of bottled water
  • Recycling habits of bottled water drinkers
  • Awareness of environmental impacts caused by bottled water

Reference:
Groenewald, Y., 2010: Drowning in bottled water, Mail & Guardian,
www.mg.co.za/article/2010-09-10-drowning-in-bottled-water

Participants

• Ms Puleng Tsie