The Statements Supporting Saluda’s Health Claims Regarding Bottled Water

The article regarding Saluda’s drinking water appears in a health-and-fitness magazine. In the article consists of several assumptions in which involve tap and bottled water. Laboratory studies show that Saluda Natural Spring Water contains several of the minerals associated with good health and that it is completely free of bacteria. Residents of Saluda are hospitalized less frequently than the national average, which in this case they are assuming it is because more people are drinking bottled water rather than tap water. Although the article does give variety of reasons as to why it is beneficial to drink bottled water, they are not valid because there are many other salutations to their assumptions in which I will be explaining in the following text.

There are many answers as to the articles assumptions but are not listed because the town is trying to promote a healthy life style as well as their bottled water. Firstly, mentioned in the article it specifies that residents of Saluda are being hospitalized less frequently which does not provide any evidence what so ever regarding it is due to the consumption of bottled water. In other words, the explanation as to why that is, may not have anything to do with any water in general, but the fact that they are healthy people over-all. Another assumption made was that tap water isn’t necessarily “bad” for you, but bottled water is healthier for your wellbeing. In this case, they are just trying to promote bottled water because even though laboratory studies show that it is healthier, there is no direct evidence leading to the conclusion that tap water is unhealthy what so ever. Correspondingly, it doesn’t mention anything about any other brands of water bottles; therefore it is assuming that everyone drinks that one kind, let alone this being why everyone is healthier.

Furthermore, there could be several other brands (ex. Aquafina, Pure Life, Dasani, Natural Springs, etc.) that are close to, if not better than the so called “leading brand” that everyone is drinking. Throughout the article, based on the information provided, there are several missing components and reasoning behind their “facts.” Although it did provide a laboratory study, there is no evidence provided that links bottled water to healthier people. Granting it may contain several beneficial minerals and free of bacteria it can also be a negative outcome as bottled water is the main cause of pollution, which will later-on end up being the air we breathe, which could potentially put us at risk. To support this theory, researched proved that more than 80 percent of recyclable plastic bottles end up in landfills each year. They do not break down naturally and release toxic chemicals when they finally do decompose. More reasons as to why tap water is more beneficial in comparison to bottled water are, it is healthier for our environment, tap water is tested frequently for bacteria such as e.coli and cryptosporidium and other harmful contaminants, tap water is tested just as much as bottled water, etc.

As previously listed in the paragraph above, the author failed to support as well as address additional information with supporting evidence. There are several components missing and missing material that could have made the article a better piece of information. It seems to be the Natural Springs bottled water company is against tap water but little do they know, all water is treated the same and even though bottled water contains “healthy minerals” it also contains several more hidden chemicals that are not mentioned. If you look at it from a different perspective, over-all, it is not mentioned once that tap water is necessarily “bad” for you, and it is also free, compared to bottled water which is expensive.

Astonishingly there are benefits to bottled water such as it can be convenient, seeing you can buy different sizes and can carry it with you or store it in your department, especially during school and work. But would you put your style preference before your over-all wellbeing and the environment? I didn’t think so, as it takes less than one minute to fill up a reusable bottle from the tap with the use of a filter if desired.

The important evidence omitted in the argument are, firstly, the brand of bottled water is called “Natural Springs” it is more than likely spring water, which is collected directly from the spring and mineral water emerges from under the ground where it has flowed over rocks and is therefore high in mineral content. Spring water must be treated to meet limits set by pollution and mineral water can only be treated to remove grit and dirt. This means even though it does come from the ground it still goes through the same processes just as any other bottled water and tap water. Second, the laboratory studies do prove that Natural Spring Water is contains minerals that are good for your health. Without the research, residents would not be able to compare bottled water to tap water because they would not know what the difference is other than the price. Lastly, as previously mentioned, Saluda contains minerals necessary for good health and has no bacteria, therefore it can be a wise investment in good health if you prefer knowing that there are 100% no contamination or chemicals what so ever in your water.

In conclusion, to make this article a stronger piece of writing, evidence will need to be provided with each of the assumptions made. For example, the article would look something like this; “Laboratory studies show that Saluda Natural Spring Water contains several of the minerals necessary for good health and that it is completely free of bacteria. Residents of Saluda, the small town where the water is bottled, are hospitalized less frequently than the national average. Thus could be a factor to drinking Natural Springs Water because it healthy and provides the nutrients and vitamins you need to maintain your over-all wellbeing. Even though Saluda Natural Spring Water may seem expensive, drinking it is a wise investment in good health.”

Over-all, it is completely normal and common for people to be concerned as to what is in the water they are consuming, as it is the most essential part of human life. As mentioned in the previous text, tap water is tested as well as examined 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, therefore it is substantially safer than your average water bottle considering it is maintained and filtered the minute you turn on your tap, rather than a water bottle which is not. Considering bottled water is not at all safer than your average municipal tap water, there are just as many reasons to believe, if not more, that the residents of Saluda are better off drinking tap water then Natural Springs water bottles, or any at all. In the article, it is based around the benefits of their bottled water opposed to tap water, and the health benefits it consists of. However, there are plenty more reasons as well as facts to believe their average tap water is a lot better for their short and long-term health rather than bottled water which goes through more processes and added chemicals in order for it to be just as safe for a longer period of time.