We laughed when we heard that water was to be bottled and sold. And we wondered who would be so foolish as to buy a commodity that was so readily available to all.
In those days BVI had a rainy season and a dry season and when it rained, it rained. And we had fresh spring water from community wells for household and gardening use.
The 55-gallon drum was our water storage facility. Those drums reserved for potable water were usually covered by ‘cheese cloth’ to keep out insects and small animals.
When cisterns became a major part of the construction for houses, they provided sufficient water to keep families going. That was prior to apartments in the family home.
Desalination was not even a word in our lexicon.
We were frugal with water and measured the misery index in the dry season by the emptying of cisterns.
Then plastic became part of our lives. American TV taught us to be a throw away community and we heedlessly followed.
“It is estimated that 1.3 billion plastic bottles are used each day across the world.”
A fair quantity ends up in the sea. And now, a "..great garbage patch" floats somewhere between California and Hawaii. It is three times the size of France and contains about 1.8 billion pieces of floating plastic which kill thousands of marine animals each year.
Meanwhile, at home, we import thousands of pallets of bottled water per year. This water, at times, remains in the sun for hours on end, sometimes even reaching boiling point and the leaching of antimony takes place. It ends up in our bodies and can be toxic in high doses.
A compound called bisphenol-A or BPA which manufacturers often use in plastic bottles, has come under fire for its toxicity. BPA can interrupt normal hormone function and is implicated in breast cancer.
And breast cancer is not just a concern for females. The US CDC reports that about 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the USA is found in a man.
So, user beware! The health and lives of families, especially children, are at stake. But options exist.
Going back to the days of the water fountain at school is imperative. Some schools still honour the practice. All should.
There are many multi-use water bottles on the market. Get used to filling up!
BVI has a high incidence of cancer. The cost in pain, suffering and financial resources is exorbitant.
Nevertheless, the community has the option to engage in healthy living.
We can begin that journey with the small step of removing single use plastic water bottles from our lives.
Let us talk about it. Let the relevant authorities and interest groups and the Cancer Society educate families about the options.
Let employees be incentivized by workplaces providing multi-use water containers for them. Some already do.
Let us talk constantly about these things. And not just on Fridays.
We all stand to benefit.
Happy Friday!