Water with Ice (photo by Krzysiek, courtesy of morguefile.com)

After months of pressure from an advocacy group, Pepsi has agreed to do more to inform consumers that the source of Aquafina bottled water is tap water. Specifically, Pepsi agreed to spell out “Public Water Source” on the Aquafina label.

As part of the Corporate Accountability International organization’s 'Think Outside the Bottle' campaign, thousands of people have been urging Pepsi to make changes to the Aquafina label. Critics complain that the label’s image of snow-capped mountains and the tagline, “pure water, perfect taste” imply that Aquafina is mountain spring water. In fact, up to 40% of bottled water uses tap water as its source, including Aquafina and Coca-Cola’s Dasani water.

“Pepsi’s response to the 'Think Outside the Bottle' campaign is an important first step,” says Gigi Kellett, the Campaign Director. “Concerns about the bottled water industry, and increasing corporate control of water, are growing across the country. It is significant that Pepsi is taking some action, especially since Aquafina is the leading bottled water brand in the U.S.”

Though the U.S. has some of the best public water supplies in the world, the country consumes 4 billion gallons of water a year in individual-sized bottles. The Earth Policy Institute in Washington estimates that it takes about 1.5 million barrels of oil to make the water bottles Americans use each year. Only about 23% of those bottles are recycled. Like all plastic containers, water bottles are made from natural gas and petroleum. Substantial amounts of fuel are also used to transport bottled water to store shelves.

To read an Associated Press report on the topic as it was posted at SFGate.com go to: Aquafina Source Is Same as for Tap

To learn more about 'Think Outside the Bottle' campaign & the work of Corporate Accountability International go to: Corporate Accountability International

To read a recent New York Times editorial lauding tap water go to: In Praise of Tap Water