I read with interest the article written by Jeff Nagel, “Bottled water use slashed in half: survey.”
In the piece, Mr. Nagel quotes research conducted recently by Metro Vancouver that indicates that only 11 per cent of those contacted consume bottled water – down 50 per cent from 2008.
According to independent consumer products research firm Neilsen Research (www.neilsen.com), which charts actual sales of bottled water in Vancouver and elsewhere across Canada, sales in the period measured by Metro Vancouver dropped about 10 per cent – a situation largely driven by the recent economic downturn.
Further, according to independent market research firm Probe Research (www.probe-research.com), more than 25 per cent of Canadians, including Vancouver residents, drink bottled water every day. About 70 per cent of them drink both tap water and bottled water. They drink tap water at home and bottled water away from home.
Given that less than one per cent of the water produced by Metro Vancouver for its residents is consumed for hydration purposes, it is unlikely that the consumption of bottled water has any impact on municipal system usage.
We encourage Vancouver residents to drink more water for better health, whether bottled or tap. Why? We don’t compete with tap water. We compete with other bottled beverages.
John B. Challinor Director of Corporate Affairs
Nestlé Waters Canada