Saudi Arabia Bottled Water Market: Pros and Cons

Saudi Arabia bottled water market has become a common sight these days. Whether people are browsing the supermarket or attending a sports event or even packing for a vacation. Ensuring that every family stays hydrated and healthy could mean drinking additional bottled water. There are clear advantages to bottled water but equally there are further some negative aspects.

While Saudi Arabia bottled water market accounts for a small portion of the freshwater, it is crucial to strengthen or develop water systems and infrastructure across the country. The bottled water discussion highlights an issue where delivering quality water to affluent individuals allows local elites to sidestep the problem. This therefore reduces pressure on leaders to invest in and improve public infrastructure.

The Good Sides

Saudi Arabia bottled water market size is growing rapidly as there are couple of things that make it particularly popular in the country.

1.    Convenience

This is the perfect option for having refreshing water wherever you go. It is portable and fits smoothly in backpacks or pouches. This is especially useful when traveling to areas where access to drinking water may be limited. When in places like campsites or unfamiliar cities, keeping bottled water available is more convenient and it is easily available for purchase.

2.    Good for storage

When disaster strikes, having bottled water nearby can be a crucial resource as it potentially saves lives in urgent situations. Since bottled water lasts indefinitely, it is a practical choice to store some away for any future needs.

3.    Taste good

If your local tap water has an off taste, bottled water can be a much more refreshing option. This is often attributed to the purification methods that some bottled waters are subjected to before they are bottled.

The Bad Sides

Even though Saudi Arabia bottled water market is gaining tremendous popularity, there are some negative sides too.

1.    Can be more expensive

Bottled water can be pricier than tap water because it undergoes many extra steps. That basically includes purification and packaging along with transportation.

2.    The associated risks

It is important to note that commercially bottled water often does not have fluoride. Whereas tap water has. It is a natural mineral that helps protect your teeth. This is especially important for children to help strengthen their teeth. Certain plastic bottles may also contain BPA which is a substance that can contaminate the water before it reaches you. Storing water bottles in hot conditions or direct sunlight can significantly raise the possibility where BPA seeping into the water.  

3.    Not much difference

Bottled water in some cases is just tap water that has been filtered. It is basically the same as the water from your faucet. Many popular bottled water brands are produced in the same facilities that make soft drinks where the water is bottled for sale. This water does not originate from a natural spring. It starts its journey in a factory. At times it is more practical to fill a water bottle from a known clean source. Using our own water bottle helps minimize the waste caused by the vast quantity of plastic bottles which pollute landfills.

4.    It is basically just a soft drink

The key argument defending the bottled water industry is that it is no different from soft drinks. But with the advantage of being a healthier option in comparison to soda. The industry argues that by offering bottled water, it is providing a cleaner and simpler alternative. It also caters to the public’s preference for packaged drinks. Like other companies in the industry, Nestle ensures full compliance with national and local laws. It also makes a concerted effort to act as a responsible corporate entity. The irony here is that soft drink producers whose products are mostly water are not facing the same level of criticism as the bottled water industry.

When considering convenience and environmental impact, tap water generally proves to be a better option than bottled water. Many people will not be able to explicitly tell the difference in taste between tap and bottled water. Tap water is also just as safe to drink. While bottled water might sometimes be more convenient and easier to find, carrying a reusable bottle filled with tap water and refilling it at public water stations can solve this issue.

For those who prefer a bottled water’s taste, you might want to consider using a water filter to improve your tap water. Many brands as basically just filtered water so adding ice and fruit slices to your tap water could enhance its flavor just as much. Certain individuals particularly those with weakened immune systems or pregnant women and the elderly should be especially cautious with the drinking water to ensure it is safe. It is important for these individuals to talk to a doctor who might suggest drinking specific waters or boiling tap water to ensure safety.