Macclesfield's sustainable spring water reacts to landmark plastic water bottle study
By Alex Greensmith
16th Jan 2024 | Local News
A Macclesfield water sommelier has responded to the news that microplastics and nanoplastics have been found in plastic bottled water.
According to the study, the average litre of bottled water contains nearly a quarter of a million pieces of nanoplastics.
Whilst microplastics (pieces of plastic smaller than 0.5mm in diameter or a grain of rice) have been researched in water before, technology has now improved to see how many nanoplastics (which are even smaller of 100 nanometres or less) are in the water we drink.
As reported in the national media by Sky News, "Researchers at Columbia and Rutgers universities in the US used a microscope with dual lasers to detect and categorise the [nanoplastic] pieces for the first time."
Macclesfield water brand owner Doran Binder runs Crag Spring Water, where he sells spring water in reusable glass bottles and recyclable cans. The Crag Spring Water founder has responded to the news of the recent study on both social media, and speaking with Macclesfield Nub News.
Crag Spring Water doesn't sell water in plastic, rather opting to sell in cans or glass bottles.
Doran reacted to the American study, speaking from his water bottling site at The Crag Inn in Wildboarclough.
"It is a fantastic report, I have to admit, the majority of it is so technical that it was way above my head. But the conclusions and the summaries are really interesting," he said.
"It seems that the sources of contamination are either coming from Option A - the plastic bottle, or Option B - the reverse osmosis membrane that is used to filter the water to filter out contamination, which is actually contaminating the water with microplastics and nanoplastics.
"The problem with the article though, is the headline 'bottled water', we now know having me doing this [as a certified water sommelier] for two years, [the term] bottled water is like calling fruit 'fruit'. It is too broad an umbrella, it is too broad a term.
"Within the world of 'bottled water', we have filtered tap water, to vaporised natural water where they are starting with spring water then using reverse osmosis, just to name a few.
"The overall headline 'bottled water contains a quarter of a million pieces of nanoplastic' is really alarming. But when you read the report, it actually reinforces everything I have been saying. It proves the point that if you are going to be fiddling with water, and reverse osmosing it, you are creating Frankenstein water.
"If you want the best water, just buy water that is 'natural', 'mineral', or 'spring' on the label."
The plastic bottle water brands used in the study have not been disclosed. The researches want to study more than three brands, before they call out a specific one.
Various British soft drink and water associations have been contacted for comment. The International Bottled Water Association have also been approached by Macclesfield Nub News for comment.
Across the globe, 175 Members of the United Nations have agreed to put together a legally binding document to curb plastic pollution. This could see things like single-use plastic bottled water become a thing of the past, particular if the public reacts to the news of this study by changing their consumer habits.
Macclesfield's Crag Spring Water is taken from a natural spring that runs 27 metres below The Crag Inn ground, at the foot of Shutlingsloe in the Peak District National Park.
Doran is currently in cahoots with United Utilities to get his water tested for plastics, that he will share publicly.
"Hopefully it will prove we have none, because we are a naturally occurring water," he proclaimed.
"We are not purifying our spring water using a reverse osmosis machine, so hopefully it [nanoplastics and microplastics] shouldn't be a concern, and I will be able to confirm that within a few weeks."
The study also found that at least "10 to 100 times more nanoplastics [smaller pieces] than microplastics were found in the bottled water samples."
Macclesfield Nub News concluded by asking Doran why 'Joe Public' should read this study.
"I think it is absolutely imperative that we should have an understanding of the most important liquid on the planet", he added.
"It is not like we are talking about something we don't depend on here!
"If we do not understand and appreciate the most important liquid to human beings, then we are being dumbed down.
"We need to appreciate what is going on, as it has a direct impact on our physical health, our mental health and our general wellbeing.
"The reason why I set up Crag Spring Water is because I passionately care about the environment, my legacy and my children. So I created Crag to offer like-minded people a way to enjoy sustainable method of drinking a beautiful product, without damaging the environment.
"You can buy it directly from our website, which is delivered directly to you from our source. When you think about other bottled waters you are buying, it is going from the source to distribution centre to distribution centre, it travels a lot. The beautiful thing about Crag is that, if you are local, it is coming from the source straight to you, with nothing else in-between that. And add that with the sustainability, it is truly beautiful."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which comprehensively and stringently regulates bottled water, recently stated its position on this study and nano and microplastics in general.
"While there is evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics are entering the food supply … there is a lack of evidence demonstrating that microplastics or nanoplastics occurrence in food poses a risk to human health," they told Macclesfield Nub News.
"This is an area where the FDA has not only been monitoring the research but also working to advance the science through analysis of testing methodologies and other related work, including participation in the United States Government Nanoplastic Community of Interest."
"There have been fewer studies on nanoplastics because there are not as many reliable methods to measure them."
"The FDA is not aware of scientific evidence that would support consumers being concerned about the potential level of microplastic or nanoplastic contamination in food, including bottled water."
"While there is evidence that microplastics and nanoplastics are entering the food supply, primarily from environmental contamination, there is a lack of evidence demonstrating that microplastics or nanoplastics occurrence in food poses a risk to human health."
Macclesfield: You can read the the study mentioned in this article on this link.
You can also follow Crag Spring Water on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
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