Where does water come from? Depending on the context, it can come from a number of sources. If we’re talking more generally, we may say that water comes from the rain or from rivers. At home or at work, it might come from the faucet or from a bottle.
But what about from a bag? Bagged water is increasingly a thing. And this is something all of us have to be aware of.
What Is Bagged Water?
Bagged water is exactly what it sounds like – water that is packaged and transported in a bag. A small, waterproof envelope of plastic is filled with water and then sealed, ready for storage or delivery.
These bags may also be called water sachets, and are generally on the smaller side. A typical bag of water may contain between 250 and 375 ml of H2O. You may also hear these smaller bags referred to as water pouches.
Why Is Bagged Water a Good Idea?
It may seem like an arbitrary move to package water in bags or sachets. After all, we already have pipelines, tankers, and stackable water bottles, enabling distribution, delivery, and storage. What do we need with bagged water?
Well, bagged water actually provides us with quite a few advantages.
- Sealed bags are tamper-proof, unlike pipelines and bottles.
- Water can be delivered and distributed without the need for mass infrastructural investment.
- The modular form of sealed water containment makes it easy to distribute water with more flexibility.
- Provided that the right materials are used, sealed water bags can be 100 percent recyclable, making this an eco-friendly option.
- The compact units make for efficient use of space within bagging and distribution plants.
- It can mean reduced shipping costs compared to bottled water.
- It is a cost-effective means to bring water to communities who need it most, for example during disaster relief efforts.
As well as offering these valuable social benefits, bagged water can also provide advantages to businesses. For example:
- The return on investment for bagged water is high as it is cheap to produce.
- Bags can be printed on, offering valuable advertising space.
Bagged Water Concerns: What Do We Need to Consider?
There are a number of things that we need to be aware of, however, when it comes to bagged water. If bagged water is going to become more viable as an option, we need to address these concerns.
- Sealed bags are only useful if the end user can trust the quality of the water. This means treatment and purification need to be at the very highest level.
- Materials must be recyclable. If not, bagged water is simply adding another type of plastic to the mix, and potentially creating more problems further down the line.
- Logistics need to be well-managed to ensure that delivery is handled in a speedy and effective manner.
- The industry must be well-regulated to ensure that water providers act in a responsible manner with regard to pricing and availability.
Want to learn more about the future of water management, distribution, and treatment? Eager to discover what this means for your organization? Get in touch with our team today.