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Bottled water is a billion dollar industry. In years past, it would have seemed unthinkable that bottled water could sell so well. After all, water is readily available in most U.S. households. It’s very clear that times have changed. Some choose bottled water because they aren’t satisfied with the taste, odor, or color of their tap water. Some, like residents affected by the Flint, Michigan, water crisis, don’t trust that the water is safe to drink. Others only drink bottled water as a convenient option while on the go. It all comes down to personal choice but, all in all, the bottled water industry is alive and booming.
Not all bottled water companies are created equal, however. Some bottled water companies claim to care about the environment but extract water from drought-stricken regions. Some donate to humanitarian causes but use plastics that take over 1,000 years to degrade. Some claim to have the finest, purist drinking water but simply run it through a basic carbon filter. There are, however, bottled water companies that actually do care about the environment, do have pure drinking water, and are actually making positive headway in the world of single-use bottles.
Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water is one of those companies that cares about the world, the environment, and humanity. This company goes above and beyond to reduce its impact on the environment and give back to the people that help it succeed. Waiakea Water is more than just a bottled water company. It is a movement.
Ryan Emmons, a Santa Barbara native, visited his mother’s family in Hawaii one year and tried water from his uncle’s well. The water, to Emmons, tasted incredibly pure. The taste was so remarkable, in fact, that he decided that the rest of the world needed to taste it. That’s exactly how Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water was born.
Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water comes from the mountains of Hawaii. After a snow storm or rain storm up atop the Hawaiian mountains, water begins to seep down through the porous volcanic rock. This rock is a natural filtration system that also infuses the water with volcanic water benefits, including electrolytes and minerals like magnesium and silica. It also has a pH of 7.6 to 8.2, making it a true alkaline water.
Ryan Emmons does more than just sell amazing water, however. He is a humanitarian who gives back to the community and the world. Waiakea Water partnered with Pump Aid to provide water to regions that have limited or no access to clean, pure water. For every liter of Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water sold, a week’s supply of water is provided to these regions where water is scarce.
Waiakea Water uses degradable bottles. A normal plastic bottle degrades in about 1,000 years, whereas Waiakea Water’s bottles degrade in fifteen years. This is an enormous leap in the right direction. We can only hope that the rest of the world will follow Emmons’ lead.