2026-04-25
It Takes More Water to Make Bottled Water Than You Think
Your office goes through cases of bottled water every week. Ever wonder what it actually costs to make those bottles?
Here is the number, and it comes from the bottlers themselves. The International Bottled Water Association commissioned Antea Group to benchmark its members' plants, and the 2013 study put North American water use at 1.39 litres for every 1 litre of finished bottled water — ten companies, 14.5 million litres of production, about 43% of 2011 US consumption. IBWA's current figure is 1.41 litres, plus 0.21 megajoules of energy, per litre bottled.
Take that seriously as the floor, not the ceiling. It is the industry's own accounting, it counts only what happens inside the bottling plant, and it excludes the water used to manufacture the PET bottle itself. Even on the bottlers' most flattering numbers, roughly 40% of the water is gone before the cap goes on.
The Hidden Water Behind Your Office Water
I sell water systems for a living, so I'm biased. But the math here is objective.
The bottled water industry doesn't just bottle water. They wash bottles, cool equipment, clean facilities, and power production lines. All of that requires water.
Compare that to a bottleless system. Turn on the tap. Done.
No manufacturing water waste. No production facilities. No cleaning cycles at distant plants.
America's Bottled Water Problem Is Getting Bigger
Bottled water has been the number one beverage in the United States by volume for nine straight years. Beverage Marketing Corporation put 2024 volume at 16.4 billion gallons, or 47.3 gallons per person.
Apply the industry's own 1.41 ratio to 16.4 billion gallons and roughly 6.7 billion gallons of water were consumed producing water that was already drinkable. More growth means more of that.
Your Office Is Part of This
Every case of bottles in your break room carries about 40% more water than what is actually in the bottles.
Most offices go through multiple cases per week. Small teams, bigger teams, doesn't matter — people drink water.
The manufacturing water waste from your office's bottled water consumption adds up to substantial amounts over the course of a year.
The Alternative Math
A bottleless system connects to your existing water line. No manufacturing waste. No production facilities consuming water hundreds of miles away.
The water comes from the same municipal system that feeds your kitchen sink. But it gets filtered, chilled, and carbonated right there in your break room.
No manufacturing multiplier. No hidden water costs. No cases shipped across the country.
Why This Matters Now
Water scarcity is real. Manufacturing waste is real. Shipping costs are real.
Your office can eliminate its manufacturing water waste by switching to bottleless. It's not complicated.
Every bottle you don't buy reduces the water waste that occurs in manufacturing facilities.
The choice is yours.
If your office is in Wisconsin: I cover the Madison area for Bottleless Nation. I'll test what's coming out of your tap and show you the numbers before you decide anything — see bottleless water coolers in Madison or get in touch.