Water Brands That Give Back

Believe it or not, it’s that time of year again! Yes, World Water Week (Aug. 27-Sept. 1) is almost upon us. It’s organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute and is the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues. Thousands of individuals from all over the world, including experts, practitioners, decision-makers, business innovators and young professionals from a range of sectors and countries gather in Stockholm to network, exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions to the most pressing water-related challenges today. Pretty heavy stuff.

It’s safe to say that most of us are not going to be heading to Stockholm for this meeting of extraordinary people, but we can still do our part. One way to help out is by supporting water brands that give back. Not sure which those are? Allow me to help you out.

1. Athena^®. Founded by a breast cancer survivor, Athena^® was created in 2003 to help fund the battle against women’s cancers. Purchases of Athena^® bottled water make a difference to the hundreds of thousands of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. So far, purchases of Athena^® bottle water have raised $3 million to fight breast cancer! Buy it here: http://www.athenawater.com/purchase.php

2. People Water. Through the company’s “Drop for Drop” initiative, People Water develops or restores new sources of clean water, either by drilling a new well, repairing an existing one, establishing water purification systems or implementing new water-providing technologies. According to the site, when properly maintained, an average well can deliver up to about 3,000 liters of clean water a day! Buy it here: https://www.peoplewater.com/shop?olsFocus=false&olsPage=products

3. Ethos^® That water you see in your local Starbucks, was created to help raise awareness about the awful fact that more than 1 billion people on the planet can’t get clean water to drink, and also to provide children with access to clean water. Every time you buy a bottle of Ethos^® Water, you contribute $.05USD to the Ethos^® Water Fund, part of the Starbucks Foundation. So far more than $12.3 million has been granted to help support water, sanitation and hygiene education programs in water-stressed countries, benefiting more than 500,000 people around the world.

4. Poland Spring^®. The granddaddy of all water brands, Poland Spring^® gives back, a lot, to its home state of Maine. How? First, through education. For more than a decade the company has been partnering with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to bring fifth and sixth graders from across the state to the Institute’s lab in Portland (for free) for a half-day immersion in water science. Also, through grants. Since 2000, Poland Spring^® has given more than $7 million to local Maine community organizations, causes and events through the “Good Neighbor Grant Program,” which awards grants to community groups with a focus on education, environmental conservation and other local causes that help improve the future of Maine. Also, by donating water. Poland Spring^® donates water to local Maine events and community groups, with a focus on supporting local schools and fire and rescue teams. In 2016, communities received nearly 800,000 donated bottles of Poland Spring^®.

So, before you reach for that smartwater^® (guilty!) or evian at the deli, think twice about the water brand you want to be supporting. Happy World Water Week!