Primo Water Ranks As One of North Carolina's Fastest-Growing Companies

Primo Water was honored recently as the Triad's fastest-growing privately held company.

Winston-Salem based Primo topped the Business Journal of the Greater Triad's Fast 50 list, a ranking of private companies based on revenue growth between 2006 and 2008.

Despite the recession, Primo Water's business continued to grow as consumer backlash against single-serve bottled water increased. In growing numbers, consumers who are concerned about the environment and their health are switching from bottled water to coolers for their homes. These convenient dispensers house reusable 3- and 5-gallon bottles that are recycled at the end of life cycle, unlike most single-serve water bottles.

Primo Water understands the behavioral trends driving sales of bottled water. Most consumers want a convenient source for cold, delicious water, which they can't get from a tap. Primo dispensers offer a Zero Waste alternative to single-serve bottles, while at the same time delivering convenient access to pure, healthy and delicious cold or hot water at the push of a button.

A Primo Water dispenser also makes sense for budget-minded consumers. Owning a cooler saves homeowners an average of $200 a year versus renting.

This shift in consumer sentiment and buying habits presents a tremendous market opportunity for Primo and its retail customers going forward. Only a small percentage of households currently own their own water coolers, but that number is growing significantly each year.

Primo Water has redefined the water dispenser and elevated it to a must-have item for every home with the introduction of stylish bottom-loading coolers. Its innovative in-store exchange program allows consumers to exchange their empty 3-gallon and 5-gallon water bottles for full ones at grocery and home improvement stores nationwide.

Primo Water, founded in 2004, first became eligible for the Fast 50 list last year. Primo ranked third then and rose to the top position this year, ahead of such growth companies as Samet Corp., New Breed Logistics, ArcaTech Systems and Varrow Inc.

Accounting firm Smith Leonard of High Point ranked the Fast 50 companies using a formula that factors in both dollar and percentage growth from 2006 to 2008. The formula is weighted to sustained growth and is equitable to companies of all sizes.

Bottled water versus tap water

The president of the International Bottled Water Association and the director of the Environmental Working Group's California office squared off recently over whether tap water or bottled water is safer.

The interview of EWG's Renee Sharp and IBWA's Joe , broadcast on KPBS, was in response to Congressional debate earlier this summer calling for stricter regulation and additional labeling of bottled water.

Obviously both of these speakers have agendas, but theirs is a pretty thorough discussion of the safety different regulations governing bottled and tap water.

The transcript of their interview, broadcast on KPBS, is available here.

Kids Exposed to Unsafe Drinking Water at School

Through our confidence in the government and because of aggressive marketing efforts by tap water advocates we've been hoodwinked into believing that our drinking water is safe.

But evidence mounts and mounts and mounts to show otherwise.

The latest news to bubble up about tap water may in fact be the most disturbing.

Following on the heels of the New York Times Toxic Waters series, which revealed that one in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals, the Associated Press reports that the drinking water at schools is contaminated with unsafe levels of lead, pesticides and dozens of other toxins.

This applies to public schools and private schools, those with wells and those with municipal water.

The contamination is most apparent at schools with wells, which represent 8 to 11 percent of the nation's schools. Roughly one of every five schools with its own water supply violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in the past decade, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency analyzed by the AP.

Among the report's other findings:

• Water in about 100 school districts and 2,250 schools breached federal safety standards

• Those schools and districts racked up more than 5,550 separate violations. In 2008, the EPA recorded 577 violations, up from 59 in 1998 — an increase that officials attribute mainly to tougher rules.

• California, which has the most schools of any state, also recorded the most violations with 612, followed by Ohio(451), Maine (417), Connecticut (318) and Indiana (289).

• Nearly half the violators in California were repeat offenders. One elementary school in Tulare County, in the farm country of the Central Valley, broke safe-water laws 20 times.

• The most frequently cited contaminant was coliform bacteria, followed by lead and copper, arsenic and nitrates.

As the AP reporters point out, the stakes are particularly high when these types of contaminants and toxins are found in school water supplies. Children do not have the same tolerance for these contaminants as do adults, so the threat to their health is amplified.

The contaminants are especially dangerous to children, who drink more water per pound than adults and are more vulnerable to the effects of many hazardous substances.

"There's a different risk for kids," said Cynthia Dougherty, head of the EPA's Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water.

Still, the EPA does not have the authority to require testing for all schools and can only provide guidance on environmental practices.

States with the Most Dangerous Tap Water

AOL Health, using research from the the Environmental Working Group, has published a list of the states with the most toxic tap water.

This list, along with the recent New York Times series, "Toxic Waters," should make you question whether the water coming out of your tap is really as safe as you've been led to believe.

The states with the dirtiest tap water are:

New Mexico
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Nevada
New York
Texas
Florida
North Carolina
Wisconsin
California

You can learn more about how these tap water rankings were compiled here.

A few highlights from the AOL Health Report:

In New Mexico, "about 1.3 million people drank water that contained amounts of arsenic that exceeded health limits set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Arsenic, the consumption of which can cause cancer and blood toxicity, is a metal that enters water either by erosion of natural deposits or from runoff from glass and electronics factories."

In Nevada, "85.9 percent of water systems violated the health-based drinking water standards. Possible health effects of the 100 contaminants found in state tap water include cardiovascular or blood toxicity, cancer, developmental toxicity and skin sensitivity."

In Florida, "Over 11 million Floridians also may have consumed radium-226, a radioactive element found around uranium deposits that can potentially cause cancer, in their water. And 11,113 people were exposed to excessive amounts of it."

In North Carolina, "6.1 million citizens were exposed to 59 contaminants that exceeded the EPA's limits. Nitrate, which can have a negative impact on kidneys, blood, the heart and the reproductive systems, was the most common contaminant. The suspected carcinogen enters water through fertilizer runoff, leaching septic tanks and erosion of natural deposits."

The North Carolina statistics really hit home here at Break Free 411. Primo Water is based in North Carolina, and it concerns us that the water that we've cooked with, bathed in, brushed our teeth with, washed our food with and watered our gardens with contains such a high concentration of potentially cancer-causing contaminants.

Even if you don't drink tap water, there are so many ways that you may be exposed to the toxins in it on a daily basis. Clearly, more needs to be done to enforce the Clean Water Act and shore up the safety of tap water.

Toxic Waters: Experts Weigh in on Tap Water Safety

AOL Health tackles the tackles the question: Is tap water safe? in a Q&A with author James Workman. The interview was in response to the the recent New York Times Series "Toxic Waters," a shocking expose on tap water. Reporters uncovered thousands of violations of the Clean Water Act, proof that our tap water may not be as safe as we think it is.

Among the Times' more startling findings: One in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals or fails to meet a federal health benchmark in other ways.

Workman says that in addition to pollution by corporations, we have to be concerned about how our own daily actions are impacting our water supply.

Here are a few excerpts from the AOL Health interview with Workman, who is the author of "Heart of Dryness: How the Last Bushmen Can Help Us Endure the Coming Age of Permanent Drought."

AOL Health: In light of the New York Times's findings, should we be scared?

Workman: A lot of it depends on where we live. If you're living on a Midwestern farm and drinking well water, yes, you should be scared. If you're living 50 miles downstream from a coal mine, yes. In other [urban and suburban] areas, like San Francisco where I live, we don't have the same threats. Still, when the Clean Water Act was passed [in 1972], you had sludge and rivers of fire, so you could see the aesthetic and environmental impact. Today, violations are more subtle. We have invisible, tasteless, odorless threats coming not just from big bad industry but from our lawns and worksheds and medicine cabinets.

AOL Health: The report discussed industrial threats, but you're bringing up dangers we create in our daily lives.

Workman: Yes. We tend to say the water polluters are out there: That huge power plant, that factory, the hospital dumping medical waste. It's true, and significant. But we also have to look closer to home. We fertilize our lawns and say, "Good, no snails." But that fertilizer soaks into the street, under our house, into the water system. We are used to abundance and excess, so we think that if a little bit of fertilizer and water are good, then a lot is even better, and we end up harming ourselves and our neighbors and wasting water. Also, the average American is taking more pharmaceuticals, which go through our bodies and are re-circulated through the sewage system into our water.

Wordless Wednesday: Bottled Water Litter at Coachello

Photo by justin, licensed under Creative Commons

Your water, your choice

Want an alternative to bottled water?

Photo by LeeBrimelow, licensed under Creative Commons

But don't like tap?

Photo by Richard Berggren, licensed under Creative Commons

Don't turn to soda.

Photo by poolie, licensed under Creative Commons

Try a Primo Water dispenser instead.
Pure. Cold. Great-tasting. Environmentally responsbile.

British Trading Bottled Water for Tap? Think Again

What happens when people give up bottled water?

Though environmentalists heavily push tap water as the be-all, end-all solution to bottled water waste, the reality is that many people don't trade their bottles for tap.

So shows research by AC Nielsen and the National Hydration Council in the United Kingdom, where the bottled water backlash is strong. Instead of filling up at the tap, Britons who have given up bottled water are turning to sodas and other sugary drinks to quench their thirst. This from an article about bottled water in the U.K. Telegraph:

Last year the bottled water market suffered a significant fall, as consumers – swayed by an environmental campaign and the high cost – turned away from the once fashionable drink.

However, figures from the market research firm AC Nielsen, which tracks in detail the spending habits of tens of thousands of consumers each week, indicated that 71 per cent of the money saved was spent not on free tap water, but rather than sugary soft drinks.

The National Hydration Council, a lobby group set up to promote the health benefits of water, has calculated that this equates to Britons consuming an extra 1,700 tonnes of sugar and 6.8 billion calories, at the same time as the country faces a mounting obesity crisis.

Tap water, for all its virtues, has a hard time competing with bottled water on one key characteristic. One of the reasons that bottled water skyrocketed in popularity is because it was convenient and cold. Just pull one out of the fridge and take a swig. No ice necessary.

Taps don't deliver cold water. So, it's no surprise that thirsty people are going to reach for a cold beverage (be it bottled water or soda) over lukewarm tap water. Even in Europe, where the populace doesn't really believe in icing down its beverages.

Thankfully, this isn't just an either-or proposition: Either bottled water or soda. A Primo Water dispenser offers the cold convenience of bottled water and the environmental responsibility of tap water at the touch of a button. Why would anyone choose tap or bottled water when they can choose Primo instead?

This Sign Says it All

One of the bloggers at Green Unlimited posted a photo of a sign that she saw hanging in her local pharmacy:

That's a pretty scary reminder of what is likely lurking in your tap water. Municipal water systems are equipped to remove these pharmaceutical contaminants from water. And filters don't do the job:

While it's possible, maybe even likely, that some of the home water-filtration devices will remove pharmaceutical compounds, there is not yet evidence proving it. Also, it's unlikely that one device or even a combination of them will reduce or eliminate every pharmaceutical compound that makes its way to your tap. There are tens of thousands of pharmaceutical compounds, and most of them have entree to public water systems through waste treatment.

Filling up landfills with billions of plastic water bottles

Recycling rates for plastic water bottles are very low.

Only 12 percent of the billions of plastic water bottles that are sold every year are recycled. The rest went into landfills.

A chilling statistic, yes, but it's really hard to envision the environmental impact of all that waste until you see it for yourself.



We wish we could take credit for this video, but it's the work of Doug James of Cornell University.

Not So Safe Tap Water: NY Times Finds 40% of Water Systems Violated Clean Water Act

We're constantly told that tap water is safe, more heavily regulated even than bottled water.

In theory, that may be true. But in practice even the EPA chief admits that "the nation’s water does not meet public health goals, and enforcement of water pollution laws is unacceptably low," according to a new investigation by The New York Times that found that the Clean Water Act is essentially a law without teeth. Many community water supplies are contaminated with unsafe levels of harmful chemicals, carcinogens and dangerous pollutants. And residents of those communities are unaware of just how dangerous their drinking water is because most harmful pollutants in water are odorless and tasteless.

The Times obtained hundreds of thousands of water pollution records through Freedom of Information Act requests to every state and the EPA, and compiled a national database of water pollution violations that is more comprehensive than those maintained by states or the EPA.

In addition, The Times interviewed more than 250 state and federal regulators, water-system managers, environmental advocates and scientists.

That research shows that an estimated one in 10 Americans have been exposed to drinking water that contains dangerous chemicals or fails to meet a federal health benchmark in other ways.

The Times report includes anecdote after anecdote (backed up with scientific data) of communities where drinking water cleanliness and safety falls below federal standards.

Jennifer Hall-Massey knows not to drink the tap water in her home near Charleston, W.Va.

In fact, her entire family tries to avoid any contact with the water. Her youngest son has scabs on his arms, legs and chest where the bathwater — polluted with lead, nickel and other heavy metals — caused painful rashes. Many of his brother’s teeth were capped to replace enamel that was eaten away.

Neighbors apply special lotions after showering because their skin burns. Tests show that their tap water contains arsenic, barium, lead, manganese and other chemicals at concentrations federal regulators say could contribute to cancer and damage the kidneys and nervous system.

Still think tap water is safe?

An estimated 19.5 million Americans fall ill each year from drinking water contaminated with parasites, bacteria or viruses, according to a study published last year in the scientific journal Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. That figure does not include illnesses caused by other chemicals and toxins...

The Times’s research also shows that last year, 40 percent of the nation’s community water systems violated the Safe Drinking Water Act at least once, according to an analysis of EPA data. Those violations ranged from failing to maintain proper paperwork to allowing carcinogens into tap water. More than 23 million people received drinking water from municipal systems that violated a health-based standard.

The NY Times piece is an excellent piece of public service journalism, as the reporters were able to offer irrefutable evidence to state and federal regulators that they were failing in their duty to enforce the Clean Water Act.

We've been told for years that our water is safe. Every time we go to the tap, we're signaling our confidence in our government to protect us from the harmful contaminants and pollutants that can wind up in our water.

But we need to rethink that trust in light of these findings.

Are you confident enough in your tap water to gamble your health or your child's health on it?

Before you do, we'd encourage you to check out the Times' national database of water pollution. You can find out which companies in your state, city and ZIP code have violated the Clean Water Act and how often. And remember that in many instances, companies have not faced any consequences for polluting your water.

You may be find that the tap water you thought was safe really isn't.

And remember 7-year-old Joshua Massey and his little brother, Clay, who can't even take a bath in the water flowing out of their tap without developing painful rashes. Is there any way that their tap water is safe to drink?

Video asks: What will future generations make of our bottled water obsession?

What would an anthropologist from the future make of the billions of plastic water bottles left behind in our landfills? KQED Quest ponders that question in a YouTube video that shows the absurdity of this "convenient" product.

Bottled Water Bills Coming in More States

Recycling rates for water bottles are pretty dismal -- just 12 percent compared to 30 percent for other beverages. Part of the reason for that gulf may be that a lot of bottled water is consumed at concerts, sporting events, festivals and even at the office, where recycling is not offered.

But surely another reasons is that many states require deposits on other beverages, but not on bottled water. Well, that trend is changing. Eleven states have enacted bottle bills, requiring mandatory deposits on sodas, juices and other bottled beverages. In many places, bottled water has been exempt from those deposits.

According to Consumer Reports, by the end of this year, six states will require deposits on water bottles. They are Oregon, Hawaii, California, Maine, Connecticut and New York.

New York's deposit program, originally set to begin in June, should take effect this fall. And Connecticut's goes into effect Oct. 1.

In New York and Connecticut, consumers will be required by pay a 5 cent deposit on every bottle of water purchase, refundable when the empty bottles are returned to the store.

The bottled water companies and the International Bottled Water Association aren't happy with these new laws because it increases the cost of their product at a time when bottled water sales are already spiraling downward, as consumers become more aware of the economic and environmental costs.



For instance, in response to the Connecticut bottle bill, the IBWA argued that requiring deposits will hurt curbside recycling efforts in the state:

By enacting this bill, the Legislature has created a disincentive for curbside recycling efforts in Connecticut. The new deposit will give consumers a financial incentive not to put their empty bottles into curbside recycle bins. Instead they will now haul a larger percentage of their own trash back to the store instead of relying on the convenience, ease and simplicity of curbside recycling programs. Plus, they are forced to pay more upfront at the point of purchase. While a refund is possible, it requires far more effort on the part of busy consumers.

But that's really a specious argument. It assumes that "busy consumers" already are recycling that empty water bottles. But the 12 percent recycling rate for water bottles clearly indicates they are now. What's more, statistics show that mandatory deposits actually improve recycling rates.

The Associated Press reports that in New York:

Earlier state laws required deposits on soda and other carbonated beverages, beer, and wine coolers, with a study showing they raised aluminum can recycling from less than 20 percent to more than 80 percent.

What do elected officials have against water coolers?

We know that budgets are tight everywhere. But why are water coolers becoming a casualty of municipal belt-tightening?

Last week, we wrote about the decision by the Board of Selectmen in Freetown, Mass. to get rid of water coolers in town hall, as a way to save $500 annually.

Now comes news that another local government in Wallkill, N.Y., is getting rid of its water coolers.

As reported by the Record Online:

Proposed employee furloughs. Halted road projects. Now, say goodbye to water-cooler conversations as Wallkill continues to look for ways to save money.

The town has cut spring water delivery to town buildings.

Without access to water coolers, town employees are sure to reach for bottled water, which is so very bad for the environment. Local governments need to find ways to trim their budgets that don't have such a steep environmental cost.

Getting rid of water coolers doesn't save these towns very much money -- only $500 annually, in the case of Freetown, Mass. -- and it increases the likelihood that employees will reach for the bottle when they're thirsty.

Yes, there's tap water in these government buildings. But we'd wager that most employees will chose the convenience of bottled water over tap.

"How dumb do they think we are?"

We'll warn you, comedian Lewis Black's language can be off-color at times. (So, if you're reading this at work, you might want to turn the volume down before you hit play!)

But he's got some hilarious observations about how the bottled water industry hoodwinked us into believing that we needed their product. To quote Lewis, "How dumb do they think we are?"

Bottled water companies feeling the pressure as consumers Break Free

The Wall Street Journal published a story recently about how bottled water prices are dropping as consumer demand slackens.

Seems that economic and environmental concerns are causing more consumers to break free from their bottled water habits, in favor of more eco-responsible alternatives.

TheStreet.com reports:

In some instances the price of a case of 24 bottles of water has dropped more than 60%, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Per gallon, bottled-water brands cost about $1.35 in the first quarter, down more than 30% from $1.94 in 2001, the Journal reports.

The spin from the bottled water industry is that business will pick up once the economy improves. We're not convinced. Consumers often speak with their pocketbooks, but they also speak with their consciences. And we believe that's what is happening in this case. People are fed up with the damage that petroleum-based, single-serving water bottles are doing to the environment. They're tired of the piles of plastic water bottles filling our landfills. And they're looking for alternatives.

Something foul from the tap in Ohio

News stories like this one from Ohio serve as a reminder that tap water isn't the only -- or even the best -- substitute for bottled water.

Residents of the Village of Swanton in northern Ohio have been complaining for weeks now about the taste and the smell of the water coming out of their taps. A continuous algae bloom is being blamed for the foul taste and odor.

Town officials say the water is safe to drink, but the smell and taste have proven to be off-putting to many residents, according to coverage on FoxToledo.com. Filters haven't fixed the problem. And restaurants are finding that even strongly brewed ice tea can't mask the taste. Fountain drinks are being sent back because they taste like dirt.

Restaurants report that they're selling more bottled water, and local sports teams have switched from tap to bottled, as well.

Fixing Swanton's water problem could prove costly.

The village has hired an engineering firm, Stantec, to offer solutions. The $4,600 cost will be paid through the water fund.

The company has suggested two different methods for aerating the village water supply to inhibit the algae growth.

"We're going to decide which of the options we're going to put into use," Administrator John Gochenour said. "We've heard our share of complaints about the water, and we're trying to fix it."

The procedure will cost $20,000 to $30,000 using rented equipment over two years. But the village may first have to get approval from the Environmental Protection Agency.

As water quality problems go, Swanton's is relatively minor: an unappetizing, inconvenient nuisance. But in many places, the water coming out of the tap is not safe.

Residents in Giles County, Va., were recently warned not to drink or cook with tap water or use it for dishwashing after an electrical power surge shut crippled the county's water treatment facilties.

Most people assume that their tap water is safe, but these types of water quality problems are scarily frequent occurences. A quick Google search proves just how common boil water advisories are.

Do you trust your tap water enough to stake your health on it?

Massachusetts town ditches water coolers

We were a little surprised to learn that elected officials in Freetown, Mass., recently voted to remove water dispensers from town hall and other public buildings.

More and more, we're hearing about cities and towns banning bottled water. But getting rid of water coolers? That's a new one.

Like many municipalities around the country, Freetown is facing tight budgets and looking for creative ways to do some belt tightening. Removing five water coolers from town hall, the police department, the fire department and the highway department and will save $500 annually, according to an article at SouthCoastToday.com.

When the Board of Selectman scrapped the coolers from the budget by a 2-1 vote, they reasoned that town employees could drink tap water.

Just one problem with that plan: the tap water in Town Hall is not fit to drink.

A fountain turned on as a substitute for the cooler H20 produces a less than appealing potable with rust particles and a yellow tinge. The only other place in the building where running water is available is in the restroom.

"The piping is so old, I don't think it has been updated since 1888 when Town Hall was built," [Town Clerk Jacqueline] Brown said. "It's very old and is OK for washing hands and stuff like that, but I don't know about to drink."

So, employees have been bringing bottled water to work instead and trashing the empties because Freetown doesn't have recycling.

Squeezed by the economic realities of small-town budgets, selectmen in Freetown made a $500 financial call that has far greater environmental costs. What's more, they've since discovered that it will cost more to fix the malfunctioning fountain than to keep the coolers.

Kudos to Town Clerk Brown, who is trying to find a better solution than bottled or tap water, and to Selectman Lisa Pacheco, who voted against the removal and even offered to donate one of her paychecks to maintain the water dispensers. They've earned the Break Free seal of approval.