The Beverage Industry & Water Resources

• How does the beverage industry minimize its impact on the environment?
• How much water does the beverage industry use to make its products?
• How much water is used to make America's refreshment beverages?
• Where does the beverage industry secure the water to make its products?
• Who regulates water management?

Q: How does the beverage industry minimize its impact on the environment?

A: We strive to reduce our environmental footprint wherever we can. Beverage companies help utilize efficient technologies, design enhanced packaging with minimal materials and use recycled materials as much as possible, among many other efforts. We are constantly improving our production systems and incorporating water reduction measures into our facilities to increase efficiencies.

Q:  How much water does the beverage industry use to make its products?

A:  The beverage industry accounts for only a small amount of total public water usage. Of the more than 400 billion gallons withdrawn each year in the U.S. (U.S. Geological Survey), the beverage industry uses about one gallon out of every 3,300 gallons withdrawn from ground or surface water sources.

Q:  How much water is used to make America's refreshment beverages?

A:  On average it takes about a gallon and a half to two gallons of water to make a gallon of finished product. This represents a water ratio use of 1.5-2:1. This number has been constantly improving over the last several decades as we implement conservation efforts in our plants and increase efficiency.

Additionally, the amount of water usage varies depending on the product made and the packaging used. For instance, the production of coffees and teas requires a higher water-use ratio because of the pasteurization process needed for those products.

Q:  Where does the beverage industry secure the water to make its products?

A: The beverage industry draws the majority of its water from public water supplies with the remainder self-supplied. Even assuming that all bottling uses came from public supplies, the total withdrawals for beverage companies would still only be about one third of one percent of all public uses. We are good contributors to our community systems, participate in planning activities to promote responsible water management, and pay fair rates for our water usage.

Q:  Who regulates water management?

A:  States develop their own regulations and policies in the context of existing water pacts. The pacts determine states’ water rights by either location, length of claim to a water source or a combination of both.