Choose Water First to Fight Dehydration: A Drinking Water Week Message from the Bottled Water Industry

International Bottled Water Association

News Release

May 1, 2026

Note to Editors: Drinking Water Week is May 3-9, 2026

Choose Water First to Fight Dehydration: A Drinking Water Week Message from the Bottled Water Industry

Alexandria, VA – During Drinking Water Week, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is encouraging consumers to “Choose Water First” as the most accessible, affordable, and sustainable packaged beverage option on the market.

Inadequate hydration remains a silent public health crisis affecting Americans at every age. Research using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that more than half of U.S. children fall short of adequate hydration, and the majority of adults over the age of 50 do not meet national hydration criteria—shortfalls that are linked to obesity and chronic disease, among many negative health outcomes.

For health-conscious Americans looking for a clean, convenient beverage option on the go, bottled water is by far the most pocket-friendly choice. At roughly 2.4 cents per ounce, bottled water costs a fraction of other packaged drinks. Compare that to energy drinks at nearly 27 cents per ounce, fruit juice at about 13 cents, and soda at 8 to 9 cents per ounce.

“The simple action of consuming more water throughout the day can help stave off chronic illness and, as a result, lower health care expenses,” said Matt Herrick, IBWA’s president and CEO. “American families clearly recognize this value. By choosing water first, they’ve made bottled water the largest packaged drink by volume on the market for 10 years in a row. Drinking water—whether it’s tap, bottled, or filtered—should always be encouraged.”

In addition to being the healthiest and most affordable beverage, bottled water is the nation’s leader in packaging circularity. PET plastic water bottles are 100% recyclable and are among the most widely recycled beverage packaging formats in the country. In curbside collections, bottled water containers make up 48% of all plastic containers collected, compared to soda, which makes up just 17%.

To further strengthen this circular economy and back up its commitment to the environment, IBWA is actively mobilizing to support key federal legislation that will modernize America’s recycling infrastructure. During Drinking Water Week, IBWA is urging Congress to pass:

• The Recycling and Composting Accountability Act (RCAA) to strengthen national recycling data collection and identify system gaps.
• The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act (RIAA) to expand EPA grant funding and improve recycling access in underserved and rural communities.
• The CIRCLE Act to support long-term investment in recycling infrastructure through a 30 percent tax credit for recycling-related capital investments, expanding domestic capacity to recover valuable PET plastic.

Confidence in the quality and safety of bottled water remains a key aspect of its success. By federal law, FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water must be as protective of public health as the EPA standards for tap water—and in some cases, such as lead, bottled water regulations are more stringent.

“We have a highly positive story to tell about the good work our industry is doing in circularity, hydration, and supporting healthy communities,” Herrick added. “During Drinking Water Week, we invite all Americans to join us in prioritizing their health and our environment by choosing water first.”

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Media Contact:

Jill Culora

703.647.4609

About the International Bottled Water Association

Founded in 1958, IBWA is the leading voice for the bottled water industry, which supports more than 617,000 jobs that generate $42.5 billion in wages and $163 billion in overall U.S. economic impact. IBWA provides members with professional services focused on advocacy, communications, technical services, and education to advance safe, healthy hydration and sustainable business practices. IBWA’s membership consists of bottlers, distributors, and suppliers across the U.S. and around the world working to deliver the #1 packaged beverage to consumers everywhere.