Iceberg Water Isn’t So Funny

Most consumers are becoming more aware of the negative impact of purchasing bottled water these days. But what should we do about the others? You know, the ones who want to find an iceberg, bottle it and sell it? That’s what one Newfoundlander is trying to do. Ron Stamp is planning on scraping down icebergs to make a buck. Since maneuvering a boat next to an iceberg is no easy feat, this iceberg water will not be cheap. At $10 per bottle, this gourmet water will be treated more like a bottle of wine.

This sounds like we’re moving another ledge deeper into the pit of water commodification despair. Apparently, if you can maneuver yourself close to a water source, it’s somehow a declaration of ownership: feel free to bottle and sell. Whether it’s icebergs, seawater, Fiji water or spring water from Cascade Locks, we’re not paying enough attention as the Ron Stamps and the Nestlés of the world keep maneuvering themselves closer to water sources and “declaring” their ownership.

There are plenty of people and companies who view water just like any other product out there that has the capacity to earn a profit. Right now, some consumers might read a story about someone like Ron Stamp and almost laugh about it. “The guy wants to tap into icebergs for $10 a pop? Well, if he can pull it off, more power to him, I guess. That’s the beauty of the entrepreneur at work.” But, for those of us who see water as a human right, stories like these are downright scary.

The longer we hesitate on protecting water as a human right, the more Ron Stamp stories we will read — until one day, when there are Ron Stamps and Nestlés controlling the world’s major water sources, charging $10 for just a glass of tap water. Right now, there are plenty of places around the globe that don’t have access to safe drinking and bathing water. This number will continue to increase. Suddenly, the Ron Stamp story doesn’t seem so funny.

-Rich Bindell