Great Lakes Shoppers Beware: Your Grocery Bill Just Got Hit by a Water War
If you live near the Great Lakes, you might want to sit down before opening your next grocery receipt. The region's booming bottled water industry is quietly siphoning off millions of gallons, and industry experts warn it is driving up local water costs for everyday consumers. Because these lakes supply drinking water for over 40 million people, every gallon bottled for profit means your municipal water bill could spike by as much as 15% this year. Worse, the same corporate demand is choking out local farmers, who are now paying triple for irrigation permits—costs they are passing directly to you at the checkout counter. With droughts getting worse and bottling plants expanding, your wallet is paying the price for every plastic bottle leaving the Great Lakes region.