O campo das águas envasadas: determinantes, políticas públicas, consequências socioambientais, qualidade da águas e percepções

Abstract

The growing world consumption of bottled water is a process which requires study and monitoring its chain of production, consumption and disposal of packaging. Currently there are different types of bottled water and there is an association of the term bottled water with the one of mineral water in Brazil. Through a quali-quantitative analysis, we sought to investigate in this study several aspects related to bottled water taking into consideration Pierre Bourdieus field theory as well as classifying field agents. We identified the social and environmental consequences generated in the process of bottling water with a specific discussion about the social conflicts in Circuit of Water in Southern Minas Gerais. We also identified the existing policies governing the field and which is applied in the cities Itabirito, Vespasiano and Ouro Preto in Minas Gerais State that were also selected to discuss the quality of bottled water and perceptions of consumers. We examined samples of bottled water marketed in these cities with regard to microbiological and physical-chemical parameters, and sought by means of secondary data, to present an overview of the quality of bottled water in the country, as well as capture perceptions of consumers of these products in the same study area through qualitative methodology. This research presents results that can assist in the implementation of policies to improve water supply public service, as some considerations on the effects of bottled water consumption. By categorizing the field for its delimitation, symbolic disputes were identified among agents with different types of power. It can affirm that media uses several strategies to attract consumers and exerts influence on societys perception, that bottled water quality is questionable, and that field generates negative social and environmental consequences that may harm human health and contribute to environmental degradation. This research provides a reading of a social process, a contribution to the advancement of knowledge of a reality and that knowledge can serve as a tool for action of the agents involved in the field.