There is one thing that every living organism on the planet needs to stay alive.
Water.
Without water our planet would quite literally die – taking all of us with it.
75% of the human body – and 90% of human blood – is water.
So, you get the picture…water is important.
So how ironic is it that water – the one thing we can’t live without – is actually being used to slowly kill the planet?
Don’t get me wrong…the water itself isn’t doing anything wrong. It’s us – the human population – that are doing the damage with water.
Bottled water to be specific.
In 1978 the United States consumed about 415 million gallons of bottled water
In 2001 we consumed 5.4 billion gallons.
By 2006 the number jumped to 8.3 billion gallons – for which the U.S. consumers shelled out $11 billion.
…but bottled water is healthier than tap water.
…bottled water tastes better.
…it’s more convenient.
If you believe any, or all, of those things, you have been duped by the multi-billion dollar bottled water industry.
I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you – but it’s true.
The water in your Evian bottle has no more health benefits than the water from your tap. If your tap water tastes “funny” you should understand that it’s because of the government mandated procedures which eliminate any impurities – procedures the bottling plants are not required to follow. Buy a filter pitcher and you’ll get the same taste. As for convenience – buy a reusable water bottle and fill it from your pitcher.
To make matters worse – the amount of groundwater pumping done to fill those cute little bottles causes unseen damage by lowering the levels of lakes, ponds and streams…which affects the wildlife who rely on them for life…which in turn affects us humans.
Finally – the bottles themselves. Probably the worst part of the equation.
Americans buy approximately 28 billion bottles of water per year.
28 Billion.
The manufacturing process for these bottles requires 45-50 million barrels of oil.
Think about that the next time you complain about the price of gas.
It is estimated that 80% of the bottles we use end up in landfills…that’s a cheerful little tidbit.
For the most part, the bottled water industry is a self-regulated industry raking in billions and billions of dollars every year and doing irreversible harm to the planet, because they have convinced Americans of the (false) value of their product.
Are you still with me?
Good – because there’s good news.
Ike is on the job.
Okay – I admit it…I used all those facts (and they are all true facts) about bottled water as a preamble to talk about one of my novels.
It’s called Water Hazard (see what I did there?).
In the story, a Florida contractor is illegally pumping groundwater and selling it to bottled water companies, making a ton of money…but in an attempt to keep his operation a secret he resorts to kidnapping and murder.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know he was about to cross paths with Ike.
When the ex-Navy SEAL, with a penchant for bending the rules, learns that his best friend is in some pretty hot water, he dives headlong into a whirlpool of greed, corruption and ecological sabotage to help.
Water Hazard has all of the fast-paced action, great characters, humor and beautiful Flagler Beach settings that my other books have, and it also offers a glimpse into the murky side of the bottled water industry.
Click here to read the first chapter for free.
So now that summer is here—grab your favorite ice-cold beverage (as long as it’s not bottled water!) and relax with a great beach read that will grab you from the first page and keep you locked in until the last.
Download Water Hazard for only$2.99 here.
If you’d like a signed paperback version send me an email at blindoggbooks@gmail.com and I’ll give you the details.
As always – thank you for reading
blindoggbooks 
My husband has read all of your books. At least six, if that’s all. He thoroughly enjoyed them, it was writing right up his alley. I can’t wait to read them. Laughed out loud and read me chapters. Particularly, a cool idea to have that contest winner’s short story in there. Demonstrates unparalleled camaraderie and mutual support. I laughed till I cried.
I am writing a crime series now that is also set in Florida, (sometimes). I would like to have three books completed before I publish the first. Question: Do you do your own editing? I am wondering if I need a content editor since this is my first go at crime. The rocket scientist hubby loves it, but I am thinking there are some places it gets too wordy. Can you recommend an editor? Specifically, a crime novel/murder mystery type, or a place to find one?.
Reblogged this on Books: Publishing, Reading, Writing and commented:
Here’s a great blog post from my Flagler Beach pal, Tim Baker (Ike’s best friend!), in which Tim explains why we should all be quenching our thirst with anything other than bottled water. And he should know, because Tim is a water guy (read “engineer”) who has also written about the problem in one of his novels – and that’s where Ike comes into the picture … Read on and pay attention to Tim’s good advice!
Awesome – thanks!!
Thank you! That is so nice to hear. Yes – there are currently six novels out there, so he is all caught up. Number seven will be released in August.
As for editing…you know the old saying “Any lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client”? It’s the same thing for writers editing their own work.
It’s not a good idea.
I have been using the same editor on all of my books, except the first one – which is currently being edited for re-release – she is awesome.
Her name is Dana and you can contact her at – dana@lettingtheinkdry.com
Tell her I sent you!!
Very clever there Tim. We’ll probably go down in history as the best hydrated generation in history.