I don’t know how universal this is, but when I was a kid, buying bottled water was a signifier of being on a higher social strata. It was “fancy,” while just drinking the tap water was for proles. But it was also known that the bottled water, though more expensive (and thus consuming it was a sign of class), was just municipal water from some other city, not fresh from some mountain stream or whatever. So the middle class looked down on the poors for drinking tap water, while we poors laughed at them for wasting money on something that was no better than what we were drinking.
Bottled water like Evian and Perrier was associated with high status. From France, and everything is better from France. It’s not just water, like from the toilet. It’s mineral water, which is especially healthful. Plus, being seen drinking means you can afford the murderous prices, which is the point.
They could if they wanted. But the well-being of empire citizens isn’t a priority. We could have healthcare, housing, free college, and a pony for every little girl for less than we’re spending on the current war. But no, they just don’t want to. They regard us with contempt.
I’m not saying people should drink unsafe water, I’m just saying that sometimes buying bottled water is just consumption for consumption’s sake.
