Drought has been a serious national issue for about 15 years, and will continue if we don’t stop and change how we use our water supply. There are many causes of drought: such as overuse of public water sources where the little rainfall, and taking advantage of the amount of water available. Recently, studies by Stephanie Soechtig and Jason Lindsey showed Coca-Cola pumped 118 million gallons of water from a lake in Atlanta during a level 4 drought in 2007. A level 4 drought known as exceptional drought known to be the most severe level of drought. In 2007, despite severe water use restrictions on local residents and businesses, 35 states had severe drought. Therefore, we petition Coca-Cola to take water from areas deemed at low levels of droughts, instead of, taking water from places deemed at high levels of drought.

As Mahatma Ghandi once said; “There is enough water for human need, but not enough for human greed.” Earth’s surface consists of 75% water, but only 1% can safely be consumed. The many reasons our water we are currently drinking will have a major consequence in overuse of areas and especially in places with a high level of drought that will have major effects on the environment. Coca-Cola fills their bottled water with 40% regular tap water. Through false advertising, Coca Cola convinces people that they have purchased 100% natural spring water.

 If we continue to ignore Coca-Cola, making no effort to stop them, then the future will be bleak in terms of access to clean drinking water.  Currently, global climate changes have started to affect our water sources negatively. For example, in the next twenty to twenty-five years, no matter where in the world you live, clean water access will be a huge issue. If large water bottling companies, like Coca-Cola, keep pumping water from freshwater sources in locations experiencing severe droughts, then by 2030, two-thirds of the world's population will lack access to clean drinking water.

 As high school students, we are gaining knowledge about how difficult it can take to earn money in the real world. Therefore, we have attempted to understand Coca Cola’s reasons for pumping water from places where there’s a high level of drought. Currently, It has become apparent that profit continues to be the only goal they are truly striving for; they don’t care if their company continues to waste our fresh drinking water supply. Ultimately, their greed will be their undoing. Once the world runs out of fresh drinking water, they won't have any more water to sell, causing them to shut down business. They will then be known as the driving force that contributed to putting everyone's health at risk.

 When low amounts of fresh drinking water exists in the world then chaos will be sparked around the world as people compete for clean, fresh water. Unfortunately, there won't be enough for everyone in the world to have their fair amount. The dramatic shortage of fresh drinking water will not only create thirst, but will also create a change in the food industry because water exists as one of the main ingredients in food production. This will result in another serious crisis, but by then, the world will barely start trying to take action-- far too late.

 At this moment, only one person has full responsibility for overseeing bottled water regulations. In return, the actions of this one person can make a positive change for our future. It’s difficult to imagine what can happen in the next 15 years, the effect of the actions we take, and don’t take. As 10th grade students, we ask—we implore--for a change! We don’t want our future generations to suffer because of the poor decisions of Coca-Cola. Having clean water has always been crucial to human life, under no circumstances will we have enough water with only 1% of fresh water left in the environment. The better we understand the causes and effects of this issue, the better we can predict how Earth will be affected. After our research, we have now stopped using bottled water and made a choice, if everyone starts now we can make a change together. The time to change is NOW!