# Fiji Water > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fiji_Water > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Fiji_Water.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_Water > Source revision: 1351611744 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Brand of bottled water}} {{Use American English|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox bottled water | logo = 100px | image = Fiji Water.jpg | brand = Fiji Water | country = [Fiji](/source/Fiji) | introduced = {{start date and age|1996}} | source = Artesian aquifer | type = Artesian | ph = 7.3 – 7.7{{cite web|url=http://www.fijiwater.com/faqs/what-is-the-ph-of-fiji-water/ |title=What is the pH of Fiji Water? |publisher=Fiji Water |quote=7.7 |access-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605082214/http://www.fijiwater.com/faqs/what-is-the-ph-of-fiji-water/ |archive-date=June 5, 2016 }}{{cite web |url=http://fit4maui.com/water/pu/bottled_ph.html |title=PH of Popular Bottled Water |publisher=Fit4Maui.com |quote=7.5 |access-date=May 14, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502222151/http://fit4maui.com/water/pu/bottled_ph.html |archive-date=May 2, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite web |url=http://www.comfytummy.com/2010/06/21/ph-levels-of-bottled-water/ |title=pH Levels of Bottled Water |work=Comfy Tummy |date=21 June 2010 |quote=7.5 |access-date=May 14, 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://alkalifeten.com/is-your-bottled-water-acidic-neutral-or-alkaline/ |title=Is Your Bottled Water Acidic, Neutral, or Alkaline? |work=Alkalife TEN website |publisher=Sang Labs Beverages |quote=7.3 |access-date=May 14, 2016 |archive-date=May 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520125903/http://alkalifeten.com/is-your-bottled-water-acidic-neutral-or-alkaline/ |url-status=dead }} | ca = 18 | mg = 15 | fl = .26 | si = 93 | tds = 222 | website = {{URL|fijiwater.com}} }} '''Fiji Water''' is a brand of [bottled water](/source/bottled_water) owned by the American conglomerate [The Wonderful Company](/source/The_Wonderful_Company). According to marketing materials, the water comes from an [artesian aquifer](/source/Artesian_well) in [Viti Levu](/source/Viti_Levu). Fiji Water is headquartered in [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles), California.{{cite web|access-date=July 2, 2010|archive-date=April 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427143303/http://www.fijiwater.com/FAQ.aspx|title=FIJI FAQ|url=http://www.fijiwater.com/FAQ.aspx|url-status=dead|year=2009}} == History == Canadian businessman [David Gilmour](/source/David_Gilmour_(businessman)) founded Fiji Water under the name Natural Waters of Viti Ltd. in 1996. Stewart and Lynda Resnick's Roll Global (since renamed to [The Wonderful Company](/source/The_Wonderful_Company)) acquired Fiji Water from Gilmour in 2004 for a reported US$50{{nbsp}}million. Fiji Water acquired Justin Vineyards & Winery in 2010.{{cite news |first1=P.J. |last1=Huffstutter |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/12/fiji-water-winery-justin-vineyards-paso-robles-sale.html |title=From water – to wine? Fiji Water buys California winery |newspaper=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times) |date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=February 7, 2011}} == In Fiji == Fiji Water bottles water from [Fiji](/source/Fiji) and ships it overseas. The water is sourced from Yaqara, on the north shore of [Viti Levu](/source/Viti_Levu), the largest island of Fiji. In 2007–2008, disputes with the Fiji government over export duties led to legal cases, impounded shipments and a self-imposed industry-wide shutdown of Fijian water bottlers. The government eventually dropped its proposed 20-cent per litre tax.[http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2008/07/26/fiji-government-yields-to-bottled-water-company-pressure/ Fiji government yields to bottled water company pressure], IceNews, Chris Bolwig, July 26, 2008. In December 2008, Fiji Water laid off 40{{nbsp}}percent of its staff due to weakening sales.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090202135407/http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jan2009/db20090130_552851.htm?chan=rss_topDiscussed_ssi_5 Bottled Waters Lose Their Effervescence], ''[Business Week](/source/Bloomberg_Businessweek)'', January 30, 2009 In November 2010, Fiji deported Fiji Water director of external affairs David Roth for "interfering in Fiji's domestic affairs,"{{cite news|title=Fiji Water shuts down business after tax hike|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=57313|access-date=August 6, 2011|newspaper=[Radio New Zealand International](/source/RNZ_Pacific)|date=November 29, 2010}} leading to the resignation of interim defence and immigration minister, Ratu Epeli Ganilau.{{cite news|title=Ganilau says Fiji Water row behind him quitting regime|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=57107|access-date=August 6, 2011|newspaper=Radio New Zealand International|date=November 18, 2010}} Shortly afterwards, there was an increase in the extraction tax from one-third of a [Fiji cent](/source/Fijian_dollar) per litre to 15 cents per litre for producers over 15{{nbsp}}million litres per month.{{Cite web |title=Fiji: US bottled water exporter finally pays up :: IRC |url=https://www.ircwash.org/news/fiji-us-bottled-water-exporter-finally-pays |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240913024412/https://www.ircwash.org/news/fiji-us-bottled-water-exporter-finally-pays |archive-date=2024-09-13 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=www.ircwash.org |language=en}} The company would shut down its Fiji Island offices on November 29, 2010. The purpose of the raise was to increase Fiji Water's tax contribution to the Fiji Government on the F$150{{nbsp}}million (AUD 82{{nbsp}}million) they exported each year from F$500,000 to F$22.6{{nbsp}}million.{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/water-works-shut-down-as-tax-trickle-turns-into-stream-20101129-18e19.html |title=Water works shut down as tax trickle turns into stream |publisher=[The Sydney Morning Herald](/source/The_Sydney_Morning_Herald) |date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=December 18, 2011}} Initially, the next step for the brand was to move operations to New Zealand.{{cite web |url=http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/fiji-water-leaves-fiji-4-things-to-know-about-the-shutdown/19736926 |title=Fiji Water Leaves Fiji: 4 Things to Know About the Shutdown |publisher=Aolnews.com |date=November 29, 2010 |access-date=December 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202051420/http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/fiji-water-leaves-fiji-4-things-to-know-about-the-shutdown/19736926 |archive-date=December 2, 2010 |df=mdy }}{{cite web |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10691133 |title=Mineral water giant pulls plug on Fiji |author=Adams, Guy |date=December 1, 2010 |work=[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald) |access-date=September 30, 2011}} However, after threats from the government to give the well to another company,{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2010/12/01/131733493/A-Bottled-Water-Drama-In-Fiji |title=A Bottled-Water Drama In Fiji |website=[NPR.org](/source/NPR) |access-date=March 26, 2017 }} Fiji Water announced its intent to resume operations and accept the new tax levy.{{cite news | title=Update: FIJI Water to Reopen December 1 | publisher=BevNET.com | date=December 2, 2010 | url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2010/11-30-2010-FIJI-Water-Update | access-date = December 2, 2010}} In December 2010, Fiji Water's Fiji plant had 400 employees.{{cite news|title=Union tells workers to value FIJI Water pay|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=57391|access-date=August 6, 2011|newspaper=Radio New Zealand International|date=December 1, 2010}} The company also established a foundation to provide water filters to rural Fiji communities, 50% of which lacked access to clean water at the time.{{cite news|title=Fiji Water helps Fiji villages to produce to clean water|url=http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=55578|access-date=August 6, 2011|newspaper=[Radio New Zealand International](/source/Radio_New_Zealand_International)|date=August 30, 2010}}{{cite news|title=The Story of Bottled Water (2010)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Se12y9hSOM0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=March 22, 2013|newspaper=storyofstuffproject=March 22, 2013}}{{cbignore}} As of 2018, it was down to 12%.{{cite web |last1=Fredrickson |first1=Karen |title=The Truth About Fiji Water |url=https://www.mashed.com/189793/the-truth-about-fiji-water/ |website=Mashed |date=20 February 2020 |publisher=[Static Media](/source/Static_Media) |access-date=20 September 2021}} In 2024, the [Federal Trade Commission](/source/Federal_Trade_Commission) issued a recall of almost two million Fiji Water bottles due to elevated levels of [manganese](/source/manganese) and three bacterial genera in products sold between February and March. The products were classified by the [U.S. Food and Drug Administration](/source/Food_and_Drug_Administration) as "not likely to cause adverse health consequence".{{Cite web |last=Powel |first=James |title=Nearly 1.9 million Fiji water bottles sold through Amazon recalled over bacteria, manganese |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2024/05/29/fiji-water-bottles-amazon-recalled/73899911007/ |access-date=2024-06-03 |website=[USA Today](/source/USA_Today) |language=en-US}} == Marketing == Fiji Water uses the slogan "Earth's finest water."{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=FIJI WATER - NATURE'S GIFT |url=https://adage.com/videos/fiji-water-natures-gift/1342#:~:text=A%20girl's%20voiceover%20and%20on,(%22Inspiration%20Drops%22). |website=adage.com |access-date=2021-10-12 |archive-date=2024-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240810140547/https://adage.com/videos/fiji-water-natures-gift/1342#:~:text=A%20girl's%20voiceover%20and%20on,(%22Inspiration%20Drops%22). |url-status=dead }} In 2006, Fiji Water ran an advertisement stating, "The label says Fiji because it's not bottled in [Cleveland](/source/Cleveland)". This was taken as an insult by the US city's water department.{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/20/AR2006072000322.html|publisher=[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)|title=Cleveland Takes Offense at Fiji Water Ad, The Washington Post, July 20, 2006. Associated Press |access-date=December 18, 2017}} The Cleveland Water Department ran tests comparing a bottle of Fiji Water to Cleveland tap water and some other national bottled brands. Fiji Water reportedly contained 6.31 micrograms of [arsenic](/source/arsenic) per litre, whereas the tap water of Cleveland contained none. == Environmental impact == ''[Fast Company](/source/Fast_Company)'' reported in 2007 that the factory machinery to extract water from underground is run on diesel fuel.{{cite web |last1=Fishman |first1=Charles |title=Message in a Bottle |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/59971/message-bottle |website=[Fast Company](/source/Fast_Company) |access-date=20 September 2021}} Producing one Fiji Water bottle uses 1.75 gallons of water and 2,000 times more energy than tap water. In 2008, to reduce its carbon footprint, the company announced plans to plant natural forest. However the company's portion of its website that tracked its progress was shut down by 2011. By 2019, only 50% of the area of natural forest the company promised was planted. Fiji Water's carbon negative plan will not be met until at least 2037. Aja Romano from ''[Vox](/source/Vox_(website))'' wrote that "the long-term impact of globally exporting drinking water is a giant mess of un-recycled plastic clogging landfills." While Romano's quote is in reference to the water bottling industry overall, her article was focused on Fiji Water.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Aja |title=Fiji Water Girl would be a great meme if bottled water were something to celebrate |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/2019/1/7/18171384/fiji-water-girl-meme-bottled-water-bad-environment |website=[Vox](/source/Vox_(website)) |date=7 January 2019 |publisher=[Vox Media](/source/Vox_Media) |access-date=20 September 2021}} On January 31, 2025, environmental watchdog group The Plastic Coalition filed a lawsuit against Fiji Water, claiming the company's marketing of the product as "natural artesian water" is false given that tests show that it contains harmful microplastics and the chemical [BPA](/source/Bisphenol_A).{{cite web |last1=Dickey|first1=Claire|title=Fiji Water Lawsuit Raises Concerns About Microplastics| url=https://www.newsweek.com/fiji-water-lawsuit-raises-concerns-about-microplastics-2026671#:~:text=FIJI%20Water%20is%20promoted%20as,pollution%20in%20supposedly%20natural%20products|website=[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)|date=5 February 2025 |access-date=9 February 2025}} == References == {{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}} {{Reflist|30em}} == Further reading == * {{cite book |first1=Charles |last1=Fishman |title=The Big Thirst: The Secret Life and Turbulent Future of Water |location=[New York](/source/New_York_City), [London](/source/London) |publisher=[Free Press](/source/Free_Press_(publisher)) |year=2011|isbn=978-1439102084 |id={{ISBN|978-1439102084}}}} == External links == {{commons category}} * [http://www.fijiwater.com Official website] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20181212214740/https://www.triplepundit.com/2007/02/whats-the-true-environmental-cost-of-fiji-water/ Ask Pablo – "Cost of Fiji Water"] – an article which triggered controversy Category:Bottled water brands Category:Economy of Fiji Category:Fijian drinks Category:Food and drink companies established in 1996 Category:The Wonderful Company --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Fiji Water](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_Water) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_Water?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.