It’s a quandary - where do you turn when you’re thirsty? Imagine going for a short walk. The weather gets hotter and suddenly you are parched. No water fountain in sight. No handy reusable container either. But the corner store does have nice cold bottles of water. And isn’t that better than a can of something fizzy?

We all know the problems with bottled water. There is the issue of water quality - bottled water may be equal to, or even worse than, your local tap water. Of course that doesn’t apply if you are somewhere remote and tropical with undrinkable water. Even then, make sure that the bottle cap is sealed before you open it.

Then there is the problem of disposal. All those water bottles end up dumped in landfills or in the ocean. Not everyone has access to plastic recycling facilities. If only you could reuse those water bottles. But alas, since the companies manufacture them for single use, reusing disposable water bottles puts you at risk of swallowing some nasty surprises with your drink. It is almost impossible to effectively clean out all bacteria and viruses.

What if there was a feel-good option? Ethos Water might be one. Available in the US and Canada, every purchase contributes toward water projects in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. For example, the small village of Cholusnate, Honduras relied on traditional methods - walking hours to collect water. Funding to WaterPartners International allowed the construction of a permanent community reservoir and distribution system for potable water.

Other projects include safe water and sanitation in Manyara, Tanzania, as well as a similar program for Indonesian school children. The initiative is focused on the global water crisis, while supporting individual improvement schemes. About 20% of the world’s population does not have safe drinking water. As a result, waterborne diseases like cholera and typhoid are rife and childhood mortality levels are high. Adding to the problem, collecting water is a daily task. Usually it is girls and women who walk miles to get water - and this time-consuming necessity can prevent them from going to school and other opportunities.

What about the Starbucks connection, you may ask. Good point. Although the brand started as a social venture, it was acquired by the megachain in 2005. However, it still fulfills its mission of raising awareness of water needs, through the Starbucks Foundation. For every bottle sold, a portion of the cost goes toward humanitarian water programs. Okay, so it is only five cents, but that adds up. And it is more direct help than most people can give otherwise.