| Did you know Americans consumed more | | | | as disease-causing germs, making it |
| than 7.5 billion gallons of bottled | | | | unsafe to drink. In these instances, |
| water in 2005? That's more than 26 | | | | your water supplier is required to |
| gallons per person. | | | | notify you by mail, radio, television, |
| Why have so many thirsty people turned | | | | or hand-delivery that your water does |
| off the tap and chosen to drink bottled | | | | not meet safety standards. The notice |
| water? | | | | you receive will describe precautions |
| Some prefer the taste, but others give | | | | you need to take (e.g., boiling your |
| up the convenience of tap water because | | | | water). |
| they are convinced bottle water is safer | | | | Drinking water may also become |
| (healthier) to drink. Is this true? | | | | contaminated with toxic metals, |
| For healthy people, both bottled water | | | | including arsenic, barium, chromium, |
| and tap water are considered safe to | | | | lead, mercury and silver. These metals |
| drink if they meet the standards of the | | | | may enter the water supply from natural |
| US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | | | | sources, industrial processes, and |
| and Environmental Protection Agency | | | | materials used in plumbing systems. |
| (EPA). The FDA sets food safety, | | | | Since exposure to toxic metals can have |
| labeling, and inspection standards for | | | | serious health consequences, most water |
| bottled water, and the EPA sets | | | | systems are tested regularly to make |
| standards and conducts frequent testing | | | | sure the levels of these substances are |
| for municipal drinking water. However, | | | | within safe standards. |
| the sources and treatments of drinking | | | | If you have concern about contaminants |
| water can vary considerably. | | | | in your home's drinking water, have your |
| Is There Evidence for the Health Claim? | | | | water tested. For more information about |
| The taste and quality of drinking water | | | | testing your water, contact the |
| depend on where it comes from and how it | | | | Environmental Protection Agency's Safe |
| is chemically treated. Most tap water | | | | Drinking Water Hotline at |
| comes from surface sources, such as | | | | 1-800-426-4791. |
| rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Most | | | | Is There Evidence Against the Health |
| bottled water comes from ground sources, | | | | Claim for Bottled Water? |
| such as underground aquifers. | | | | Although bottled water is considerably |
| The day-to-day variation of the taste | | | | more expensive than tap water, it is not |
| and quality is usually less for ground | | | | guaranteed safer. In fact, both bottled |
| water than with surface water sources. | | | | and tap water - may contain small |
| Water from deep underground is less | | | | amounts of contaminants. Furthermore, |
| vulnerable to contamination than surface | | | | the purity of bottled water is not |
| water. Despite this, ground water can | | | | regulated by the government as is the |
| contain high levels of contaminants or | | | | case for tap water. |
| be contaminated during the bottling and | | | | The National Resources Defense Council |
| or treatment processes. | | | | published a study in 1999 in which more |
| Do you know where your water comes from? | | | | than 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of |
| If your tap water's source is a public | | | | bottled water were tested. The |
| water system, you can check your annual | | | | researchers found that while most of the |
| water quality report or contact your | | | | bottled water tested was of high |
| water supplier to find its source. You | | | | quality, about one-third of the water |
| can read the label of the bottled water | | | | contained levels of contamination that |
| to find out where it comes from. | | | | exceeded state or industry standards or |
| Artesian water, ground water, spring | | | | guidelines. |
| water, and well water come from | | | | Conclusion: |
| underground aquifers. | | | | You can obtain a copy of your local |
| Distilled water is steam from boiled | | | | water supplier's annual water report to |
| water that is re-condensed and then | | | | find out the source and quality of your |
| bottled. | | | | public water supply. If your water comes |
| Mineral water is ground water that | | | | from a private well, make sure that the |
| naturally contains dissolved solvents | | | | water is tested annually for nitrate and |
| such as minerals, salts, and gases. Or, | | | | coli form bacteria, and more frequently |
| it is prepared synthetically. | | | | for other contaminants if you suspect a |
| Purified or sterilized water may | | | | problem. You can also contact bottled |
| originate from any source, but is | | | | water manufacturers and request the |
| supposed to be treated according to the | | | | results from their latest testing and |
| US Pharmacopeia (USP) standards for | | | | find out how the water is treated to |
| purification and sterilization, | | | | remove contaminants. |
| respectively. US Pharmacopeia sets | | | | After you are satisfied your water |
| official standards for all prescription | | | | supply is of acceptable quality, |
| and over-the-counter medicines, dietary | | | | consider its taste and expense. If |
| supplements and other healthcare | | | | bottled water tastes better to you and |
| products manufactured and sold in the | | | | fits your budget, buy it. But if you are |
| United States. | | | | looking to save money, most publicly |
| If you are still unsure of where your | | | | supplied tap water in the U.S. is safe |
| bottled water comes from or how it is | | | | to drink and tastes just fine. Another |
| treated after reading the label, call | | | | popular alternative is to install a high |
| the manufacturer for more detailed | | | | quality water purifier to remove |
| information. | | | | possible contaminates and improve the |
| In certain circumstances, tap water may | | | | taste of your local water supplier's |
| become contaminated by substances such | | | | product. |