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