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