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