Is drinking bottled water worthwhile?
Introduction
There is a perception among those who drink bottled water that it is safer or purer than regular tap water. But bottled water sold in the United States is not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water. According to a four-year scientific study recently made public by NRDC our perceptions of the level of quality found in bottled water has been deceptive.
The reality of the situation is that tap water is required to be disinfected, free of e. coli and fecal coliform, tested for bacteria, filtered to remove pathogens, tested for Cryptosporidium and Giardia viruses, and tested for synthetic organic chemicals. Bottled water is only tested in two of these six categories at the rate of one test a week or one test a year. Tap water is tested hundreds of times monthly and larger test are performed at least quarterly.
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Contaminants
Of all the bottled water samples tested by the NRDC, about one-third contained levels of contamination. This included synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. At least one sample exceeded allowable limits under both state and bottled water industry standards. Undoubtedly these results are surprising and a little frightening.
In addition FDA's rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state. This means that between 60 and 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States does not have to comply with FDA safety regulations. Although individual states may have regulations of their own, about one out of five states don't regulate their water processes either.
Unlike the requirements for "big city tap water systems" there are no requirements for bottled water to be disinfected or tested for parasites. In summary, because public water treatment sources are so closely monitored, the water that comes from your tap is in most cases going to be just as safe, if not more safe, than what you will buy in a bottle.
Marketing a Perception
You can probably think of a few of the classic labeling techniques that bottled water companies use. Bottled water companies use terms like glacier, spring or mountain water to lead consumers to believe that their water actually comes from these sources. In reality the picture on the bottle has little to nothing in common with the source of the water inside. In fact, according to government and industry estimates, about one-fourth of bottled water is actually bottled tap water.
Ironically, public concern about tap water quality has played a role in the dramatic growth in bottled water sales. In the last ten years bottle water sales have tripled. FDA intervention can only regulate so much. In 1995, the FDA issued labeling rules to prevent misleading claims. While this ruling has discouraged and prevented the more deceptive labeling practices, the problem is still very real and exists in the labeling we see on bottled water today.
Still Worried About Tap Water?
Those who are particularly concerned about the quality of their tap water can take action by calling their state drinking water program or the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800 426-4791) for a list of state certified labs. Consumers can also purchase filters certified by NSF International (800 NSF-MARK). These filters can remove most contaminants that the consumer is concerned about.
Conclusion
According to these results, bottled water in general is not worth the investment. Many of the bottled water industry's claims of purity and superiority are nothing but marketing tactics used to increase sales. This is not to say that all bottled water companies are out to scam you. It is simply a warning to not believe every claim that you read on a product label.
