There's a huge consumer demand for bottled water. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, bottled water was the second-most popular beverage among Americans in 2005, outsold only by soda pop. In terms of safety, bottled water and tap water are on equal ground. The only thing you might notice about bottled water is that it tastes better than the water from your tap.
About Bottled Water
According to the American Dietetic Association, bottled water is classified according to where it came from and can fall under the categories of artesian well water, mineral water and spring water, all of which are derived from natural sources. Some bottled water is purified water -- this is basically municipal, or tap, water that has some of the minerals removed through a process called reverse osmosis. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, notes that all drinking water -- both tap and bottled -- come from rivers or lakes or hidden sources, such as underground aquifers.
Governing Agencies
The EPA sets safety standards for the water that comes from your tap. Using the EPA's standards, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, oversees the safety of the bottled water you drink. The FDA relies on manufacturers of bottled water to process and transport bottled water under sanitary conditions and to protect bottled water from undesirable contaminants, such as bacteria and chemicals. The FDA also inspects water bottling plants to make sure the water source and final product do not contain unnecessary contaminants. The EPA is charged with providing customers with annual reports that tell you where your municipal water comes from, as well as list possible contaminants in the water and their potential effects on your health.
Your Concerns
As MayoClinic.com points out, the FDA is under no obligation to provide consumers of bottled water the same information as does the EPA; you must contact the bottling company for that information. Bottled water is more expensive than tap water. Another concern voiced by MayoClinic.com is that many people don't recycle bottled water containers, which impacts the environment. A March 2005 MSNBC.com environmental report indicated that only 12 percent of bottled water containers were recycled in 2003. Because so much bottled water is consumed away from the home, consumers have no recycling options.
When Bottled is Best
Bottled water and tap water are equally safe to drink, MayoClinic.com says. Your preference for bottled water may be because it tastes better than your municipal water. In many cases, bottled water may be a more convenient choice. However, there is one situation in which bottled water wins, hands down: when you're traveling abroad. The Cleveland Clinic points to contaminated tap water and food as the source of most illness during travel, making bottled water and other bottled or canned beverages the safer choice. Remember to use bottled water when you brush your teeth, too.
References
- Environmental Protection Agency; Bottled Water
- American Dietetic Association; Is All Bottled Water the Same?
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA Regulates the Safety of Bottled Water Beverages Including Flavored Water and Nutrient-Added Water Beverages
- MayoClinic.com; Bottled Water or Tap Water?
- MSNBC.com; Plastic bottles pile up as mountains of waste; Miguel Llanos (2005)
- Cleveland Clinic; Food and Water Considerations While Traveling
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