Drinking Water: Bottled, Tap, and Vended Sharon O
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KFSBOPFQV LC B?O>PH>¨ FK@LIK UQBKPFLK KPQFQRQB LC DOF@RIQROB >KA >QRO>I BPLRO@BP KLT ELT KLT KLT G1448 (Revised January 2010) Drinking Water: Bottled, Tap, and Vended Sharon O. Skipton, Water Quality Extension Educator Julie A. Albrecht, Extension Food Specialist
Domestic Bottled Water Distributed Through Interstate This publication discusses the regulation and safety Commerce of drinking water from various sources. Domestic bottled water sold in states other than that in which it was bottled (interstate commerce) is regulated as a While most Nebraskans rely on tap water, some use bottled food by the FDA. This water must meet FDA water identity water or vended water for their primary source of in-home and quality standards. To ensure that the standards are met, drinking water. This publication compares bottled, tap, and bottling companies must regularly test their products. The FDA vended water for human consumption. also requires that bottled water products distributed through interstate commerce comply with its Good Manufacturing Bottled Water Practices. These practices cover the production and packag- ing and provide assurance that bottled water products are Bottled Water Defined: processed under sanitary conditions and are clean and safe Bottled water is water that is sealed in food-grade bottles for human consumption. and intended for human consumption. Bottled water can Bottled water is not pure water — as nearly all bottled come from a variety of sources, including groundwater from water contains dissolved substances. Allowable levels have a well, water from a protected spring, or water from a public been established for a number of potential contaminants, and water supply tap. Groundwater comes from an aquifer — an bottled water cannot contain more than the allowable level underground zone of saturated sand, gravel, or rock — that for any regulated contaminant. If a bottled water producer yields significant quantities of water. In most cases, a well is is in full compliance with regulations, the water should be drilled in the ground and cased, and the water is pumped out. suitable for drinking and cooking; however, not all potential Spring water flows naturally to the surface from an underground contaminants are regulated and there is always some risk of formation. The source of water for a public water supply can contaminants going undetected between testing intervals. be groundwater, surface water, or a combination. Bottled water from each of the sources is available to consumers. Imported Bottled Water Imported bottled water also is regulated as a food by the Bottled Water Regulation and Quality: FDA and must meet all FDA water standards described above. With the increase in bottled water consumption, the Food To ensure those standards are met, bottled water imported from and Drug Administration (FDA) has set standards of quality foreign countries is randomly tested at ports of entry. for bottled water intended for human consumption. Standards are established for artesian, mineral, purified, sparkling bottled, Water Bottled and Sold In-State and spring water. Seltzer, soda, tonic, and certain sparkling FDA rules for bottled water exempt water that is packaged waters are considered soft drinks and are regulated accord- and sold within the same state. The quality of water packaged ingly. Not all bottled water is regulated in the same way. It is and sold in-state may be regulated by an agency in that state or important to know if the water is domestic or imported, and may be unregulated. In states where it is regulated, the levels of if it is sold through interstate commerce. contaminants allowed may be equal to, greater than, or less than that allowed by FDA. Water bottled and sold in Nebraska 24 hours to notify people who may drink the water. Water is regulated by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture suppliers must use media outlets such as television, radio, and must meet FDA bottled water standards. and newspapers; post a notice in public places; or personally deliver a notice to customers in these situations. Any time a Self-regulation by the Bottled Water Industry water system provides water with levels of a contaminant that exceed EPA standards or that hasn’t been treated properly, The bottled water industry regulates itself through the but that doesn’t pose an immediate risk to human health, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA.) The IBWA water system must notify its customers as soon as possible, sets manufacturing requirements, which help ensure that and within 30 days of the violation. When a water system bottled waters meet FDA health standards. Bottled water violates a standard that does not have a direct impact on hu- producers that are members of IBWA are inspected annually man health (for example, failing to take a required sample on by a recognized independent organization, NSF International. time), the water supplier has up to a year to provide notice Through unannounced inspections, members are evaluated of this situation to its customers. on compliance with IBWA’s performance requirements and In addition, the Safe Drinking Water Act requires all FDA Quality Standards. Not all bottled water manufacturers public water suppliers to provide annual water quality reports, are members of the IBWA. The label may indicate whether a referred to as consumer confidence reports. Reports are required bottled water comes from a member company. to identify any regulated contaminants that are present in the water, their concentration, and indicate if they exceed the Tap Water maximum allowable level. For information on the quality of tap water from a public system, contact the water supplier. Tap Water Defined: Tap water is water that is supplied through a water distribu- Tap Water From a Private Water Supply tion system and intended for human consumption. It can come In Nebraska, as in most states, the quality of tap water from either a public or private water supply. A public water from a private water supply is not regulated by federal or state supply is defined as a system that provides water for human laws. Unless regulated at the county or city level, there are consumption to at least 15 service connections or regularly no requirements to test for potentially harmful contaminants. serves at least 25 individuals. A private water supply is defined As a result, the burden is on the private water supply owner as a system that provides water for human consumption to and user to determine if the water is safe to drink. There is no fewer than 15 service connections or does not regularly serve single test to determine the safety of drinking water. at least 25 individuals. There are many contaminants that can present a health risk if present in sufficient concentrations.T ests for nitrate and Tap Water Regulation and Quality bacteria often are used as general indicators of the safety of private drinking water, but bacteria and nitrate tests alone do Tap Water from a Public Water Supply not guarantee the water is free of other potential contaminants. Like bottled water, tap water is not pure water — all Testing for other contaminants should be performed when a tap water contains dissolved substances. The Environmental specific contaminant is suspected. For additional Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the quality of tap water information on private drinking water testing, see NebGuide from a public water supply. Allowable levels for a number G907, Drink-ing Water: Testing for Quality. of potential contaminants have been established by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and water must be tested on a scheduled Vended Water basis. Currently, public water supplies are tested for nearly 100 contaminants, and tap water cannot contain more than Vended Water Defined: the allowable level for any regulated contaminant. If a public Vended water typically comes from a public water supply. water supplier is in full compliance with regulations, the water Water is distributed through vending machines — systems should be suitable for drinking and cooking, although not where customers fill containers. Vending machines may be all potential contaminants are regulated and there is always located in grocery stores, convenience stores, or other loca- some risk of contaminants going undetected between testing tions in a community. intervals. If the water from a public water system violates a Safe Vended Water Regulation and Quality: Drinking Water Act standard, the local water supplier is required to notify users about the violation and provide in- Vended water is not considered bottled water and is not formation on alternative sources of drinking water. In some regulated as such. instances, if a local water supply has been contaminated, The water source for vending machines is typically the the local water supplier may distribute bottled water to its local public water supply, which must be in compliance with customers until the problem has been remedied. Any time EPA drinking water standards. Additional treatment may a situation occurs where there is the potential for human occur to reduce dissolved substances and disinfect the water health to be immediately impacted, water suppliers have supply. Water vending machines are regulated by local authori- Summary ties. In Nebraska, the Department of Health and Human Ser- vices permits vending machines, and periodic tests are done Allowable maximum levels for potentially harmful con- for coliform bacteria and nitrate. While you can expect the taminants are enforced for public water supplies, imported water supply to a vending machine to be potable, inadequate bottled water, and domestic bottled water sold through interstate cleaning or unsanitary handling of the vending machine or commerce. Individual states may or may not enforce allowable the container used to collect and store the water could result maximum levels for bottled water that is sold only in the state in bacterial contamination. Good sanitation measures are in which it is bottled. Private water supplies in Nebraska are important to keep vended water safe. not subject to federal or state regulation. Bottled water sold in Nebraska and publicly supplied water Sensitive Populations in Nebraska will be suitable for drinking and cooking if in full compliance with respective FDA or EPA regulations. The Individuals with a compromised immune system, or quality of privately supplied water in Nebraska is not regulated those who react adversely to disinfectants or specific miner- except where county or city regulations may be in effect. als in water should consult their health-care provider on their drinking water source. Acknowledgment
The authors wish to acknowledge the contribution of former UNL extension water resources and irrigation special- ist DeLynn Hay, who collaborated with them on the previous version of this NebGuide.
This publication has been peer reviewed.
UNL Extension publications are available online at http://extension.unl.edu/publications.
Index: Water Management Drinking Water 2003, 2008, Revised January 2010
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