Table of Contents Bottled water basics ....................................... pg.2 Advice for people with severely compromised immune systems (Sidebar) ............................. pg2 Know what you’re buying .............................. pg.3 Taste considerations ........................................ pg.4 Bottled water terms (Sidebar) ..................... pg.4 Begin by reading the label ............................. pg.5 Type of water and source ............................... pg.5 Contaminants and methods of treatment .... pg.6 Common bottled water treatments (Sidebar) ........................................ pg.6 Certification ........................................................ pg.7 Contact information ......................................... pg.8 FDA bottled water standards (Sidebar) .......................................... pg.8 Advice for people with sonal use, end-of-tap, under sink) severely compromised Bottled water basics filters that remove particles one water provided by public water suppliers; FDA sets immune systems micrometer or less in diameter. standards for bottled water based on EPA standards. Bottled water is the fastest growing drink choice Filters that use reverse osmosis, Bottled water and tap water are both safe to drink if Some people may wish to take those labeled as “absolute one in the United States, and Americans spend bil- they meet these standards, although people with special precautions with the water micron filters,” or those labeled as lions of dollars each year to buy it (Beverage severely weakened immune systems or other specific they drink. In particular, people certified by an American National health conditions may wish to further treat their water with immune systems that are Marketing Corporation, 2004) Some people Standards Institute (ANSI) - at home or purchase high quality bottled water. weakened by AIDS, chemothera- drink bottled water as an alternative to other accredited organization to py or transplant medications are beverages; others drink it because they prefer its ANSI/NSF Standard 53 for “Cyst more vulnerable to microbial con- taste or think it is safer than their tap water. Removal” provide the greatest FDA regulates bottled water as a packaged food taminants in drinking water such assurance of removing under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act as Cryptosporidium. Whether it travels through a pipe to your home or Cryptosporidium. As with all filters, and has established standards of identity and comes packaged in a bottle, safe drinking water is follow the manufacturer’s instruc- quality for bottled water. FDA has also established Cryptosporidium is a microscopic essential to good health.All our drinking water tions for filter use and replace- good manufacturing practice requirements for parasite that lives in the intestine of comes from similar sources, either from sources we ment. processing and bottling drinking water. infected animals and humans. It can see, such as rivers and lakes, or from sources passes in the stool in its dormant we can’t see, such as underground aquifers. Use bottled water EPA encourages all Americans to learn more about oocyst form.The oocyst is protect- the quality of their drinking water, both tap water ed by an outer shell that allows it Check the label or call the bottler In the same way that tap water’s taste and quality and bottled water, before deciding whether to to survive outside the body for to find out how bottled water is drink tap water, bottled water, or both. If your long periods of time and makes it may vary from place to place, so too does bottled treated. The following bottled water comes from a public water system, the best very resistant to chlorine-based water’s taste and quality vary among and even water treatments protect against disinfectants. It occurs mainly in within brands.The taste and quality of both bot- Cryptosporidium: reverse osmosis, way to learn more about tap water is to read your surface water sources, such as tled water and tap water depend on the source distillation, ultraviolet light, or filtra- water supplier’s annual water quality report. If lakes, streams and rivers. In healthy and quality of the water, including its natural tion with an absolute one micron your water comes from a household well, EPA rec- adults,Cryptosporidium can cause ill- mineral content and how, or if, the water is treated. filter.Bottled waters derived from ommends testing the water regularly for bacteria, ness,but for people with weakened protected well and spring water nitrates, and other contaminants.The best way to immune systems, it can cause Drinking water (both bottled and tap) can rea- sources are less likely to be con- learn more about bottled water is to read its label, severe illness and even death. sonably be expected to contain at least small taminated by Cryptosporidium than or contact the producer directly. amounts of some contaminants.The presence of those containing untreated munic- Those who wish to take extra contaminants does not necessarily indicate that ipal drinking water from less pro- Know what you’re buying measures to avoid waterborne tected sources such as rivers and the water poses a health risk. For example, min- cryptosporidiosis can bring their lakes. erals such as magnesium and calcium give water Bottled water is much more expensive, per gallon, drinking water to a boil for a full than tap water. Because of this, consider whether minute. Boiling water is the a distinctive flavor, and are essential to the body. Those who choose to take these you are buying it as a healthy alternative to bottled most effective way of killing At high levels, however, these and other contami- precautions should remember Cryptosporidium.As an alterna- nants, such as pesticides or microbes from human that they can be exposed to beverages, for its taste, or for other reasons. tive to boiling water, people may wastes, can cause adverse effects or illness. waterborne pathogens through take the following measures: water used for brushing teeth, To make sure that all water is safe to drink, the making ice cubes, and washing Use a point-of-use filter U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and fruits and vegetables – not just the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set through water they drink. Consider using point-of-use (per- drinking water standards. EPA sets standards for tap 2 3 Bottled Water Terms Purified water - water that Taste considerations originates from any source Begin by reading the label The following terms are fre- but has been treated to meet quently used on bottled Many people prefer the U.S. To learn about the quality of bottled water, water labels to describe the Pharmacopeia bottled water begin by reading the label. In addition to the water’s characteristics, definition of because of its taste. volume of water, any pertinent nutritional claims, sources, and methods of purified water. treatment. The taste of all water Purified water is and any contact information for the bottler, the has to do with the way essentially free label may include the type of bottled water, its Artesian water, ground it is treated and the of all chemicals source, and the way in which it is treated. For water, spring water, well quality of its source, (it must not more specific information, you may need to water - water from an under- including its natural contain more contact the bottler directly. ground aquifer which may or mineral content. Most than 10 parts may not be treated. Well bottled water comes per million of Type of water and source: water and artesian water are from a ground water total dissolved tapped through a well. Spring source, where water solids), and may Bottlers use standard identifiers, prescribed by water is collected as it flows quality varies less from also be free of FDA regulations, to describe their water (Bottled to the surface or via a bore- day to day, or is treat- microbes if water terms, pgs 4 and 5), but the meanings hole. Ground water can be treated by dis- ed and immediately bottled. Bottled water from a ded- may be different than you expect.These terms refer to either. tillation or reverse osmosis. icated source or plant may have a more consistent both the geological sources of the water and the Purified water may alternately Distilled water - steam from taste than tap water, which mostly comes from sur- be labeled according to how treatment methods applied to the water.The boiling water is recondensed face sources and must travel through pipes to reach it is treated. terms don’t necessarily describe the geographic and bottled. Distilling water homes. location of the source or determine its quality. kills microbes and removes Sterile water - water that water’s natural minerals, giv- One of the key taste differences between tap water originates from any source, For instance,“spring water” can be collected at the ing it a flat taste. and bottled water is due to how the water is disinfec- but has been treated to meet point where water flows naturally to the earth’s surface ted.Tap water may be disinfected with chlorine, chlo- the U.S. Pharmacopeia stan- or from a borehole that taps into the underground Drinking water – water ramine, ozone, or ultraviolet light to kill disease-causing dards for sterilization. source. Other terms used on the label about the intended for human consump- germs.Water systems use these disinfectants chlorine Sterilized water is free from source, such as “glacier water” or “mountain water,” tion and sealed in bottles or and chloramine because they are effective and inex- all microbes. are not regulated standards of identity and may not other containers with no pensive, and they continue to disinfect as water travels indicate that the water is necessarily from a pristine ingredients except that it may Note: Carbonated water, through pipes to homes and businesses. Bottled water area. Likewise, the term,“purified,” refers to processes optionally contain safe and soda water, seltzer water, that is disinfected is typically disinfected using ozone or that remove chemicals and pathogens.“Purified suitable disinfectants.