| Bottled water, a multi-billion dollar
| |
| | advertising. The question is - is it
|
| industry, is growing rapidly. Today more
| |
| | really from a sparkling mountain stream,
|
| people, approximately 68 percent of
| |
| | a local tap water supplier, or from a
|
| consumers, are drinking bottled water.
| |
| | well? Read the fine print on the label.
|
| Because of this, bottled water sales are
| |
| | If it states "from a municipal source" or
|
| increasing to the tune of nearly 10
| |
| | "from a community water system" the
|
| percent per year. Americans consumed
| |
| | source is derived from tap water. Just
|
| 8.25 billion gallons in 2006. On
| |
| | because the label has a picture of a
|
| average, consumption increased by over 2
| |
| | mountain stream does not mean that was
|
| gallons per capita to 27.6 gallons.
| |
| | the source.
|
| Many consumers use bottled water thinking
| |
| | For example, the NRDC located a bottled
|
| it is safer than tap water, which is not
| |
| | water company which produces bottled
|
| necessarily true. The truth is many
| |
| | water from a well located in the middle
|
| bottled waters, approximately 25 percent,
| |
| | of an industrial warehouse facility and
|
| are nothing but tap water that has been
| |
| | next to a state-designated industrial
|
| processed and packaged.
| |
| | waste site in Millis, Massachusetts. The
|
| Many bottled waters are high in quality,
| |
| | bottled water produced from this
|
| and yet, bottled water may not be the
| |
| | facility was found to be contaminated
|
| safer alternative. Fact is, bottled
| |
| | with industrial solvents including
|
| water is regulated by the Food and Drug
| |
| | trichloroethylene at levels above EPA and
|
| Administration. The FDA regulations are
| |
| | FDA standards. At least one of the
|
| similar to the Environmental Protection
| |
| | brands produced there displayed labels
|
| Agency regulations on tap water.
| |
| | with a picture of a beautiful lake and
|
| Currently, the EPA only requires testing
| |
| | mountain scene.
|
| for 114 contaminants of the 260
| |
| | One thing for sure is, no matter what the
|
| contaminants detected in tap water. The
| |
| | source, if water is not properly treated
|
| regulations on bottled water are lacking
| |
| | for bacteria and filtered for
|
| in many respects. For instance, bottled
| |
| | contaminants it is not safe to drink.
|
| water which is processed and sold in the
| |
| | Bottled water is expensive, averaging
|
| same state may not be regulated at all.
| |
| | approximately $2.85 per gallon. The
|
| The Natural Resources Defense Council
| |
| | smaller the bottle, the more expensive it
|
| recently completed a study on 1000
| |
| | is by volume.
|
| bottled waters and found that 17 percent
| |
| | More money is spent on packaging,
|
| exceeded unenforceable sanitary
| |
| | labeling, and marketing of bottled water
|
| guidelines for microbiological purity.
| |
| | than the production itself.
|
| They also concluded that most bottled
| |
| | Point of use water filters are a more
|
| water is no cleaner or safer than tap
| |
| | economical, cost effective, and
|
| water. Some bottled waters were found to
| |
| | convenient choice. High quality water
|
| contain chemical or biological
| |
| | filters can reduce many contaminants of
|
| contaminants. 40 percent of the water
| |
| | health concern to a high degree, are more
|
| tested was found to be of good quality.
| |
| | convenient, and produce better drinking
|
| The source of bottled water comes into
| |
| | water than most bottled water.
|
| question also. Do not be misled by the
| |
| |
|
