The Real Truth About Bottled Water, Purified Water and Tap Water

There has been substantial information and misinformation about bottled water and its value and beneficial effects. Many people and organizations have joined the argument and the pros and cons have been widely discussed. As a result there has been a significant amount of disinformation distributed and discussed.

In any event, bottled water is a multi billion dollar business and is hugely popular. And, the demand for bottled alternatives keeps increasing as the population at large adopts a healthier life style.

It is best to begin with a technical definition of "Purity". Purity is often represented numerically by "Total Dissolved Solids", or "TDS", which measures the concentration of soluble impurities . TDS is measured in terms of parts per million (ppm) or milligrams per liter (mg/l). The EPA stipulates that tap water should have no more than 500 ppm of impurities (of all kinds) . Why is this level not 0 ppm?

Types of Water

There are two types consumed in the United States today: Municipal (also know as tap water) and bottled (including spring , filtered and purified water. The conclusion of this article is this: ALL TAP AND MOST BOTTLED WATER IS UNHEALTHY. Purified water is the only one that is truly safe to drink.

Here is the proof:

Tap Water - Tap is water provided by municipalities to a large portion of the population and most people are familiar with those types.

In the Northern Virginia - Washington Region, almost all tap water comes from surface sources like the Potomac and the Occoquan Reservoir, which is fed by the Occoquan River, both of which are polluted. The source supply is processed using basic filtration techniques like sand filtration (filters out large chucks of waste and other organic materials ), flocculation (chemicals added to get smaller particles to coagulate and float so they can be removed) and finally, chlorine is added to kill bacteria and micro-organisms.

In most cases, tap is considered potable (drinkable) according to EPA standards. The use of chlorine is widespread and most people object to the smell and taste of the water when chlorine is present.

Just Exactly What Are EPA Standards?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the regulatory body responsible for setting standards of quality of tap water. The EPA does not ensure purity , only that the water meets standards (meaning pollutants and harmful substances are allowed). Most municipalities issue yearly glowing reports about meeting EPA Standards but these standards are arbitrary, not supported by scientific testing and actually are an easy way for municipalities to produce unhealthy drinking water.

An example of the fallacy of EPA Standards is reflected in recent legislation proposed by Senator Hillary Clinton (D. NY) and others that would force the EPA to revise standards to protect New Yorkers against TCE, a carcinogenic chemical blamed for pollution of Long Island water. Senator Clinton concluded that regarding the EPA: "It is unacceptable that the EPA has failed to protect the public from TCE in the face of stronger scientific evidence that it causes cancer, and growing exposure problems in New York and across the country...As a result of EPA delays, communities across New York continue to be exposed to potentially toxic levels of TCE." The conclusion that one can draw from this legislation is that EPA protection of our drinking water is doubtful at best.

Standards allow certain "minimums" of harmful chemicals and contaminants in tap water. What is the difference between a little poison absorbed in your body continuously or a lot of poison absorbed in a short time? It can be argued that both are detrimental to your health.

Many other questions arise about tap as well. How much poison can the human body take and how did the EPA determine how much contamination is allowable and safe? What test protocols did the EPA use and how was testing conducted? What about people with challenged immune systems?

These questions and many more remain unanswered.

Is Municipal (Tap) Really Safe?

Glowing municipal reports notwithstanding, tap water can be harmful to your health for a number of reasons:

· Chlorine is not particularly good for your body - it has been linked to a variety of cancers - but it does kill some microorganisms that can make you violently ill.

· A recent study by the Associated Press revealed that pharmaceuticals are present in a large number of municipal supplies across the nation. Some municipalities do not test for pharmaceuticals or do not release the results of tests.

· There is a problem with heavy metals in municipal systems. Highly toxic metals like lead (particularly harmful to young children) and copper are found in many municipal systems because of the pipes used in homes and these heavy metals enter the water after it leaves the filtration plant. Washington. D.C. for example has been cited for excessive amounts of lead in the municipal supply.

· A recent outbreak of Salmonella poisoning in Colorado was traced to contamination of the municipal supply.

· Micro-organisms like cryptosporidium has been found in and tested for in many municipal supplies and an outbreak of the disease caused by cryptosporidium in Wisconsin was traced to contaminated municipal supplies.

· Many municipalities include fluoridation and the long term effects of fluoride is a controversial subject. Fluoride is a chemical that hardens teeth and prevents tooth decay but the best application of fluoride is in the dentist's office - not in the public drinking water supply.

The TDS of Washington , DC tap water ranges from 200 ppm to 400+ ppm and the range depends on many factors including the temperature of the river, the flow of the river, runoff, time of year (fertilizing lawns, etc.) and many others. So, the tap supply is constantly changing in quality - a fact that most people never know and municipal suppliers never reveal.

In terms of health, tap water adds little value besides low cost.

Bottled Water

Most bottled water is no safer than tap water and a good deal more expensive. Types of Bottled products are Spring , filtered and purified water with purified being the highest quality.

Spring Water

Spring water is the subject of marketing spin and many popular misconceptions. Many of those misconceptions are promoted through less than accurate advertising pitches.

Many people for example believe that spring water is actually "pure". On the contrary, spring waters contain many of the same impurities found in drilled wells or even tap water.

A fact about spring water is that it is highly affected by ground water pollution from animals and industrial waste runoff.

But is spring water "100% pure" as many spring water companies advertise? The fact is that the "100% pure" refers not to the absence of impurities in the water, but to the source of the water itself. That is, 100% of the water in the bottle came from an underground source (i.e. a spring), rather than from surface water. These cleverly worded phrases may be legally permissible, but many people find them to be misleading and unethical.

And contamination of springs that furnish the water is more common than not. Ground water contamination from animal waste can affect spring water and industrial pollutants like benzene, perchlorinate and MTBE are commonly found in Spring Water. Benzene is a carcinogen by product of oil refining, perchlorinate is used in rocket fuel and is highly toxic even in small amounts and MTBE is used in gasoline to improve performance and leaches into the water supply form abandoned underground fuel tanks.

In 2004 The E.I. DuPont Co, was assessed over $300 million in fines and penalties for the release of Teflon related chemicals in the Ohio River thus causing pollution of nearby springs and wells. The penalty included a requirement for the supply of large amounts of bottled drinking water.

Spring water advertising is all about images - images of the mountains, streams and wildlife. Reality is quite different.

Spring water is usually not bottled at the source but is usually chlorinated and trucked to the bottling plant. At this point it is basically the same as chlorinated tap water and contaminants remain because the filtration process only filters and doesn't purify.

Filtered Water

This is a product that is mass marketed at retail outlets. Typically, the source of the water is municipal tap water. That water is then run through carbon filters to remove the chlorine odor and taste before being bottled.

It's basically tap water without the chlorine. In terms of quality, it's really not much different than many spring waters. It comes from a "natural" source, goes through minimal filtration, and is then bottled and shipped to market.

Purified Water

Purified water represents the fastest growing segment of the bottled water industry mainly because it's purer than other types of waters. There is a definite health trend today toward healthy living and many health conscious consumers buy because they want something that's of a higher quality and purity than other options like tap water.

To meet the legal definition of "purified water", impurities must be removed to meet the U.S. Pharmacopeia definition (99.9% pure) adopted by the Food and Drug Administration.

The water must be tested and the results made available to the public. Any reputable purified bottled supplier will produce testing reports upon request. The most effective process for purification is a steam distillation/oxygenation process that creates pure, good tasting water.

Purified water is often confused with filtered water. While both types are subject to some sort of filtration (as is almost every spring water), purified water is purified through additional purification processes, typically, distillation. The resultant product, "purified" water, is of significantly higher purity than either spring , tap or filtered water.

Consider the Product not the Source

Purified water may originate from either a spring or surface or groundwater source or directly from the tap. The source of the water doesn't matter-it is the purification process that counts. Since, the purification process is designed to remove virtually all types of impurities; the quality of the source water has little or no impact on the quality of the final purified product.

The steam distillation process of purification will consistently produce extremely high purity water, regardless of fluctuations in the source water's quality. This is not true of spring , tap or filtered water. For this reason, purified water is viewed as the standard against which the purity of other waters is judged.

If you're buying water for higher quality and higher purity reasons, then purified water is your best choice. Tap and most bottled water are the products of hype and spinning of the facts. Investigate before you drink.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, purified drinking water and bottled water delivery [http://www.elementh2o.com/local] go to http://www.elementh2o.com

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The Many Advantages Of Purified Bottled Water

With concerns about contaminants in the public water supply running high, many people are turning to bottled water to alleviate fears. Purified bottled water is one choice that some people are discovering offers some distinct advantages. This type of bottled water is a little different than others.

Why Public Water Is A Concern

The public water supply has long been a source of worry for governmental agencies and consumers alike. Water systems can sometimes fail and when they do the consequences can be dire. Beyond impurities, public water systems are also subject to backflow contamination and other points of breach.

While the public water supply is subject to tight regulations, problems still exist. Examples of system failures abound. Perhaps the most notable study in recent years involves the Associated Press five-month investigation into the public drinking water supply and potential medicinal contamination. The study's results are rather eye opening.

According to the AP, some 41 million Americans are impacted by drinking water that shows some form of pharmaceutical contamination. In some water systems, more than 50 different medications were found in trace amounts in the supply.

While public health officials say the levels of medicine found in the AP's study are well below concern levels, not all experts are convinced. Scientists and physicians are unclear of what the long-term effects of drinking pharmaceutical laden water will prove to be.

Beyond the AP's study, the potential for contamination in the public drinking water supply has long been known. To protect against it, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires suppliers to test for more than 90 different substances. These substances range from highly dangerous e. coli and heavy metals to nitrates and beyond. While the EPA demands strict testing procedures, the fact is some water systems fail and the problems are not detected until the water has been released for general consumption.

Bottled Water Offers An Advantage

Bottled water in and of itself is often seen as a superior choice for drinking over tap water. Bottled water suppliers are subject to many regulations that meet or exceed those set by the EPA although they are enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration instead.

The distinct advantages of bottled water versus tap are found in the extra layer of processing that many bottled water products are subjected to. Thanks to FDA guidelines, bottled water suppliers that do not treat their source water are required to state so clearly on their labels.

While it's true that many bottled water companies do get their water from the tap, they take the cleansing and treating processes farther. This means that consumers are generally receiving products that are cleaner and safer than the public supply can afford. Plus, backflow issues do not come into play. Backflow occurs when water pumped out of the public water supply is suddenly sucked back in. Cross-contamination with tanker trucks, swimming pools and other similar depositories can and does happen thanks to this phenomenon.

In addition to the more obvious advantages bottled water provides, there are other benefits that can come along with making this choice. Many bottled water providers, for example, are voluntary members of an organization call the International Bottled Water Association. Members of this group subject themselves to stricter standards than the federal government demands in regard to purity and safety. To retain membership, suppliers must agree to surprise annual inspection of their plants and they must agree to further testing than the law calls for.

In general, bottled water is the superior choice. The purified variety, however, can give consumers a greater peace of mind.

Why Purified Is Different

Purified bottled water undergoes a slightly different treatment process than most other types of bottled water and especially tap water. To earn the title "purified," water must be treated through reverse osmosis, distillation or another similar, advanced means of purification. Purified bottled water might start out from the tap or come directly from a spring or other natural source, but it is processed in such a manner that makes it distinctly different than other choices.

Purified oxygenated bottled water is further treated by the infusion of oxygen molecules after the distillation process removes contaminants. The end result of the purified oxygenated water creation process is a product that is cleaner, safer and quite often better tasting than other waters.

Many experts consider purification through a steam distillation/oxygenation process to be the most effective.

The Advantages Of Purified

Purified bottled water can deliver some advantages that other forms of bottled water and especially tap water cannot. They include:

A greater degree of contamination removal - The extra steps taken to create purified bottled water deliver peace of mind along with this type of product.

Better taste - Many find the chemical free, oxygen infused taste of purified oxygenated bottled water is simply better than tap and other bottled waters.

Less guesswork - The fact is public water can often be a crapshoot. Thanks to the complexity of the delivery systems and the potential of backflow contamination, tap water drinkers are almost never sure what they are getting. While contaminations are few and far between, they can and do happen.

Purified bottled water delivers advantages that other sources of drinking water cannot deliver. When a clean taste, purity and safety are desired, this type of water fits the bill.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O an Ultra Pure bottled water company located in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water [http://www.elementh2o.com/Store/] and bottled water delivery [http://www.elementh2o.com/local/] go to the Element H2O website.

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Purified Water vs Spring Water

As the overall safety of the public water supply is under scrutiny thanks to a recent Associated Press study that uncovered some disturbing contaminants, many consumers are likely finding themselves wondering if bottled water is better. For many, the facts about bottled water will make this the clear choice. The problem lies in deciding what kind of bottled water to select. Understanding the differences between purified water and spring water can guide consumers in the right direction.

While there are some distinct differences between purified and spring water, many find the overall benefits of bottled water in general make this option a smart one. The extra processing that most bottled waters are subjected to can help remove impurities that slip through the public water supply's treatment and testing programs.

Basic Bottled Water Facts Consumers Should Know

Bottled water undergoes a great deal more regulation and scrutiny than many consumers realize. While it is not regulated by the same agency that oversees the public water supply - the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - it does receive government oversight. In the case of bottled water, the agency that insures strict standards are adhered to is the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many states also add their own layers of protection in regard to regulation.

The FDA itself puts rather high standards on bottled water produced within and/or sold within the United States. This agency demands that suppliers of bottled water, purified, spring or otherwise do the following things:

Meet FDA standards - Bottled water companies must meet the FDA's requirements for safety, quality and inspection. These are required in exchange for being able to sell products on the US consumer market. These standards, by law, are as strict as or stricter than those set by the EPA for public water systems.

Properly label their products - The FDA demands, for example, that bottled water companies that use tap water without further processing clearly state so on their labels.

Beyond FDA regulations, many of America's bottled water suppliers are members of the International Bottled Water Association. This voluntary, industry association holds its members to stricter standards than the federal government and even state governments. The IBWA demands that its members:

Adhere to safety and quality standards - The IBWA goes above and beyond FDA and EPA standards in this regard.
Subject themselves to annual, unannounced inspections - These are performed to make sure that IBWA members are meeting the strict regulations the association places on its membership.

Bottled water sometimes comes from the same sources as public water. In fact, many suppliers of bottled water start out with the tap and then further process to create their own distinct brand. Some, however, do not.

Understanding Spring Water

While spring water and purified water can come from exactly the same underground sources, the treatment processes that are involved in the two varieties can vary rather greatly. In general, spring water must come from protected, pure underground sources to carry this moniker.

According to the IBWA, spring water that is bottled must come from an underground source that has natural water flow to the earth's surface. The water itself must be gathered from the spring or from a borehole that taps into an underground formation. To earn the title of spring water, the collected water itself must carry all the same properties prior to treatment that the spring contains.

Spring water is subjected to the same FDA and IBWA standards that other forms of bottled water must adhere to. This means that it must be tested for quality and that some form of treatment is generally called for to insure safety and purity.

The Purified Water Difference

Depending on the supplier in question, purified bottled water might actually come from the exact same source as spring water. This, however, is where the two varieties differ.

To earn the name "purified," water must undergo one or more specialized treatment processes, according to the IBWA. The options include distillation, reverse osmosis, deionization and so on. Purified water, in essence, is highly treated drinking water that does not contain the chemical compounds found in the public water supply. Chlorine aftertastes, for example, will not be found within purified water.

Distilled Oxygenated Water Is Purified At Its Best

Distilled oxygenated water is one form of purified water that is gaining a lot of attention. To create this particular product, the source water is distilled for purification purposes. This step in the process removes impurities and insures that FDA and IBWA standards are met or exceeded. The oxygenation process itself requires the infusion of oxygen molecules into the end product. The final result is a water product that is clean, crisp tasting and adherent to FDA and IBWA standards. Many find purified bottled water is the superior choice when safety and flavor both matter.

Making the decision to purchase spring water versus purified water often comes down to personal choice. Many people prefer the taste and the added security that purified bottled water can deliver. The reality is many forms of distilled and spring water come from the exact same source. In the case of purified water, however, the extra treatment measures can deliver peace of mind and an excellent flavor both.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O an Ultra Pure bottled water company located in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water [http://www.elementh2o.com/Store] and bottled water delivery [http://www.elementh2o.com/local] go to the Element H2O website.

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What is Purified Water?

The human body requires water or it will die and it will live longer with purified water.

The majority of the human body is comprised of water and human beings can live only a very short time without water.

Water is a chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life. It covers 71% of Earth's surface. It is found in the oceans (saltwater) and polar ice caps, but it is also present as clouds, rain water, rivers, freshwater aquifers, lakes, airborne vapor and sea ice.

Water in these bodies perpetually moves through a cycle of evaporation, precipitation, and runoff to the sea. Clean water is essential to human life. In many parts of the world, it is in short supply. (Source: Wikipedia)

Of all the water in the world, only about 3% is drinkable by human beings. Of this small percentage, the majority is either wholly or partially polluted by natural or man made contaminants. The body requires H2O to survive but not the contaminants found in most drinking water.

What Are Your Choices For Drinking Water?

Most people in the United States face limited choices of drinking water. They can either drink tap water provided by the municipalities they live in or well water on their own land. Neither of these choices provides pure drinking water.

What Are the Different Types of Drinking Water?

Generally speaking there are three choices for drinking water available to the consumer:

o Tap Water (provided by local municipal water suppliers)

o Well Water (found in more rural areas of the country)

o Bottled Water (sold commercially throughout the country)

Tap Water:

Tap water comes from local rivers and streams and very often plants that recycle raw sewerage and other waste water. Because many rivers, streams and other groundwater sources are polluted by natural runoff and man made contaminants, and all waste water and raw sewerage contain high levels of bacteria, increasing levels of chlorine are required to kill bacterial and other harmful organisms.

Tap water is regulated by The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) an agency of the Federal Government but EPA regulations in no way require the elimination of contaminants. The EPA only sets minimum levels of contaminants (including chlorine) and the long term effects of these poisons on the human body are largely unknown. In addition chlorine adds unpleasant odors and taste to tap water.

It has now been proved that, in addition to known contaminants, tap water contains harmful pharmaceuticals.

Well Water:

Well water is subject to the same types of natural and man made pollution as tap water but it is unregulated. The Commonwealth of Virginia, for example, strongly recommends chlorination and dechlorination of owner's individual wells but mandatory compliance is not required. Well water is particularly subject to ground bacteria pollution through the wellhead itself. The use of chlorine adds unpleasant odors and taste to the well supplied drinking water.

Bottled Water:

Repackaged bottled water:

There are many types of bottled drinking water on the market today with the result that some are good, some are bad and some are useless when it comes to providing pure drinking water.

Some unethical suppliers merely take tap water and bottle the water in small packages. These bottlers are able to charge a premium for tap water but the levels of contaminants are the same as in tap water.

Spring water:

The source of some bottled water is spring water and this term implies a fresh mountain spring of wholesome drinking water. Springs however, are subject to the same types and levels of natural and man made contaminants as tap and well water and the consumer does not get the benefit of pure water. Many spring water bottlers mislead the public by exaggerated statements about the purity of spring water.

Purified water:

Purified water is the only water that that one should drink for their health and the health of their family. There are two processes used in order to purify water: distillation and reverse osmosis.

Distillation is a process whereby water is turned to steam and condensed leaving behind all contaminants and bacteria. Many countries without natural source water and the Department of Defense use distillation to provide pure drinking water.

Reverse osmosis is a process where by water is filtered through a very small filter and contaminants are removed but bacteria and trace elements are left in the water.

Distillation removes the water from the contaminants while reverse osmosis merely filters the water without removing all bacteria and other material.

Many experts believe that distillation is the best way to create pure water.

Conclusion:

If you are an individual interested in maintaining a healthy lifestyle or a parent that is concerned about the health of your family, you should consider adding purified water to your diet.

No other water source provides the purity your body needs.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O an Ultra Pure bottled water company located in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water [http://www.elementh2o.com/Store] and bottled water delivery [http://www.elementh2o.com/local] go to the Element H2O website.

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