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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The Importance Of Fluoridated Bottled Drinking Water

Because it is extremely important to stay well hydrated all year long, carrying bottled drinking water with you or having bottled water delivered to your home or office can be of great benefit to you, your family, and your colleagues. You may have noticed that your favorite bottled drinking water also has added fluoride, or that your local community water utility offers fluoridated water. Your dentist may have spoken to you about the benefits of fluoride for preventing cavities as well. Drinking fluoridated water maybe a good way to increase your fluoride intake while you go about your daily routine.

Making Sure You Get Just Enough Fluoride

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), "community water fluoridation is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay (1)." However, not everyone drinks tap water on a regular basis, and not every local community currently provides fluoridated water for its residents. Plus, many people have found that they prefer bottled drinking water to stay properly hydrated because they prefer its taste and purity. Therefore, it maybe important for someone choosing bottled drinking water to be aware of brands that state that they have added fluoride.

There are many fluoridated water products that are available on the market and that can be either bought in a store or delivered to your home or office. According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), "there are over 20 companies that produce fluoridated brands of bottled water currently available to consumers today (2)." The IBWA adds that many of these brands of bottled drinking water with added fluoride are easily and readily available at major chain and department stores across the United States (3).

Consumers should always consult with their dentist before changing their fluoride intake in any way, whether by adding bottled drinking water with added fluoride to their diet or by adding fluoride supplements to their dental care routine. And it is important to remember that a good, balanced dental care routine goes beyond fluoride intake and also includes brushing and flossing every day, eating a wide range of healthy foods, and visiting a dentist regularly.

Staying Hydrated at Home and On the Go

Whether you choose to drink fluoridated water from the tap or bottled drinking water with added fluoride, proper hydration is also important in order to stay healthy. There are many ways that you can increase your water intake without interrupting your daily routine.

Carry bottled drinking water in single serve sizes with you wherever you go. If your dentist approves of the practice, add a bottle of fluoridated drinking water on occasion.

When you are at work, make sure that you always have water at your desk. You can either keep a bottle of water with you at all times, or you can make sure that your personal cup or mug is always full of water from the water cooler. Every time you walk by the water cooler, fill up your cup so that you are sure to stay hydrated.

Sign up for water delivery service for your home (which can include fluoridated water). Keep the area near your water cooler stocked with cups and glasses to make it easy to get a drink at any time of day or night.

Instead of having a soda with a meal, you can choose to drink plain water to stay properly hydrated.

Remember that other liquids, including soups and juices, also count toward your daily water intake. Keep track of these as well.

If you do not like the taste of plain bottled drinking water, try adding lime, lemon, or cucumber to your water for a natural burst of flavor. In addition, many companies offer powders or liquids to add other flavors to your water to make it more enjoyable.

Be vigilant about watching for the signs of dehydration, which can be as minor as a feeling of thirst and as significant as muscle spasms, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. As soon as you feel thirsty, make sure you have a drink of water to ensure that you are staying properly hydrated. Also make sure that children and elderly people around you are drinking enough water, as they are more likely to become dehydrated.

Conclusion

Keeping bottled drinking water with you at all times maybe a great way to make sure that you stay properly hydrated and healthy throughout the year. Adding fluoridated water to your diet may keep your teeth healthy as well, but remember to check with your dentist or dental care professional first. If you have approval, you can add bottles of fluoridated water to your water delivery service or choose single-serve bottles of fluoridated water when you are on the go. But always make sure that you are drinking adequate water to fight dehydration every day.

Sources



http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/

[http://www.bottledwater.org/public/fluoride_QA.htm]

Ibid

Joseph Silva is the Director of Marketing for DS Waters DS Waters is a bottled water manufacturer and distributor of Alhambra(R), Belmont Springs(R), Crystal Springs(R), Hinckley Springs(R), Kentwood Springs(R), Nursery(R) Water, Sierra Springs(R) and Sparkletts(R), and Roast2Coast(R), a coffee delivery service. For more information on home or office water delivery, visit www.water.com

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The Bottled Water Debate - Behind The Scenes!

As the bottled water industry across the world grows to an unbelievable size, producing huge profits for the leaders in the market, whispers echo behind the scenes about the reality of bottled water and the suppression of information in this multi billion dollar world market. What is the truth behind bottled water.

According to the North American company Nestle Waters, bottled water is the fastest growing segment of America's beverage business and is the fifth best-selling beverage in the United States. According to the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, we spend about $385 million a year on bottled water, here in Australia.

It is a strange phenomenon that is seeing millions of consumers worldwide as being willing to spend 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for tap water. The rush of consumers for bottled water is understandable as it is easy to see the benefits of water are well-documented.

We use water to aid our systems with performing the digestive process, as well as to regulate body temperature. It is also used to promote healthy and clean skin and has been found to be a natural lubricant for joints. Within our body water also plays a vital role in that it helps move nutrients around the body and also carries waste through our complicated works.

The purported benefits of bottled water are equally well-marketed. A few of the better documented benefits of bottled water are that 1) Bottle water seems to have a better, cleaner, and sometimes crisper taste than that of tap water. 2) Bottled water is very handy as it is a commonly sold product that has already been purified and usually chilled too. 3) Bottled water is a great alternative when traveling in foreign countries or any area where the water is not the same or even a similar quality as that which we are used to.

Is bottled water the great beneficial product it seems to be or is there a more sinister side to this industry? Are we being told everything, or do we need to look more closely at the industry and the products being produced? Read on as we take a look!

To begin with we should take a look at what is being said about the product, by the product and so it is important to study labels a little closer. Water bottled in Europe and labeled as "mineral water" must come from natural springs to earn its "seal of approval."

"Artesian water" is drawn from a well that taps into a confined underground aquifer where the water level stands about the natural water table, elevating the water's purity. "Well water" is water that must be pumped to the surface through a hole drilled for that purpose. Water that earns the label "spring water" may come from a natural spring OR from a hole that is simply adjacent to a natural spring.

Some bottled water flies "under the radar" of regulatory requirements. Water that is labeled "carbonated water," "disinfected water," "filtered water," "seltzer water," "sparkling water," "soda water," or just plain "water" may be exempt from specific water-testing and contamination standards. This however is not commonly publicized knowledge that should be openly shared with the public before they choose the brand of water they will buy.

After some searching through various records and reports, the following information was found about the results of a study performed by the NRDC ( Natural Resource Defense Council ). The study reports that some bottled water was found to be less than standard quality, finding such things as industrial solvents, inorganic contaminants like arsenic as well as bacterial contaminants.

The report goes on to say that the current regulations that govern the water standards of bottled water in the market had "gaping holes". In fact, the NRDC presents evidence to substantiate the claim that "misleading marketing of some bottled water."

This NRDC report also states "At the national level, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for bottled water safety, but the FDA's rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state, which account for between 60 and 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States (roughly one out of five states don't regulate these waters either)."

To conclude the report, the NRDC closes by saying that even though bottled water is covered by the FDA rules, that the quality and purity testing is still far less stringent than those that tap water must pass!

Overall the testing performed by the NRDC produced the following amazing results:

"After testing more than 1,000 bottles of water, NRDC found that 33% were contaminated." This is illustrated in the full report of the NRDC.

Not only have there been findings that the product inside the bottles, supposed to be water from a spring or other such natural source, are not in fact that, there is also the chance that the purified water that the consumer bought, in faith of it being a bona fide product, is nothing more than tap water in a bottle with a fancy label on it. So we see that the contents of these bottles are at least questionable, now lets take a look at the bottles themselves.

Lets assume that your water is indeed a pure water from a spring found somewhere nearby you that has been tested and found to be pure, is it still possible that the water you drink when you buy your bottle is no longer pure? Water held in a plastic bottle at the manufacturer, then at the warehouse, then at the distributor, then at the retailer, and also all the time in transit between these places before you get it, leaves ample time to leech out components from the plastic containers. This is a real concern.

Another risk is when bottling plants reuse bottles as the bottles can become home to a wide variety of bacteria that can cause symptoms including stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.

To avoid the chances of this, it is safer to seek water sold in glass bottles.

Remember that how you store your water is almost as important as the water itself. Use glass containers or, the least reactive, #7 plastic bottles. You can find these bottles at most health food stores. They're also becoming "standard equipment" for workout enthusiasts, so look for them at gyms, sports stores, or online.

One last thing to keep in mind about the bottled water debate, concerns our environment. Bottled water is sold on the strength that is a healthy product that is safer for us than the alternative of tap water. A simple water filter would achieve this effect without the detrimental effects to our environment. What detrimental effects you ask? Consider the fuel that is burnt every year to transport this water from location to location and also to produce the bottles themselves. This leaves a massive carbon footprint on the planet that needs to be addressed.

In conclusion after presenting this information, take a think about exactly what is going on with bottled water and if you decide to continue using bottled water over tap water, then at least consider selecting a brand that you know is not trying to avoid purity testing by using labeling tricks, and also if possible buy locally made products to save our environment too.

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Is Bottled Water Better Than Tap Water?

As more studies come to light that bring the long-term safety of tap water into question, many people find themselves wondering if bottled water is the better choice for consumption, cooking, tooth brushing and more. When the facts about bottled water and tap water are presented, many people make the decision to go bottled. While tap water can and often is technically safe according to government standards, the trace substances found within can be of grave concern.

Concerns About Tap Water

The safety of tap water has long been a major concern for government agencies and the general public, as well. The potential pollutants that can find their way into the public water supply are quite extensive.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires public water suppliers to test for more than 90 different types of contaminants. Despite the rigorous testing procedures that are in place in most jurisdictions, many public water supplies fail - in some cases, multiple times.

The Hillsborough County Water Department, since renamed Water Resource Services, suffered from multiple system failures in the early 2000s. This seemingly well regulated water supplier, serving the Tampa Bay area, suffered from repeated coliform contaminations and even an e. coli scare. This system is not alone in its failure to meet federal regulations despite the use of chloramines and other chemicals that are designed to remove potential hazards from potable water.

While the EPA does require extensive testing and requires each public water supplier to provide full disclosure in the form of an annual report to water users, government regulations do not cover every eventuality. This was made quite evident thanks to a recent Associated Press study that revealed the presence of pharmaceuticals in the public water supply in jurisdictions all over the United States. The investigation turned up evidence that shows some 41 million Americans might be impacted by medications found within their water.

The five-month study focused on water systems throughout the United States and found contamination - including antibiotics, anticonvulsants and more - in some 24 different metro areas. While the medications were found in trace amounts, the long-term impacts of consuming the water are unclear, the AP reported.

The medications themselves are thought to enter into the public water supplies via natural human elimination. Toilet water, which would contain traces of medication, is flushed and sent to wastewater treatment facilities. From here, treated wastewater is released back into the environment. Eventually, that same water ends up back in rivers, reservoirs, lakes and aquifers, which are the sources of public drinking water.

While the public water supply is well regulated and the water does undergo a great deal of treatment, systems are subject to failure. The long-term impacts of such failures remain unclear.

The Bottled Water Difference

Bottled water offers a distinct difference over tap water in a number of cases. While it's true that some bottled waters do come from the public water supply, many factors can make it distinctly unique and even a great deal safer.

According to the International Bottled Water Association, there are a number of things that make bottled water the better choice. Even in regard to the trace medicines found in tap water, Dr. Stephen Edberg of Yale's School of Medicine says that bottled water undergoes processes that are quite effective in protecting against the substances the AP reported finding in tap water.

Some of the measures that can help make bottled water stand out above tap include:

Regulations - Just like tap water, bottled water is regulated by government agencies. While tap is overseen by the EPA, bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This organization requires that bottled water manufacturers adhere to the FDA's inspection, labeling, safety and quality requirements.


Extra treatment - Most bottled water products undergo further treatments beyond what the public water supply is subjected to. Treatment can include reverse osmosis, filtration, distillation and more, depending on the particular supplier and the type of water in question.


Labeling laws - Companies that do not choose to further treat their bottled water beyond what public water suppliers perform are required by the FDA to clearly say so in their labels.


IBWA standards - Companies that belong to the International Bottled Water Association must adhere to strict standards that go beyond what the federal government requires. Members are subjected to plant inspections once a year that help insure that standards are being met.

While bottled water can start out the same as tap, it often undergoes further treatment that is designed to make it the safer choice.

Purified Is Often The Best

If concerns about contaminants in the public water supply are high, purified bottled water is often one of the best choices to make for drinking and more. This type of bottled water is more heavily treated. The distillation process that is required to create distilled oxygenated water, for example, is designed to remove impurities and create a cleaner, safer source of drinking water.

Answering the question of which is better bottled or tap often comes down to personal choice in regard to taste. If cleaner, safer water is desired, however, the facts about bottled make the answer quite clear. Thanks to the extra treatments many bottled waters are subjected to, this option stands out against the competition.

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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The Compelling Costs of Bottled Water - Price Point Too High For Environment and Individuals

Americans are appalled at the rising cost of gasoline that topped $4 a gallon in May. Yet, we think nothing of paying $9 a gallon for bottled water. To make the comparison even more perplexing consider that gasoline, for most people, is essential to everyday living while bottled water is optional, usually unnecessary and generally troublesome for an already troubled environment.

Turn on the Tap

According to the Think Outside the Bottle campaign, Americans are the world's top consumers of bottled water while, ironically, the U.S. has one of the safest public water systems on the planet. So, why did the bottled water craze take the nation by storm? Some experts say it began as small status symbol, mimicking the bottled waters popular in France and Italy. But, as the sources of water changed and companies such as Coca Cola and Nestle entered the game, bottled water spilled over from simply posh to popular.

Too popular, according to nonprofit groups and environmental organizations. Americans spend a combined $11.7 billion annually on bottled water. The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) estimates that every person in the U.S. tosses 160 plastic bottles in the trash each year - or 8 out of every 10 bottles purchased. Given the preciousness of oil in the current economic climate, it's also important to note that CRI says it takes 15 million barrels of oil per year to make plastic bottles for America's bottled water addiction.

The Cost of Convenience

The convenience of bottled water has certainly added to its popularity. Think of Little League games, public events, road trips and that handy bottle at your desk. But now, as people become more aware of the environmental downsides of plastic containers and the questionable value of bottled water compared to tap water or filtered tap water, the tide may be turning.

A number of cities have ceased the once popular practice of providing bottled water for employees. In San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom observed World Water Day in 2007 by canceling all the city's bottled water contracts. Chicago and Salt Lake City followed suit. The popular Austin City Limits Music Festival stopped providing bottled water to its legion of volunteers and rewarded patrons who recycled bottles with a special T-shirt.

The world renown Chez Panisse in Berkeley calculated the carbon footprint of the bottles of sparkling water it imported from Italy and removed the bubbly from the menu. And, in Canada, a movement is sweeping the land. Students in colleges and high schools are protesting contracts with Coca-Cola and Pepsi for their bottled waters. The students are lapping up free, fresh water from school drinking fountains instead.

Questions of Quality

As bottled waters attract increased scrutiny, public water systems are measured against them for both cost and water quality. The cost factor is extremely compelling. A bottle of water costs a dollar and often more, depending upon the brand. Water from the tap costs about $0.00002 per ounce. If a city's tap water is unpalatable due to chlorine treatment or other sanitizing chemicals, even the addition of a water filter to a faucet gets gallons of water for pennies a day.

Water quality is also variable in both bottled waters and public water supplies. According to the EPA, bottled water is not necessarily safer than water that flows from the tap. In fact, some bottled water is no more than treated (or untreated) tap water. Consumers are advised to read the label on bottled waters to learn the source and the method of treatment. More in-depth questions have to be addressed to the manufacturer. In contrast, specific information about public water systems, water quality and treatment are publicly available on the EPA's website. The Environmental Working Group also has a tap water database where people can look up water quality and content by zip code.

Well Into the Future

But, the most compelling concern about water in plastic bottles is environmental. The Container Recycling institute says the amount of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles being recycled reached 1,170 million pounds in 2005 while the amount of PET bottles ending up in landfills reached 3,900 million pounds. That number includes some other beverages in PET containers but the institute says water bottles are the biggest problem. Many states offer no redemption incentives on water bottles and the plain, usually sugarless drink is just so popular.

Plastic water bottles in landfills do not rest in peace. They drift or are blown into other areas such as the Pacific Ocean where, according to CRI, they form a messy, toxic mass that is twice the size of Texas. It takes about 1,000 years for a plastic bottle to degrade into tiny pieces that, to fish and birds, often look like food. There is also increasing evidence that PET bottles and other plastic bottles may be a threat to human health.

Consumer Choice

So, what is a water-lover to do? First, the EPA and other experts advise giving your tap water a try. Some municipal systems, such as the one serving San Francisco, pour forth with crystal clear water from the High Sierra. Other communities, where there is heavy agricultural or industrial activity, may not be so fortunate. When contaminants and lead might be present, public systems use a variety of techniques to make drinking water safe. They are regulated by the EPA and frequent testing is federally mandated. That is to say the tap water is safe, but may not be taste tempting.

There are many effective filtering products on the market from faucet mounted filters to pitchers and filtered water dispensers. These devices remove contaminants and pollutants while improving the taste of water. They are quite affordable and provide families with assurance about the quality of water they use for drinking and cooking.

Once the source issue is solved, people will still want the convenience of portability. There is an increasing marketplace of containers for water, from personal water bottles made of reusable aluminum, stainless steel, ceramic and traditional glass. As awareness of the health dangers and environmental downside of plastic bottles spreads, a market-driven demand will result in even more choices for people who want fresh water at their side, wherever they may roam.

Visit us to learn how water filters can make your life better. For even better tasting water, try the new PUR flavor options.

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Why is Bottled Drinking Water So Popular?

Despite a dedicated campaign by many municipal water companies and associations to marginalize bottled water in the eyes of the American consumer, exactly the opposite has happened - bottled water is more popular than ever and continues to grow in popularity.

Perhaps this is because the American consumer is truly an educated consumer and for years they have been misled about the purity of municipal tap water that is laced with contaminants and harmful chemicals and tainted with chlorine and other additives that impart nauseating odors and taste.

One of the most popular features of bottled water is that it does not require heavy doses of chlorine and so its taste is definitely more appealing than tap water, And, if one reads the purity reports issued by municipal water suppliers and required by the Environmental Protection Agency, it becomes evident that municipal water suppliers do not have the technology to purify large scale consumption of water.

One should read the reports carefully and note the warnings about cryptosporidium, rocket fuel, people with compromised immune systems or chronic illnesses and gasoline additives that remain in municipal water even after treatment and chlorination.

Bottled drinking water also contains no caffeine, no calories and no sugar and thereby competes with carbonated soft drinks that themselves are unhealthy in a world seeking higher health standards.

Water in bottles may seem like a relatively new idea--one born during the heightened awareness of fitness and potential water pollution during the last two or three decades but it traces its roots to the 19th century in America. The water is also be used as an ingredient in beverages, such as diluted juices or flavored bottled waters.

Water that has been treated by distillation, reverse osmosis, or other suitable processes and that meets the definition of "purified water" is the best bottled water and studies show it.

Water cannot be called purified" unless it is 99.9% free of any and all contaminants - a test that all municipal water and most bottled waters fail to meet.

Bottled drinking water has a valid place in the marketplace, so unless one is willing to give up all bottled beverages it seems a little hypocritical to single out water. It is so ubiquitous that people can hardly ask for water anywhere without being handed a bottle.

Water in bottles is the fastest-growing segment of the beverage industry, and the product has now passed both coffee and milk to become the second-most-consumed beverage. Water in bottles that crosses state lines is considered a food product and is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which does mandate that it be bottled in sanitary conditions using food-grade equipment.

Tap Water

Once, most Americans got their water only from the tap. Pioneers trekking west across the United States during the 19th century also typically considered drinkable (potable) water a staple to be purchased in anticipation of the long trip across the arid West. But, as the population grew, industrial, natural and organic pollutants fouled the source of natural drinking water found in rivers, streams and aquifers. Development of purification techniques were unable to keep up with population and pollution growth and municipal water purity disappeared.

The municipalities attempted to cover up the problem through the addition of copious amounts of chlorine and the establishment of "standards" by the EPA that allowed dangerous chemicals capable of long term damage to the human body to remain. And, the EPA testing stopped at the water treatment plant and did not consider the presence of lead, copper and other poisonous elements contained in the water pipes of houses that used tap water.

Because lead can leach from pipes as water travels from water utilities to home faucets, the EPA set an action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) in tap water. This means that when lead levels are above 15 ppb in tap water that reaches home faucets, water utilities must treat the water to reduce the lead levels to below 15 ppb. Lead is particularly injurious to children at any level.

Many municipalities provide water that's discolored, chlorinated, and tastes like "pool" water. So if your tap water tastes poorly, it might be that your city's water system is severely under funded or is controlled by a corporation, not the same corporation that makes your bottled water, but it is obvious they have the interest in controlling where and how you get your water.

Tap water also has trace chemicals (especially insecticides) that are one of the causes of nerve diseases such as fibromyalgia, which has no known cure. There is significant contamination that water picks up in older plumbing from the source to the tap.

Beware of Bottled Tap Water

Some bottled water suppliers merely filter and bottle tap water - contaminants and all. Filtering tap water does not totally remove chlorine. Unless the label says it comes from a specific source, when the manufacturer says 'bottled at the source,' the source could be the tap. Yet sources of bottled drinking water are just as vulnerable to surface contamination as sources of tap water. One reason for the success of bottled water is that many claim not to like the taste of what comes out of the tap. But filtering out the taste of chlorine alone is not the answer.

Spring Water

Spring water is at best marketing hype and at worst misleading advertising.

Take for example the brand of water that is labeled "spring water" with the implication of purity that comes not from a fresh mountain spring but from deep wells in the undeniably less-picturesque Los Angeles suburbs, and one water supplier that sells water drawn from a municipal source in Corpus Christi, Texas-a far cry from the pristine glacial peaks suggested by its name and label. Even if the water does come from a spring, what's in that spring may be less safe than what comes out of your tap.

If the spring is near a cattle farm, it's going to be contaminated. One brand of "spring water," which had a graphic of mountains and a lake on the label, was actually taken from a well in Massachusetts in the parking lot of an industrial facility. That brand of Massachusetts "spring water" was so-named because the source occasionally bubbled up to the surface in the industrial parking lot.

In a civil case against one of the largest spring water companies, the plaintiffs charged that the supplier duped consumers by advertising that their brand of spring water came from "some of the most pristine and protected sources deep in the woods". The lawsuit alleged that ever since the original spring was shut down in 1967, the company had used man-made wells, at least one of which is in a parking lot along a busy road.

Consider These Facts

To be sure, many municipal water systems have run afoul of government water quality standards--driving up demand for bottled water as a result. Americans drank 26 billion liters of bottled water in 2004, or roughly one eight-ounce glass per person every day.

Tens of millions of consumers now shun tap water and rely on bottled water exclusively. Nearly one-fifth of North Americans use bottled drinking water exclusively for their daily hydration. Canadians consume more bottled drinking water than coffee, tea, apple juice or milk.

Become an educated consumer and read the EPA reports about municipal water carefully to determine the real purity of the water. Avoid the hype and spin so often found in reports issued by government agencies.

Use municipal water to wash your car and water the lawn, but if you want to remain healthy drink purified bottled water for the highest level of purity.

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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Bottled Water Delivery - 5 Tips for Going Green with Convenient Pure Water

Bottled Water Delivery is fast and convenient. Water delivery is also one approach to greener living that consumers are taking advantage of more and more. Bottled water delivery companies work hard to protect the environment, and urge those that enjoy their products to do the same. Throughout the United States many consumers and businesses are electing to purchase bottled drinking water instead of tap or well water, whether from the grocery store in single-serve containers or from a bottled delivery service.

The bottled drinking water that is provided by delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer. Taking advantage of a water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

Taking advantage of a bottled water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

Tip # 1 Delivery from a Nearby Supplier

For water delivery at the office, compare the prices of national and local delivery services. Because the cost of delivered bottled water is heavily influenced by the cost of transportation, a supplier located close to your home or office will give you the best service and delivered price.

Find out if a delivery of bottled water is available in your zip code area and request bottled water and dispensers. Discover the various bottled water sizes and quantities available for delivery to office. 5 Gallon is the most convenient and economical. The industry was founded by utilizing the reusable container system of the Home and Office (HOD) delivery segment.

The bottled water that is provided by bottled delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer.

Bottled water offers a healthy alternative to other beverages that container sugar and calories or tap water that contains contaminants, and home and office water delivery offers ease and convenience to consumers and businesses. Among the types of bottled water, spring water is subject to the same contaminants as tap water. The only difference is that the chlorine taste and odor is filtered out.

A small number of suppliers offer purified water which is required by law to be 99.9% pure. Purified water is better for your family's health and the environment and costs no more than spring water.

Recycling plastic bottles or using a bottled water delivery service that offers purified water, sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is a much better alternative for you, your family and the environment.

Tip # 2 Office and Home Delivery

Simplify water purchases with office delivery with the same water you receive at home. Better prices are usually available for home delivery if you are an employee of an office delivery customer.

Bottled water has become a fixture in today's business environment, as common an office amenity as free coffee and Internet access. Information on home and office delivery programs is available on the web from some water delivery suppliers. Taking advantage of a water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

Tip # 3 - Bigger is not Always Better

Bottled water delivery is basically a service business and the supplier must be sensitive to the needs of the customer for changes in the number of bottles, suspension of deliveries during vacation times and other matters that are important to the customer.

Unfortunately, the largest suppliers usually offer the worst customer service. Do some research and ask around about the level of after sale customer service. Whatever you do, do NOT sign a contract with penalties for early cancellation.

Contracts are usually required by the largest suppliers and these contracts encourage sloppy service without fear of cancellation.

Tip # 4 - Order Online For Convenience

E-commerce on the Internet is a fast, convenient and safe way to order. By shopping online you can usually find the best deal and avoid the requirement of signing an unfair contract. Some companies are fully automated in a way that lets you order any time of the day.

Many suppliers, however, do not offer this service. In addition to convenience, with modern credit card technology like SSL, your purchase is risk free. On certain purchases, no sales tax is charged and this is an additional benefit.

Tip # 5 - Make Sure You Get the latest in Bottles and Accessories

The bottled water business is constantly changing with new products and accessories that make use of the product more safe and convenient. For example, new cooler technology totally eliminates water spills and, along with spill proof caps, provides convenient and sanitary water supplies.

Bottles with safety handles are another innovation to ensure that changing bottles is easy and safe. For larger users accessories like bottle racks allow the stacking of bottles in a convenient and organized way.

Unfortunately, not all suppliers offer these types of accessories because larger companies have extensive inventories of bottles and caps in the field and will not change out this inventory until the useful life of the bottles is over.

Ask any potential supplier about the design of the bottles and accessories.

Going Green

Contrary to what the general public often believes, the bottled water industry was among the first to begin recycling plastic bottles. The bottled water that is provided by bottled delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer.

Recycling plastic bottles or using a water delivery service that sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is a much better alternative for you, your family and the environment. Recycling plastic bottles or using a bottled water delivery service that sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is an important step in creating a green environment.

Water delivery is one approach to greener living that consumers are taking advantage of more and more.

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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K-Mart Bottled Water - Really That Good?

K-Mart bottled water is said to be great, but is it? In early 2005, John Stossel of ABC News did a special report on bottled water. Stossel and his team talked to people about why they choose bottled water over tap water. Most said, of course, they chose bottled water because they consider it safer. Some chose bottled water because it tasted better.

K-Mart bottled water entered the report when Stossel and his team ran a taste test. K-Mart bottled water, the discount brand American Fare, was pitted against New York City tap water and 4 better known, brand-name bottled waters.

Many of the people who participated regularly rejected tap water for bottled water. They were sure they could tell the difference in taste.

What Happened

1. One of the five waters was termed particularly bad by many participants. It was not New York City tap water, though. It was bottled water. In fact, it was Evian, an expensive French bottled water.

2. One of the five waters tasted was judged better than the other four. It was not the better known brands, though. It was not New York City tap water either. It was K-Mart bottled water.

These five water samples, four of them bottled water, all tested as equally healthy. When it came to taste, K-Mart bottled water beat the other four.

American Fare

K-Mart bottled water is, as mentioned above, the discount brand labeled as American Fare. That tells us little, but since it is a private label, it is difficult to find information about American Fare bottled water.

In mid-March of 2007, K-Mart expanded its American Fare line of beverages. The bottled water did so well that it is adding products such as vitamin water, bottled green iced tea, energy drinks, fruit-flavored water, and juice pouches.

If you search long enough and far enough, you will learn that American Fare bottled water is produced for K-Mart by "Famous Ramona Water, Inc." in Ramona, California. Once you have learned this, you can inquire into the quality of American Fare bottled water.

What's in K-Mart Bottled Water?

Famous Ramona Water, Inc. is one of 20 member companies of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) that add fluoride to their bottled water. The practice of adding fluoride to water is good, right? It has been added to U.S. tap water for more than 60 years.

Fluoride Can Be Toxic

A growing number of reports indicate that fluoride in drinking water can be toxic, especially to children.

While proponents of fluoridation assert that there is no legitimate scientific controversy over either the benefits or safety of adding fluoridation to water, records show that there had been clear scientific controversy from the outset. There continues to be scientific controversy to this day.

Reading just a few of the many facts available on the Internet shows the honest reader that there are real dangers involved in adding fluoride to bottled water.

1. Dental fluorosis is pandemic in areas where fluoride has been added to tap water. This condition is defined as: "an abnormal condition (as mottling of the teeth) caused by fluorine or its compounds."

2. Dental fluorosis is recognized globally by scientists to be the first clinical sign of fluoride poisoning.

3. Other countries besides those in North America have documented staggering health problems as a result of adding fluoride to drinking water.

4. Approximately twenty nations show health problems that are clearly traceable to the ingestion of fluoride such as is being added to bottled water.

5. Nearly two years ago, as of the writing of this in April 2007, 11 EPA employee unions asked for a moratorium on fluoridated drinking water. These 11 employee unions asked the EPA to recognize the cancer risks associated with adding fluoride to tap water and bottled water.

Conclusion

The teeth are said to be a mirror of what is happening to the bones of the human body. I am not a scientist, but the pictures I have seen of dental fluorosis are frightening enough to make me choose water without fluoride. The scientific facts regarding fluoride that abound on the Internet are frightening enough to make me avoid bottled water that has been fluoridated.

K-Mart bottled water may be among the least expensive, but one must question whether it is even worth the low price asked when it floods the body with fluoride, a substance that is causing growing concern.

If you care about what is in your bottled water, you may want to research the effects of fluoride.

c2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about bottled water at http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com Anna continues to post additional valuable information on that site about making sure you have the best drinking water. If you are eager to learn about where they get bottled water, you won?t want to miss Anna?s articles.

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Solution to the Bottled Water Epidemic

The bottled water industry is expected to be a $16 billion-dollar industry this year. As Americans, we spend more on bottled water than we do on iPods.

The demand for bottled water is more valuable than gasoline; bottled water can be two to three times more than the price of gas. Why is this? Bottled water companies are wasting valuable resources to create each bottle of water, while consumers continue to pay for this commodity that they can get for just pennies out of a faucet. Some water bottle companies imply that only bottled water is safe - which is not true, especially when 24% of our bottled water industry is using municipal tap water.

A perfect solution to this dilemma is to use water filters and tap water to create your own great-tasting drinking water. Making your own drinking water at home is the perfect way to save money and time, while stopping the waste of valuable resources. Companies like San Pellegrino wash and rinse each 1-liter bottle with more than 2 liters of mineral water before the product is filled, shipped and purchased by the consumer.

Each week, Americans consume more than 1 billion bottles of water. Imagine the amount of ships, trains and trucks that are required to transport those bottles, along with the fossil fuel used to move it and make the bottle. Every gallon of water weighs approximately 8 1/3 pounds. The weight is so heavy that you cannot fill a whole truck full of bottled water. The United States alone pitches more than 38 billion water bottles a year into its landfills, which is equivalent to a little more than $1 billion in plastic.

Last year the average American used 167 bottles of water, a total of 50 billion plastic bottles in the United States. Cities like San Francisco and Santa Barbara, along with several others, are starting to realize the epidemic of wasteful resources and have already banned the purchase of bottled water from city functions.

When you buy a bottle of water, can you really tell the difference? Bruce Nevins, CEO of Perrier, was asked to do a taste test between seven types of tap water, spring water and luxury water on a live talk show. It took him five tries to distinguish which was which.

People generally think bottled water is healthier and safer to drink than tap water. This may be true in third world countries, but in the United States this is far from the truth. Tap water is actually quite safe. It is consistently monitored and tested and the results are made public. Bottled water, on the other hand, has more lax quality controls and is only monitored when the water crosses state lines. According to the FDA, mineral waters have no proven health claims, yet millions of people still buy bottled water. If our water bill was based on the cheapest bottled water, our average bill would be $9,000/month based on a $1.29 bottle of water.

Companies like Dasani and Aquafina get their water directly from municipal water, using water filters. Why not you? Although drinking directly from the tap would be simplest, there are always ways to not only improve not only the taste of water but the quality as well.

John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, owns his own filtration system, using water filters for his drinking water. A simple coconut carbon water filter can range anywhere from $50 to $100 for a standard setup, which can easily be installed under the sink in the kitchen. If you prefer to use the same technology the bottled water companies use, you might want to consider a reverse osmosis (RO) unit which can range anywhere between $150 and $300. RO units create the purest water and can reject up to 99% of contaminants. Bottled water companies like Dasani, Aquafina and Target-brand water use this type of technology.

So by making your own bottled-quality water at home with a water filter, you are saving money while helping the environment. The amount of savings could be in the thousands a year if you are an avid bottled water drinker. You will be amazed at how simple and quick it is to get such great-tasting water from your own tap using water filters. After realizing what we can do to help our environment, we can also save time and money by having a simple water filter in our own homes.

For more information on water filter products please visit us at http://www.isopurewater.com

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Pure Bottled Water and Your Body

The benefits of good health cannot be overemphasized for those who wish to lead a happy lifestyle. While good health does not guarantee happiness it is certainly a key building block for a future of well being, contentment and serenity.

What are the basics of good health?

Like most events in nature, development and maintenance of good health and a healthy lifestyle are simple in concept but take some work and dedication to achieve.

Healthy diet

Exercise

Minimize stress on a daily basis

Almost all of the common diseases that threaten us today can be avoided to a great degree by eating right, adopting a program of regular exercise, and stress reduction through techniques like meditation.

The Role Of Pure Water as part of a Healthy Diet.

Daily consumption of pure water is essential to a proper diet. Basically, the human body can survive for extended periods without food but can only last for a few days without water. Water is the essential element of your body: water cools the body and is essential for the proper functioning of all the major body processes.

Is Our Drinking Water Pure?

In the whole world only 3% of all the water is drinkable and of that 3%, pollution is taking its toll. Much of the potentially drinkable water is now so polluted that it is undrinkable. Municipalities in the western word attempt to supply drinking water but only do so with contaminants and bacteria that is covered up by significant amounts of chlorine.

Scholars Have Noticed

There have many studies of contaminated water and its effects on the human body. Many scholars recommend the use of purified distilled water as a healthy substitute for contaminated water. Many experts have published opinions on the subject (see: Water Purification)

Other experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil explore the benefits of distilled water and explode many of the myths surrounding this form of purified water.

The basic question many scholars as is "Why do people harm their health with adulterated drinking water when pure water is available?"

How Much Pure Water Do You Need?

To stay hydrated, you need to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of pure water (spread out over the day). Therefore, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least 75 ounces of pure water a day. Remember, you cannot drink too much pure water-the more the better.

How Do You Know If You Are Hydrated?

Your urine should be almost clear once every 24 hours. Remember: Thirst is not a good guide-by the time you experience thirst, you are already 2-3% dehydrated, which means your energy is depleted by 20-30%.

What Counts Towards Your Pure Water Intake?

The following sources of pure water can count towards your daily quota

Distilled/Oxygenated water is the best choice. Distilled water is purified and It is rated purest and cleanest by National Science Foundation, containing the least parts-per-million contaminants. Some water suppliers add oxygen in a process that enhances the pure water taste.

Spring water is water bottled from a natural spring source. The majority of bottled water is spring water. Be careful of your sources because spring water is subject to the same natural and man made contamination as other unpurified water such as well and tap water.

Tap or Well Water It is best to avoid tap and well water, because most North American water supplies contain a myriad of toxins including: anti-biotics, hormones, chlorine, heavy metals, and pesticides. Test all well water for contaminants because the water table that supports well water is often polluted. A high quality filtration or distillation system is recommended for all tap/well water.

There are Many Forms and Qualities of Bottled Water

Although bottled water is perceived as a healthier, safer choice over tap water in consumer surveys, that is not necessarily always true. Most tap water is bad for your body but many bottled waters are not purified and therefore not much better than tap water.

Twenty-five percent of all bottled water is actually repackaged tap water The more a consumer knows about the realities of bottled and tap water, the better they can be about selecting water based on purity and taste.

Is Bottled Best?

In a recent Gallop survey, most consumers indicated they drink bottled water based on their perception it is safer and purer than tap water. Taste was the second leading reason, while bottled water's convenience was also a factor.

Bottled water is considered a food, and thus regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Both bottled and tap water are subject to testing for contaminants, and some bottled and most tap water contains contaminates such as bacteria, arsenic, lead or pesticides, independent tests by groups such as the National Resources Defense Council have found. Distilled/oxygenated water however, does not contain contaminants.

Other Facts:

-- Sixty to 70 percent of all bottled water in the United States is packaged and sold within the same state, which exempts it from FDA regulation. One in five states does not regulate that bottled water.

-- While most cities meet the standards for tap water, some tap water in 19 U.S. cities tested was found to contain arsenic, lead, and pesticides.

-- In 1,000 bottles of 103 different brands of bottled water, 22 percent contained synthetic chemicals, bacteria and arsenic.

Most healthy adults can tolerate trace amounts of contaminates if exposed, but some people are more vulnerable and should be more aware of their water source. These people include cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients who are HIV+ positive or recovering from a transplant or major surgery, and pregnant women, children, and elderly adults.

Bottled water that is purified by a distillation/oxygenation process eliminates even the most minute traces of contaminants. It is best however to buy purified water from a supplier that is approved under FDA regulations.

Why take a chance on your health because of the water you drink?

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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Do You Know What Bottled Water Has in It?

Bottled drinking water is pure, right? Not necessarily. Bottled water can be less pure than municipal tap water in some parts of the United States. In fact, bottled water can actually be municipal tap water. Two examples are Coca Cola's Dasani brand and Pepsi Cola's Aquafina brand.

What is bottled water?

"Description. Bottled water is water that is intended for human consumption and that is sealed in bottles or other containers with no added ingredients except that it may optionally contain safe and suitable antimicrobial agents. Fluoride may be optionally added within the limitations established." The United States FDA

Who regulates what bottled water has in it?

The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled drinking water, which is classified as a "food". The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water. Amazingly, the EPA guidelines for municipal water are stricter than the FDA restrictions for bottled drinking water! You might buy bottled drinking water that is acceptable to the FDA but is not acceptable for use as ordinary bathroom tap water.

The FDA's specific regulations for bottled water are found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR).

What are FDA standards?

Under the standard of quality (21 CFR, 165.110[b]), FDA allows certain levels of contaminants in bottled water.

Contaminants bottled water has in it.

1. Coliform. Coliform are rod-shaped bacteria, such as E. coli, that are normally present in the human intestine. The FDA says that bottled water may have up to 9.2 coliform organisms per 100 milliliters. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

2. Arsenic. Arsenic is a poison. The FDA says that bottled water may have up to 0.05 milligrams per liter of arsenic. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

3. Chloride. Chloride is a compound of chlorine, a substance used to disinfect tap water. The FDA allows up to 250.0 milligrams per liter of chloride in bottled water. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

4. Iron. Iron is a metallic element. Your body needs some iron, but not too much. The FDA permits bottled water to contain up to 0.3 milligrams per liter of iron. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

5. Manganese. Manganese resembles iron and is used in fertilizers. Bottled water may contain up to 0.05 milligrams per liter of manganese. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

6. Phenols. Phenols are corrosive, poisonous acidic compounds. Your bottled water may contain up to 0.001 milligrams per liter of phenols. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

7. Dissolved solids. "Dissolved solids" is a catch-all phrase. The FDA allows bottled water to contain up to 500 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids, of whatever type. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

8. Zinc. Zinc is a metallic element. Your body needs some zinc, but not too much. The FDA permits bottled water to contain up to 5.0 milligrams per liter of zinc. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

9. Fluoride. Fluoride is purposely added to some bottled water. If so, the label should say so. In addition, bottled water that is not labeled as containing fluoride may contain up to 2.4 milligrams per liter of fluoride. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

Chemical contaminants bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows set levels of the following chemical contaminants in all bottled water. Amounts vary, but some are shocking, such as Barium. FDA regulations permit up to 2.0 milligrams per liter of barium. That is nearly the same as natural fluorides, even though barium is a toxic metallic element. Cyanide, another poison, is permitted in bottled water. See 21 CFR 165.110[b].

Here is a sampling of chemical contaminants bottled water has in it, along with the permitted milligrams per liter.

* Barium.................................... 2.0

* Chromium.................................. 0.1

* Copper.................................... 1.0

* Cyanide................................... 0.2

* Nickel.................................... 0.1

* Ethylbenzene (100-41-4)................... 0.7

* Monochlorobenzene (108-90-7).............. 0.1

* Styrene (100-42-5)........................ 0.1

* Toluene (108-88-3)........................ 1.0

* Xylenes (1330-20-7)....................... 10.0

Pesticides bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows set levels of pesticides in bottled water. There are set limits for each of 29 different pesticides. People who purchase bottled water believe, normally, that they are avoiding pesticides by doing so. For a listing of these pesticides, see 21 CFR 165.110[b].

Disinfectants bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows bottled water to contain set levels of residual disinfectants and disinfection byproducts. Examples from 21 CFR 165.110[b]:

* Disinfection byproducts ...................

Bromate................................. 0.010

Chlorite................................ 1.0

Haloacetic acids (five) (HAA5).......... 0.060

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)............ 0.080

* Residual disinfectants ...................

Chloramine.............................. 4.0 (as Cl2)

Chlorine................................ 4.0 (as Cl2)

Chlorine dioxide........................ 0.8 (as ClO2)

Radioactive materials bottled water has in it.

The FDA allows bottled water to contain set levels of radioactive material. See 21 CFR 165.110[b]. Three examples:

* "The bottled water shall not contain a combined radium-226 and radium-228 activity in excess of 5 picocuries per liter of water."

* "The bottled water shall not contain a gross alpha particle activity in excess of 15 picocuries per liter of water."

* "The bottled water shall not contain uranium in excess of 30 micrograms per liter of water."

Bottled water has in it more than regulations allow.

When bottled water does not meet the standards set out by the FDA, it might still be sold. By law, it should bear a suitable label.

Examples:

1. "Contains Excessive Bacteria"

2. "Contains Excessive Arsenic"

3. "Excessively Radioactive"

What You Can Do

* Take time to know what bottled water has in it.

* Look for bottlers' web sites and compare information.

* Write to bottlers with specific questions.

* Remember that bottled water does not mean absolute purity.

* Be sure yours is healthy drinking water.

c 2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about healthy drinking water at http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com. Anna continues to post additional valuable information on that site about understanding clean water?s importance and making sure you have the best drinking water. If you are eager to learn about such additions as http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com/whats-in-our-drinking-water/fluoride-in-drinking-water-16/">fluoride in our drinking water, you won?t want to miss Anna?s articles.

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Bottled Drinking Water - Pure or Impure?

Some people think it is foolish to buy bottled drinking water, and ask, "Why pay for water in bottles when you can get it from your kitchen faucet?" Others prefer having choices in drinking water. They want to know what is going into their bodies, they say. To that, the faucet-water drinkers counter, "Have you ever run tests on your faucet water and your bottled drinking water?

Whichever way you think, you should choose your drinking water carefully. You may even want to run tests - or obtain literature showing the results of tests that have been run on the various drinking waters available to you.

Take bottled drinking water. To many people, the fact that the water is bottled means it is pure. But is it? Might it be possible that your bottled drinking water contains as great a colony of "water criminals" as your tap water does?

Bottled Drinking Water Terminology

The following are definitions frequently used on the labels of bottled drinking water to describe the water's characteristics, sources, and methods of treatment. They may surprise you. These definitions are taken from the pamphlet, "Bottled Water Basics" published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

* Artesian water, ground water, spring water, well water - water from an underground aquifer which may or may not be treated. Well water and artesian water are tapped through a well. Spring water is collected as it flows to the surface or via a borehole. Ground water can be either.

* Distilled water - steam from boiling water is recondensed and bottled. Distilling water kills microbes and removes water's natural minerals, giving it a flat taste.

* Drinking water - water intended for human consumption and sealed in bottles or other containers with no ingredients except that it may optionally contain safe and suitable disinfectants. Fluoride may be added within limitations set in the bottled water quality standards.

* Mineral water - Ground water that naturally contains 250 or more parts per million of total dissolved solids.

Did you notice ...?

* Bottled drinking water is not necessarily pure, just as tap water is not pure.

* Bottled drinking water may come from an aquifer that has been treated with chemicals or not treated at all. Tap water will normally be treated.

* Bottled drinking water may contain any number of impurities such as human or animal waste - many that tap water is not permitted to contain.

* Bottled drinking water may contain disinfectants and fluorides - just as tap water does!

* Bottled drinking water may contain minerals, even lead!

Bottled drinking water is often much more impure than you could hope!

Bottled Drinking Water Standards

The USFDA does set standards for bottled drinking water. You will want to read them if you are serious about providing pure drinking water for your family.

Bottled drinking water sold in U.D. interstate commerce, including products bottled overseas, must meet the following minimum federal standards:

* Bottled drinking water must meet FDA standards for physical, chemical, microbial, and radiological contaminants. When EPA sets a new standard for a contaminant in tap water, FDA must establish a new standard for the same contaminant in bottled drinking water or find that EPA's new standard is not applicable to bottled drinking water.

TRANSLATION: Bottled drinking water need be no better than tap water. In fact, it may be held to less stringent standards.

* Bottlers must include the name of the product and type of water; the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and the net content on their labels.

TRANSLATION: Labels on bottled drinking water do not have to tell you what has been added to the water.

* New bottled drinking water sources must be approved by a state or local jurisdiction. Bottlers must also test their sources and finished bottled drinking water products at least once a week for microbiological contaminants and at least once a year for physical, chemical, and radiological contaminants.

TRANSLATION: Once the source is approved by the government, using EPA and FDA standards, it is up to the bottler to maintain its cleanliness.

* If bottled drinking water is found to be adulterated or hazardous to health, it is subject to FDA enforcement action, such as seizure of domestic products and refusal of entry of imports.

TRANSLATION: Bottled drinking water is not guaranteed pure by anyone. Only if actual hazards are found may enforcement action take place.

* Bottlers must operate their plants in accordance with FDA's good manufacturing practices to ensure that their bottled drinking water products are safe and produced under safe and sanitary conditions.

TRANSLATION: Your bottled drinking water is to be produced under safe and sanitary conditions, but actual contents are not strictly controlled.

Bottled drinking water is good to have on hand in case of an emergency, but don't think of bottled drinking water as pure drinking water. Purity can vary from one brand to another and from one batch to another.

2007c Anna Hart. Read Anna's articles that will help you choose your drinking water carefully at http://www.healthydrinkingwaterblog.com.

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The Health Benefits Of Drinking Water - Is Bottled Drinking Water Healthier Than Filtered Tap Water?

Water is a key ingredient in a healthy diet and lifestyle. There are many health benefits of drinking water. It helps flush impurities and toxins out of our systems. It aids in the delivery of oxygen and nutrients. In fact, nearly every system in our bodies relies on water for proper functioning. But what if your water is unhealthy?

In past decades, concerns about tap water and its impact on overall health led some people to turn to bottled drinking water instead. In those days, there were few choices. You could pay to have a company deliver large bulky plastic bottles of water for the water cooler. Or you could purchase gallon jugs of distilled or "drinking water" at the grocery store.

In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of different bottled waters available, with big distributors such as Coke and Pepsi jumping on the bandwagon. But are bottled drinking waters like Coke's Dasani brand, Pepsi's Aquafina, or Wal-Mart's store brand really any healthier than your tap water? Or would you be better off with a drinking water filtration system?

As we've learned more about the water we drink, the technology behind drinking water filters and purification systems has improved dramatically. There are filters to remove impurities, chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria and most every contaminant you can think of. With the right size and filter combination for your specific home, your water can be exceptionally pure and healthy.

Cost Comparison

Drinking water filtration systems have also become more affordable and easy to use. Although the initial cost of a whole house system usually runs several hundred dollars, that cost is often less than $100 each year if spread out over the life of the system.

There may be additional expenses to replace carbon filters, membranes in reverse osmosis drinking water filtration system, or lamps in an ultraviolet light water treatment device. These expenses can add another $100 or so to the annual costs of operating drinking water filters and purification systems.

While some people may hesitate to spend two or three hundred dollars each year for clean, safe drinking water, they are probably paying more for bottled drinking water. Calculations show that at a price of $1 to $4 per gallon, bottled or delivered water costs an average of $400 each year, especially if you purchase individual bottles. And that doesn't take into consideration the gas needed to drive to the store or the environmental impact of all the empty plastic bottles.

Health Aspects

Many people who choose bottled drinking water understand that it is more expensive, but are willing to pay the extra money because they feel bottled water is safer and healthier than filtered drinking water. After all, bottled water is often marketed as "natural spring water" or "pure glacier water."

In reality, few bottled waters come from natural springs, and most of them use municipal tap water. The companies are able to get away with this false marketing because the regulations and standards for bottle drinking water are less stringent than those for residential drinking sources.

Bottled water quality is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while drinking water systems are typically regulated by State regulations or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This doesn't mean that the FDA isn't doing their job. It's just that the rules for bottled water only require it to be as good as tap water, not better.

In addition, the FDA regulations only apply to bottled drinking water that is transported across state lines. If a company sells their bottled drinking water in the same state where it was bottled, the federal regulations don't apply. The result is that many bottled waters are not any healthier than filtered water, and in fact some are less pure.

This was demonstrated in a study conducted in 1999 by the Natural Resources Defense Council. They tested over 100 brands of bottled drinking water and found that about 1/3 of the waters contained contamination in the form of chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. The study also found that up to 40% of bottled drinking waters come from a city water system.

How To Tell If Your Water Is Healthy

So how do you tell if the water you're drinking is healthy? With tap water, it's relatively easy. If you water comes from a municipal source, the suppliers are required by law to provide annual water quality reports. If you have a well, you can have an authorized lab test your water. It may cost $100 or more, but it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. Or you can purchase a kit and test it yourself, although the results are not as conclusive or reliable.

When it comes to bottled drinking water, it can be more difficult to know what you're getting. Start by checking the label or the bottle cap. Some may tell you that the water comes from a municipal source or "community water system," which means tap water.

If the label doesn't give any information, you can call the bottler and ask. But don't be surprised if you get the run around and are transferred to several different departments. Some states have a bottled water program that tracks bottled drinking water and can tell you the origin of the source water as well as other information.

Safe and healthy drinking water has become big business. Thousands of companies are vying for your hard earned cash, and some are not always honest about what their products offer. The initial investment for a home drinking water filtration system can seem expensive at first, but over time, it is usually less expensive than bottled drinking water. And with a water filter, you at least know where the water you drink came from and how it was treated.

Before going out and spending your hard earned money for bottled drinking water that may be no better than your own tap water, it's a good idea to do some research. You're likely to decide that a drinking water filtration system and/or purifier is the healthier choice and provides the best value as well.

About the Author:
C.J. Gustafson is a successful writer for Water-Filters-N-Purifiers.com, providing consumer information on water purification systems such as whole house and under sink water filters. She found out about comparing the health benefits of drinking water years ago when she learned that the bottled water she was buying came from a municipal system in a nearby city.

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