Bottled Drinking Water vs. Tap

In this day and age, it seems like bottled drinking water is becoming more and more popular. It has practically become the icon for healthy beverages. There are approximately 475 bottled drinking water plants in the U.S., producing 600 brands of bottled drinking water. It is estimated that one in six American households use bottled drinking water as either the primary or only source of water. In California alone, residents consume over 33% of the bottled drinking water that is sold.

In this module, we shall investigate the "virtues" of bottled drinking water as well as its similarities and differences with the water you get from your household faucet.

Due to the large difference in price, most people want to know what the difference is between tap and bottled drinking water. Just how much are Americans willing to pay for bottled drinking water? In 1990, the average cost of bottled drinking water and vended water in the U.S. was $0.90 per gallon. This may not seem like a lot to you, but it does when you compare it to the average cost of tap water in California: $0.80 per 500 gallons!

Tap water can come from surface water (lakes or streams) or groundwater. Unlike bottled drinking water distributors, public water suppliers usually track cases of water-borne illness. Furthermore, if a contaminant exceeds EPA standards, public water suppliers are required to notify citizens of the contaminant, its level in the water supply, its health effects, and measures that can be taken to prevent illness.

Lastly, the tap water industry usually employs chlorine disinfection to guard against regrowth or re-entry of microorganisms, which may leave tap water not tasting as good as it would otherwise. Bottled drinking water, on the other hand, utilizes ozone disinfection, which is tasteless and odorless.

How is bottled drinking water regulated? 

Bottled drinking water was not always standardized. That is, water bottling companies had the liberty to label their bottled drinking water any way they pleased. This all changed in 1996 when the FDA set standards that all bottled drinking water companies were required to follow. Some of the standards included:

• Bottled drinking water from municipal supplies must be clearly labeled as such, unless it is processed sufficiently to be labeled as "distilled" or "purified" water.
• Bottled drinking water must be processed, packaged, shipped, and stored in a safe and sanitary manner and be truthfully and accurately labeled.
• Bottled drinking water must also meet specific FDA quality standards for contaminants.

Bottle Maintenance

"What is bottle maintenance?," you ask. After all that you know about tap and bottled drinking water now, if you still think you prefer bottled drinking water, it is important for you to take good care of the bottle from which you drink. Huh? Bacteria grow best in warm and moist environments. That means the environment created by an unrefrigerated bottle of water, once the seal has been broken, is the perfect place for bacteria to grow. This produces a plethora of unwanted health risks.
Here are some tips for bottle maintenance. Don’t forget to share them with your friends!

• Wipe the seal with a clean cloth after each use.
• Avoid any type of buildup in the bottle cap.
• If your bottle is refillable, make sure it is well cleaned and rinsed before refilling. If possible, recycle the old bottle and obtain a fresh, sterile, sealed bottle.