What Does it Mean to Be Water Bottled?
Having bottled water in your home is a convenient way to have clean drinking water in your household. It is an ideal option for regions of the world where drinking potable water is difficult to obtain. However, it does carry some risks. In fact, contaminated bottled water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses and neurological disorders.
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Bottled water has been criticized for its negative effects on the environment. This includes the use of fossil fuels to produce the plastic bottles. Plastic bottles also contain obesogens, chemicals that interfere with hormones. If you are pregnant or have a weak immune system, you should take extra precautions with water. You may also be exposed to the parasite Cryptosporidium, which can be life-threatening.
The FDA regulates bottled water. Companies must meet strict requirements. They must be able to prove their source and treatment method. Their bottles must be labelled appropriately. The label must state the type of water. Water sources can include municipal, spring, or mineral water. Those sources can be treated for human consumption, but they are not required to be disinfected.
Some states, such as New York, require the bottled water industry to comply with their state’s regulations. These include the amount of lead that is allowed in a bottle. There are also regulations on the number of contaminants that a bottle can contain. For example, bottled water cannot contain more than five parts per billion of lead.
In the United States, most bottled water is produced from a municipal water supply. Some sources are treated with ozonation, but others are not. According to the IBWA, a municipal drinking water source must be inspected by an inspector at least once a year. When bottled water comes from a municipal source, the label must state the source.
Several companies advertise their bottled water as all-natural or organic. Most brands also advertise the fact that they are low in fat or have no added sugar. Whether you believe these claims or not, your choice will probably depend on personal preference.
The FDA has guidelines for bottled water labels, but those are not as stringent as the EPA’s rules for tap water. Nevertheless, bottled water does have to have contaminants below the FDA’s allowable level.
According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), about 80 percent of bottled water purchased in the United States is produced by the organization’s members. To become a member, companies must submit to annual facility inspections and meet the IBWA Model Code.
A recent ABC news program compared tap water and five national brands of bottled water. In the blind taste test, most people could not tell the difference. Also, the taste of bottled water was varying depending on the type of packaging used.
Another major controversy is the fact that most bottled water contains additives such as phosphates and fluoride. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, but it has been a major issue with bottled water because it can lead to dental problems.