| With billions of dollars spent each year, bottled water | | | | labeled "high quality". |
| is the fastest growing drink choice in America. People | | | | The FDA standards in general apply to packaged |
| are turning to it as an alternative to other drink | | | | food identity and quality. As part of its oversight of |
| choices, like soda, sports drinks, and sugary soft | | | | bottled water, the FDA sets specific good |
| drinks. Many consumers prefer the taste of bottled | | | | manufacturing practice requirements that apply to |
| water and believe that bottlers provide a safer | | | | processing and bottling. |
| product than tap. | | | | Concerned consumers should learn more about tap |
| Safe drinking water, free from contamination, is | | | | and bottled water before deciding to drink untreated |
| essential to good health. Although bottlers may list a | | | | tap water, water in plastic bottles, or filtering at |
| variety of types on their labels, it all comes from | | | | home. For public sources, read the supplier's annual |
| similar sources: rivers, lakes & underground | | | | quality report. Be aware that public water is not |
| aquifers. | | | | tested for all known contaminants, only those that |
| The taste and quality of water can vary widely, both | | | | the EPA has identified as causing acute illness. |
| from the tap and in bottles. Some sources are more | | | | If your drinking water comes from a well, have it |
| pure than others. Mineral content and treatment | | | | tested regularly for bacteria, nitrates and other |
| method, if any, can have a significant impact on | | | | contaminants. You should know that test kits rarely |
| taste. | | | | cover organic compounds such as pesticides and |
| All types of drinking water contain contaminants, but | | | | herbicides. |
| not all contaminants are bad for your health. Trace | | | | Read the label or contact the bottler directly with |
| minerals that are essential for health (calcium, | | | | questions on either the source or quality of the |
| magnesium and potassium) give water a distinctive | | | | contents. Treatment methods vary widely, and some |
| taste that many people prefer. But high levels of | | | | bottlers do nothing more than package public water |
| contaminants like microbes and pesticides can cause | | | | for sale. |
| immediate and long-term health risks. | | | | Your most cost-effective solution may be a home |
| Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and | | | | water filtration system. Be sure you thoroughly |
| the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) set | | | | research the manufacturer for reputation and quality |
| standards for drinking water in the US. The EPA | | | | certification. The system you choose should remove |
| governs public suppliers and the FDA's standards, | | | | all possible contaminants and provide the healthiest |
| based on EPA guidelines, apply to bottlers. Both may | | | | water possible. A high-quality, certified system should |
| be safe choices, if they meet the standards. | | | | provide pure drinking water for about ten cents a |
| Consumers at risk for illness, or those wishing to | | | | gallon. Quite a savings over those expensive bottles! |
| control the quality of their drinking water, may | | | | And more convenient, too. |
| choose further home treatment or buy a product | | | | |