Table of Contents 

Bottled water basics ....................................... pg.2

Advice for people with severely compromised 

immune systems (Sidebar) ............................. pg2

Know what you’re buying .............................. pg.3

Taste considerations ........................................ pg.4

Bottled water terms (Sidebar) ..................... pg.4 

Begin by reading the label ............................. pg.5

Type of water and source ............................... pg.5

Contaminants and methods of treatment .... pg.6

Common bottled water

treatments (Sidebar) ........................................ pg.6 

Certification ........................................................ pg.7

Contact information ......................................... pg.8

FDA bottled water

standards (Sidebar) .......................................... pg.8 
Bottled water basics

Bottled water is the fastest growing drink choice

in the United States, and Americans spend billions of dollars each year to buy it (Beverage

Marketing Corporation, 2004) Some people

drink bottled water as an alternative to other

beverages; others drink it because they prefer its

taste or think it is safer than their tap water.

Whether it travels through a pipe to your home or

comes packaged in a bottle, safe drinking water is

essential to good health.All our drinking water

comes from similar sources, either from sources we

can see, such as rivers and lakes, or from sources

we can’t see, such as underground aquifers.

In the same way that tap water’s taste and quality

may vary from place to place, so too does bottled

water’s taste and quality vary among and even

within brands.The taste and quality of both bottled water and tap water depend on the source

and quality of the water, including its natural

mineral content and how, or if, the water is treated.

Drinking water (both bottled and tap) can reasonably be expected to contain at least small

amounts of some contaminants.The presence of

contaminants does not necessarily indicate that

the water poses a health risk. For example, minerals such as magnesium and calcium give water

a distinctive flavor, and are essential to the body.

At high levels, however, these and other contaminants, such as pesticides or microbes from human

wastes, can cause adverse effects or illness.

To make sure that all water is safe to drink, the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and

the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set

drinking water standards.EPA sets standards for tap

Advice for people with

severely compromised

immune systems

Some people may wish to take

special precautions with the water

they drink. In particular, people

with immune systems that are

weakened by AIDS, chemotherapy or transplant medications are

more vulnerable to microbial contaminants in drinking water such

as Cryptosporidium.

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic

parasite that lives in the intestine of

infected animals and humans. It

passes in the stool in its dormant

oocyst form.The oocyst is protected by an outer shell that allows it

to survive outside the body for

long periods of time and makes it

very resistant to chlorine-based

disinfectants. It occurs mainly in

surface water sources, such as

lakes,streams and rivers.In healthy

adults,Cryptosporidium can cause illness,but for people with weakened

immune systems, it can cause

severe illness and even death.

Those who wish to take extra

measures to avoid waterborne

cryptosporidiosis can bring their

drinking water to a boil for a full

minute. Boiling water is the

most effective way of killing

Cryptosporidium.As an alternative to boiling water, people may

take the following measures:

Use a point-of-use filter 

Consider using point-of-use (per2

sonal use, end-of-tap, under sink)

filters that remove particles one

micrometer or less in diameter.

Filters that use reverse osmosis,

those labeled as “absolute one

micron filters,” or those labeled as

certified by an American National

Standards Institute (ANSI) -

accredited organization to

ANSI/NSF Standard 53 for “Cyst

Removal” provide the greatest

assurance of removing

Cryptosporidium.As with all filters,

follow the manufacturer’s instructions for filter use and replacement.

Use bottled water

Check the label or call the bottler

to find out how bottled water is

treated. The following bottled

water treatments protect against 

Cryptosporidium: reverse osmosis,

distillation,ultraviolet light,or filtration with an absolute one micron

filter.Bottled waters derived from

protected well and spring water

sources are less likely to be contaminated by Cryptosporidium than

those containing untreated municipal drinking water from less protected sources such as rivers and

lakes.

Those who choose to take these

precautions should remember

that they can be exposed to

waterborne pathogens through

water used for brushing teeth,

making ice cubes, and washing

fruits and vegetables – not just

through water they drink.

water provided by public water suppliers;FDA sets

standards for bottled water based on EPA standards.

Bottled water and tap water are both safe to drink if

they meet these standards,although people with

severely weakened immune systems or other specific

health conditions may wish to further treat their water

at home or purchase high quality bottled water.

FDA regulates bottled water as a packaged food

under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act

and has established standards of identity and

quality for bottled water. FDA has also established

good manufacturing practice requirements for

processing and bottling drinking water.

EPA encourages all Americans to learn more about

the quality of their drinking water, both tap water

and bottled water, before deciding whether to

drink tap water, bottled water, or both. If your

water comes from a public water system, the best

way to learn more about tap water is to read your

water supplier’s annual water quality report. If

your water comes from a household well, EPA recommends testing the water regularly for bacteria,

nitrates, and other contaminants.The best way to

learn more about bottled water is to read its label,

or contact the producer directly.

Know what you’re buying

Bottled water is much more expensive, per gallon,

than tap water. Because of this, consider whether

you are buying it as a healthy alternative to bottled

beverages, for its taste, or for other reasons.

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Bottled Water Terms

The following terms are frequently used on bottled

water labels to describe the

water’s characteristics,

sources, and methods of

treatment.

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.

Purified water - water that

originates from any source

but has been treated to meet

the U.S.

Pharmacopeia

definition of

purified water.

Purified water is

essentially free

of all chemicals

(it must not

contain more

than 10 parts

per million of

total dissolved

solids), and may

also be free of

microbes if

treated by distillation or reverse osmosis.

Purified water may alternately

be labeled according to how

it is treated.

Sterile water - water that

originates from any source,

but has been treated to meet

the U.S. Pharmacopeia standards for sterilization.

Sterilized water is free from

all microbes.

Note: Carbonated water,

soda water, seltzer water,

sparkling water, and tonic

water are considered soft

drinks and are not regulated

as bottled water.

Taste considerations

Many people prefer

bottled water

because of its taste.

The taste of all water

has to do with the way

it is treated and the

quality of its source,

including its natural

mineral content.Most

bottled water comes

from a ground water

source,where water

quality varies less from

day to day,or is treated and immediately bottled.Bottled water from a dedicated source or plant may have a more consistent

taste than tap water,which mostly comes from surface sources and must travel through pipes to reach

homes.

One of the key taste differences between tap water

and bottled water is due to how the water is disinfected.Tap water may be disinfected with chlorine,chloramine,ozone,or ultraviolet light to kill disease-causing

germs.Water systems use these disinfectants chlorine

and chloramine because they are effective and inexpensive,and they continue to disinfect as water travels

through pipes to homes and businesses.Bottled water

that is disinfected is typically disinfected using ozone or

other technologies such as ultraviolet light or chlorine

dioxide.Ozone is preferred by bottlers,though it is

more expensive than chlorine,because it does not

leave a taste and because bottlers do not need to

worry about maintaining disinfectant in water sealed

in a container.Untreated water,whether from a bottle

or from a tap,will have the characteristic taste of its

source.

Begin by reading the label

To learn about the quality of bottled water,

begin by reading the label.In addition to the

volume of water,any pertinent nutritional claims,

and any contact information for the bottler,the

label may include the type of bottled water,its

source,and the way in which it is treated.For

more specific information,you may need to

contact the bottler directly.

Type of water and source:

Bottlers use standard identifiers,prescribed by

FDA regulations,to describe their water (Bottled

water terms,pgs 4 and 5),but the meanings

may be different than you expect.These terms refer to

both the geological sources of the water and the

treatment methods applied to the water.The

terms don’t necessarily describe the geographic

location of the source or determine its quality.

For instance,“spring water”can be collected at the

point where water flows naturally to the earth’s surface

or from a borehole that taps into the underground

source.Other terms used on the label about the

source,such as “glacier water”or “mountain water,”

are not regulated standards of identity and may not

indicate that the water is necessarily from a pristine

area.Likewise,the term,“purified,”refers to processes

that remove chemicals and pathogens.“Purified

water”is not necessarily free of microbes – though it

may be.

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Common Bottled Water

Treatments

Distillation - water is boiled,

and the steam is condensed

to remove salts, metals, minerals, asbestos, particles, and

some organic materials.

Microbes are killed, including

Cryptosporidium.

Micron Filtration - water is

filtered through screens with

microscopic holes.The smaller the filter holes, the more

contaminants the filter can

remove. Good filters can

remove most chemical contaminants and microbes.

Filter holes are measured in

microns. (The period at the

end of this sentence is 500

microns.) When considering

filter size, look for an

absolute (the largest hole),

not nominal (the average

hole) rating. An absolute one

micron filter is needed to

remove Cryptosporidium.

Ozonation - water is disinfected using ozone, which

kills most microbes, depending on dosage applied.

Reverse Osmosis - water is

forced under pressure to

pass through a membrane,

leaving contaminants behind.

This process removes all

microbes, minerals, color, turbidity, organic and inorganic

chemicals.

Ultraviolet (UV) light -

water is passed through UV

light, which kills most

microbes, depending on

dosage applied.

Bottled water must be tested and meet regulatory standards before it can be sold in the U.S.(See page 8 for

details.) Bottled water,like tap water,can come from a

ground water source,such as a well or spring,or a surface water source,such as a river or stream.Most bottled water comes from a ground water source.Ground

water is typically less vulnerable to contamination than

water from surface sources.However,ground water can

still contain naturally high amounts of certain contaminants,including radioactive elements,arsenic,and

nitrates,or be vulnerable to contamination from human

activities,such as industrial waste,faulty septic systems,

and underground gas or chemical tanks.

Some bottled water comes from surface water

sources.This water typically comes from a public

water system and receives additional treatment,such

as filtration and disinfection,before it is bottled.

Bottlers must list on the label the type of bottled water

(such as spring water,mineral water,or drinking water).If

the water comes from a public water system and has not

been treated to meet FDA’s definition of “purified”or

“sterile”water,the label must state that the source is from

a community water system.

Contaminants and methods of

treatment:

If you are concerned about a particular contaminant in

your drinking water,consider the following questions: Is

the source water likely to contain the contaminant? Has

the water been treated to remove the contaminant?

Water that originates from a protected ground water

source is less likely to contain certain contaminants

(such as disease-causing microbes),but not all ground

water is protected,and no water is guaranteed to be

completely free of contaminants.

The best way to know if the water you are drinking is free from the contaminant(s) you are concerned about is to contact the bottler and ask for

the latest testing results and whether the water

has been treated to remove the contaminant.

Many public water systems add fluoride to their

water;most bottlers do not.If bottled water is fluoridated,it must indicate so on the label,though bottled

water and tap water can contain naturally occurring

fluoride.Check with your public water system or bottler

to find out if the water you drink contains fluoride.

Certification

Neither EPA nor FDA certify bottled water.However,

consumers may notice a logo or seal from two other

organizations on the label.

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is a trade

organization for water bottlers.IBWA members must meet the

organization’s “model code”and are subject to annual inspections by an independent third party.Bottlers belonging to

IBWA frequently indicate membership on their labels.

NSF International - Bottled water certified by NSF undergoes additional testing by unannounced annual plant

inspections.NSF certifications mean that the bottler

complies with all applicable FDA requirements,including good manufacturing practices.

Underwriters Laboratories,Inc.(UL) is an independent

accredited testing and certification organization that

tests bottled water to FDA,state,and IBWA model code

requirements.

6 7

If you use a water cooler, remember to

clean and sanitize it regularly according

to the manufacture’s instructions.
FDA Bottled Water

Standards

Any bottled water sold in

interstate commerce in the

United States including products that originate overseas

must meet the following minimum federal standards (check

with your health department

to see what bottled water

standards exist for brands

produced, bottled, and sold

entirely in one state):

Bottled 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 water or find that EPA’s

new standard is not applicable

to bottled water.

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.

New bottled water sources

must be approved by a state or

local jurisdiction. Bottlers must

also test their sources and finished bottled water products

at least once a week for microbiological contaminants and at

least once a year for physical,

chemical, and radiological contaminants.

If bottled 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.

Bottlers must operate their

plants in accordance with

FDA’s good manufacturing

practices to ensure that their

bottled water products are

safe and produced under safe

and sanitary conditions.

Contact EPA for standards

for the tap water provided

by public water systems, or

see www.epa.gov/safewater/

mcl.html.

For more information on bottled water:

Contact the bottler directly,ask for its latest testing

results,and compare these results with EPA’s tap water

standards (www.epa.gov/safewater/mcl.html) or FDA’s

bottled water standards to determine its quality.

Food and Drug Administration

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Outreach and Information Center

5100 Paint Branch Parkway

HFS-555

College Park,MD 20740-3835

www.cfsan.fda.gov

(888) SAFEFOOD; (888) 723-3366

International Bottled Water Association

1700 Diagonal Road,Suite 650

Alexandria,VA 22314

www.bottledwater.org

ibwainfo@bottledwater.org

(800) 928-3711

NSF International

P.O.Box 130140

Ann Arbor,MI 48113-0140

www.nsf.org

info@nsf.org

877-8-NSF-HELP; (877) 867-3435

Underwriters Laboratories,Inc.

110 South Hill Street

South Bend,IN 46617

www.UL.com/water

water@us.ul.com

(800) 332-4345

For more information about tap water:

To learn about the quality of your tap water,contact

your water supplier and ask for the annual consumer

confidence report.This report will list what contaminants have been detected in the water,and how those

levels compare with EPA’s standards.

EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline

1 (800) 426-4791

www.epa.gov/safewater - includes drinking water

standards,state certification officers for water testing,

and information for household well owners.

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