How Pure Is Bottled Water?
Crystal-clear, pure, and pristine,
Is bottled water really that clean?
Labels don’t mention contamination,
Bottled water needs better regulation.
Bottled What?
On the national level, the FDA is solely responsible for bottled water purity and safety, but the FDA’s rules 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 U.S.
- The FDA permits bottlers to label their product “spring water” even though it may be brought to the surface using a pumped well and may have been treated with chemicals.
- Contrary to tap water rules, the FDA does not require bottled water to be disinfected or tested for parasites such as cryptosporidium or giardia. The bottled water industry is not required to disclose any of its contaminant testing results, increasing the possibility of health risks to infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.
- In a four-year study, the National Resource Defense Council tested the purity and safety of 1,000 bottles of 103 brands of bottled water. They concluded that about one-third of the bottles contained contamination, including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic.
Check It Out
NRDC’s Report on Bottled Water – “Pure Drink or Pure Hype?”
http://www.nrdc.org
Bottled Water Basics from the EPA:
http://www.epa.gov
Original Post by smart2begreen.com on August 19, 2009
