Clearing the Water: Making Sense of Bottled Water

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Clearing the WaterMaking Sense of Bottled Water

• Clinton A. Brawner, MS, RCEP
• Detroit, MI
• Doctoral Student
• School of Public Health, Walden University

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Aim Outline

• Develop a better understanding of the impact of
  bottled water
• Industry
• Why bottled water?
• Cost
• Regulations

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Bottled Water Industry

• Growing steadily over past 30 years
• 22 billion worldwide
• US is largest market by volume
• Ranks 10th per capita
• Competitive market which results in aggressive
  marketing strategies.

Ferrier, C. (2001). Bottled water understanding
a social phenomenon. Available at
http//assets.panda.org/downloads/bottled_water.pd
f Rodwan, J. G. (2009). U.S. and international
bottled water developments and statistics for
2008. Bottled Water Reporter. April/May.
Retrieved on November 10, 2009 from
http//www.bottledwater.org/public/200820Market2
0Report20Findings20reported20in20April202009.
pdf
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Why bottled water?

• Perceptions
• Increased availability
• Alternative to high calorie beverages
• Associated with health and well-being
• Sign of increased social status
• Habit

Ferrier, C. (2001). Bottled water understanding
a social phenomenon. Available at
http//assets.panda.org/downloads/bottled_water.pd
f
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Why People Drink Bottled Water
American Water Works Association Research
Foundation (1993), as cited in Natural Resources
Defense Council (1999) .Bottled water pure drink
or pure hype? Available at http//www.nrdc.org/wat
er/drinking/bw/bwinx.asp
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Types of Bottled Water

• Natural mineral water
• Underground source with constant level of
  minerals and trace elements.
• Minerals cannot be added.
• Spring water
• Underground source from which water flows
  naturally to the service.
• Sparkling water
• Contains a natural level of carbon dioxide.
• Forms sparkling mineral and sparkling spring

Ferrier, C. (2001). Bottled water understanding
a social phenomenon. Available at
http//assets.panda.org/downloads/bottled_water.pd
f
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Types of Bottled Water (continued)

• Artesian well water and well water
• Bottled from a hole bored into an underground
  aquifer.
• Purified water
• aka distilled, deionized, reverse osmosis
• Surface or underground source that has been
  treated similar to tap water.
• This may be treated tap water.

Ferrier, C. (2001). Bottled water understanding
a social phenomenon. Available at
http//assets.panda.org/downloads/bottled_water.pd
f
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Cost and Safety

• Expense
• Bottled water is shipped worldwide
• 40 of bottled water originates from a tap.
• Bottled water can suffer similar contamination as
  tap water sources.
• Bottled water is regulated by the FDA
• Tap water is regulated by the EPA

Ferrier, C. (2001). Bottled water understanding
a social phenomenon. Available at
http//assets.panda.org/downloads/bottled_water.pd
f
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Taste TestTap vs. Bottle
GMA.com (2009). GMA water taste test. Available
at http//abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id126984page
1page1
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• Over 1000 bottles from 103 brands of bottled
  water.
• Most waters were of high quality.
• About one-third contained contaminants that
  exceeded allowable limits.

Natural Resources Defense Council. (1999).
Bottled water pure drink or pure hype? Retrieved
on November 10, 2009 from http//www.nrdc.org/wate
r/drinking/bw/bwinx.asp
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Bottled Waterand the FDA

• Similar standards as the EPA
• Less authority to enforce them
• No authority to require certified labs
• Public water system-type information is not
  required
• Few bottlers provide this information
• Consumers continue to believe bottled water is
  superior
• 75 of water bottles are not recycled

U.S. Government Accountability Office . (2009).
Bottled water FDA safety and consumer
protections are often less stringent than
comparable epa protections for tap water.
Available at http//energycommerce.house.gov/Press
_111/20090708/gaobottledwater.pdf
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www.tappening.com
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http//www.uc.edu/gissa/projects/drinkingwater/
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• Thoughts for Americans
• Resources would be better directed to further
  improving tap water.
• Call you state drinking water program or the EPA.
• Consider using filters certified by NSF
  International.

Natural Resources Defense Council. (1999).
Summary findings of NRDC's 1999 bottled water
report while bottled water marketing conveys
images of purity, inadequate regulations offer no
assurance. Retrieved on November 10, 2009 from
http//www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/nbw.asp
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Resources

• Tappening.com
• http//www.tappening.com/Why_Not_Bottled_Water
• Natural Resources Defense Council
• http//www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/qbw.asp
• NSF International
• Home water treatment information
• http//www.nsf.org/consumer/drinking_water/dw_trea
  tment.asp?programWaterTre
• University of Cincinnatis water standards
• http//www.uc.edu/gissa/projects/drinkingwater/
• US Government Accountability Office
• http//energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090708
  /gaobottledwater.pdf