Some Facts About Bottled Water
in the United States
World Water Day 2007 (March 22) calls attention
to the critical need to protect and sustain water resources and "highlights the
significance of cooperation and importance of an integrated approach to water
resource management of water at both international and local levels," according
to the World Water Day web site (www.worldwaterday.org). This global
appreciation of water also recognizes the fact that all consumer products use
water as an ingredient or in production, including foods and beverages. And, as
the world considers how to balance the many roles and uses of water with sound
water management policies, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)
encourages an understanding of the important role of bottled water.
IBWA encourages consumers to consider these facts about bottled water:
Bottled Water and the Environment
- Annual bottled water production accounts for less than 2/100 of a percent
(0.02%) of the total ground water withdrawn in the United States each year. The
bottled water industry uses minimal amounts of ground water to produce this
important consumer product-and does so with great efficiency.
- Visit the web site of the Drinking Water Research Foundation (www.dwrf.info)
for a study summary of the report, "Bottled Water Production in the United
States: How Much Ground Water is Actually Being Used?"
- The bottled water industry is one of among thousands of food, beverage and
commercial water users. Bottled Water companies actively support comprehensive
ground water management practices that are science-based, treat all users
equitably, multi-jurisdictional, and provide for future needs of this important
resource.
- In the event of drought or other water supply challenges, bottlers can
adjust their water withdrawal to mitigate adverse impacts on a water resource.
However, the industry is just one small piece of the puzzle and other water
users must adopt the same protective measures to help ensure adequate resources
for all.
- Even though it is a small ground water user, the bottled water industry has
been instrumental in encouraging states to develop comprehensive, science-based
ground water management and sustainability policies and laws.
- Consumers should be aware that bottled water containers are fully recyclable
and should be properly recycled through whatever system a local municipality has
in place. In fact, all bottled water containers--whether plastic, glass or
aluminum--are recyclable, where recycling facilities exist. IBWA actively
supports comprehensive curbside recycling programs and partners with other
beverage and food companies, municipalities, and the recycling industry and
seeks to educate consumers about recycling and work to increase all recycling to
reduce litter.
- The larger bottles found on some home and office bottled water coolers can
be sanitized and re-used an average of 75 times before the bottled water company
removes them from the marketplace and recycles them. That is why the bottled
water industry is considered one of the "original recyclers."
Global Water Availability
- While governments and the private sector work to find solutions to provide
clean drinking water in underserved communities throughout the world, bottled
water can be an efficient and cost effective means of delivering
- A growing number of bottled water companies are designating a portion of
their income to support global programs, which help create long term solutions
for the provision of water for drinking, sanitation and hygiene in underserved
and developing communities.
Bottled Water and Emergency Response
- IBWA and the bottled water industry stand ready to participate in the
development of solutions to better enable federal, state and local emergency
response agencies to act with greater efficiency and speed with regard to
bottled water distribution and coordination in emergency relief operations. The
bottled water industry has provided millions of bottled water servings in
response to Hurricane Katrina, events of September 11, 2001, the tsunami in
Asia, and countless other emergencies that have interrupted the delivery of safe
drinking water. IBWA's broad-ranging expertise can help government officials
better understand the issues involved as they attempt to create a more workable
system.
- IBWA also serves as a critical information source for members-and the public
for that matter-who are seeking to provide bottled water emergency relief
supplies to communities in the wake of natural disasters or other emergencies.
The IBWA web site hosts the "IBWA Emergency Response Directory (ERD)," which
contains a list of national, regional, and local organizations and government
agencies. Individuals and organizations interested in providing emergency
bottled water relief supplies can use the ERD navigate successfully the proper
channels and help those in need. IBWA will work to update this document on a
regular basis and welcomes updated or corrections to listings. The ERD is posted
on the public portion of the IBWA web site and provide direct web links to
relevant agencies and organizations, where possible.
Bottled Water Regulations and Safety
- Bottled water is comprehensively regulated as a packaged food product by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which mandates stringent standards to
help ensure bottled water's consistent safety, quality and good taste. By law,
FDA bottled water standards must be at least as stringent and protective of
public health as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tap water standards.
FDA requires bottled water to comply with bottled water-specific standards as
well as regulations required of all food products.
- Bottled water products are required to comply at all times with FDA
Standards of Quality. As with other food products, bottled water is subject to
the food adulteration and misbranding requirements of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act and is subject to the full array of FDA enforcement actions
including warning letters, civil (seizure and/or injunction) and criminal
penalties. As with other food products, bottled water may be recalled from the
marketplace.
- Similar to the EPA system for tap water, FDA helps ensure regulatory
compliance through its partnerships with local and regional FDA offices as well
as through state regulatory agencies. EPA itself does not, as a matter of
routine practice, conduct tests on tap water treatment plants. However, like
EPA, FDA maintains the authority to test product and conduct plant inspections
at any time.
- In addition to federal and state regulations, IBWA members are required to
adhere to standards in the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which in several
cases are stricter than FDA, EPA, and state bottled water regulations. The IBWA
Bottled Water Code of Practice is enforced through a mandatory, annual,
unannounced plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.
- With much attention focused on the safety and security of the nation's food
supply, the bottled water industry has elevated its efforts to provide consumers
with a safe, high quality product. The numerous federal and state regulations
and standards already in place, coupled with the bottled water industry's use of
enhanced learning and security systems to help ensure the safety and security of
our products, mean that consumers can trust and rely upon their bottled
water.
Bottled Water Quality Information
- The bottled water industry strongly believes that consumers should be able
to obtain information about the safety and quality of bottled water in a timely
fashion. By law, FDA requires all food product labels, including bottled water,
to include the name and address of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. In
addition, virtually all bottled water products in the commercial marketplace
include a telephone number on the label.
- With regard to providing consumers with bottled water quality information,
FDA on August 25, 2000 published in the Federal Register, the "FDA Final Study
Report: Feasibility of Appropriate Methods of Informing Consumers of the
Contents of Bottled Water." FDA concluded that not all information provided by
law by public water systems is applicable to bottled water and that certain
content information already found on bottled water labels - combined with the
consumer's access to company contact information on the label - are reliable
means of providing information to the consumer.
- Based on current bottled water labeling requirements and regulation, there
is no public health or public policy basis to single out bottled water from
other food products for additional label reporting or methods of reporting.
- Consumers are choosing bottled water based on the merits of its consistent
safety, quality, convenience, and good taste. Bottled water marketing and
advertising does not undermine consumer confidence in tap water. Rather, it
focuses on the benefits of choosing water for hydration and the attributes of a
specific brand.
Why Consumers Choose Bottled Water
- Some groups have sought to frame drinking water issues as a "bottled water
versus tap water debate" and that confuses consumers.
- Consumers are not uniformly replacing their public drinking water with
bottled water; rather they are choosing bottled water over the other beverages
available at the store and home. Consumers across the United States choose
bottled water as an alternative to other packaged beverages when they want to
avoid or moderate calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial flavors or colors,
alcohol and other ingredients. Or, they choose bottled water because they are
not always satisfied with the aesthetic qualities (e.g., taste, odor, color) of
their tap water. There are thousands of public water systems across the US, most
of which are succeeding; but others are faced with occasional "challenges,"
emergencies, or natural events that may cause service interruptions.
- Many consumers likely drink both bottled water and tap water depending on
the circumstances. It does not, however, always amount to a tap versus bottled
water choice.
Bottled Water Container Safety
- Bottled water is but one of thousands of beverage and food products packaged
in plastic and satisfies consumer demands for the safety and convenience of
packaged food and drinks.
- All plastics (and other materials) intended for contact with foods or
beverages, including bottled water, are regulated by FDA to help assure their
safety. The materials used in all bottled water containers are shown to be safe
through extensive laboratory testing.
- FDA comprehensively regulates the safety of food, including bottled water,
by carefully reviewing food and beverage packaging materials before allowing
them on the market. As part of its review, FDA assesses the migration potential
of plastics and the substances with which they are made.
- FDA allows food-contact plastics for their intended use based on safety
data. The process includes stringent requirements for estimating the levels at
which such materials may transfer to the diet. FDA's safety criteria require
extensive toxicity testing for any substance that may be ingested at more than
negligible levels. This means FDA has affirmatively determined that, when
plastics are used as intended in food-contact applications, the nature and
amount of substances that may migrate, if any, are safe.
Bottled Water and Fluoride
- The bottled water industry provides both fluoridated and non-fluoridated
brands to provide consumers with choice, quality and convenience. A number of
IBWA member companies produce fluoridated bottled water for consumers who want
fluoride in their drinking water and wish to choose bottled water. For a list of
IBWA member companies that produce fluoridated bottled water, visit the IBWA web
site at www.bottledwater.org.
- There is no correlation between the increased consumption of bottled water
and an increase in cavities. In fact, bottled water does not contain ingredients
that cause cavities and is often a replacement for beverages and foods that may
contribute to poor dental health.
- There are many sources of fluoride, and the amount of fluoride exposure
varies greatly by community and individual. Consumers should look at how much
fluoride they are receiving as part of an overall diet and should contact their
health care provider or dental care provider for their recommendation. Too much
exposure to fluoride can lead to a condition called fluorosis, which results in
stains to the teeth.
- The American Dental Association (ADA) on November 9, 2006 released an
interim guidance document on the use of fluoridated bottled water. The "Interim
Guidance on Fluoride Intake for Infants and Young Children" clearly did not
advise against the use of bottled water containing fluoride. It recommended that
consumers who choose to feed infants using liquid concentrate or powdered infant
formula and wish to use bottled water select a brand that is "fluoride free or
contains low levels of fluoride." This guidance was offered for parents of
infants-defined as children ages 12 months and younger-and did not advise
against serving bottled water with fluoride to children older than one year. ADA
also clearly stated that, "The occasional use of water containing optimal levels
of fluoride should not appreciably increase a child's risk for fluorosis."
For more facts about bottled water regulations, safety and other reasons for
consumer bottled water choice, visit www.bottledwater.org. Consumers have a
right to information that may help them make balanced decisions about their
drinking water and beverage choices. Related links:
http://www.bottledwater.org
http://www.worldwaterday.org
http://www.dwrf.info
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The Water Connoisseur
