In 1999, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) studied 103 brands
of bottled water and determined that one-third failed to comply with industry-set
standards.
Now, some people say that bottled water is still safe, even with those findings.
However, according to the NRDC, when asked, this is their answer…
“ NRDC conducted a four-year review of the bottled water industry and the
safety standards that govern it, including a comparison of national bottled water
rules with national tap water rules, and independent testing of over 1,000 bottles
of water. Our conclusion is that there is no assurance that just because water
comes out of a bottle it is any cleaner or safer than water from the tap. And
in fact, an estimated 25 percent or more of bottled water is really just tap
water in a bottle -- sometimes further treated, sometimes not.”
The
Oregon State University Extension Family and Community Development feels
that bottled water and tap water are similar in composition.
They say that the only reason to spend the money on bottled water
is to remediate taste and odor issues. Here is a portion of a
report which they released.
“Same standards for bottled
and tap water.
Overall, pretty much the same standards for tap water are also applied to
bottled water. Tap water has safe levels of chemicals, pesticides or other
harmful substances in it. These same safety levels are applied to bottled
water. Remember that some bottled water comes from community water systems
anyway so it is like buying "bottled" tap water.
Keeping bacteria out of your water
- chlorine or ozone?
There are two disinfectants to treat water so that it is safe to drink. Chlorine
is used to disinfect many public water systems. It is very effective at reducing
the number of bacteria in water. Some people do not like its after-taste.
Some statistical studies have linked chlorine to some kinds of cancer. However,
we need to know more about this link. Is it the chlorine or some other substance
in the water that may cause these cancers? We don't know. This needs to be
studied before we no longer recommend using chlorine as a disinfectant. Most
bottled water uses ozone, a type of oxygen, as a disinfectant. Ozone's ability
to disinfect water may decrease over time. Thus, it is not as effective as
chlorine for long periods of time. There is no after-taste or smell from
ozone.
The bottom line...
If you are concerned about bacteria or other contaminants in water, bottled
water is virtually the same as tap water. If, however, the taste of your
tap water is offensive, choose bottled water.”
Mr. Thornley,
of the Minnesota Department of Health, says that consumers can
depend on bottled water's safety and quality. But, he says, consumers
should feel the same way about the quality of their tap water.
Tap water may sometimes look or taste differently, he says, but
that doesn't mean it's unsafe. In fact, the most dangerous contaminants
are those that consumers cannot see, smell or taste, he says.
Fluoride is also an issue to consider. Dr. Robert Ophaug, a professor of oral
health at the University Of Minnesota School Of Dentistry, notes that tap water
has another advantage many people don't think about: “It typically contains
fluoride. Many communities have elected to add fluoride to drinking water to
promote strong teeth and prevent tooth decay in residents, though some groups
continue to oppose this practice and believe it's detrimental to health.”
So, in conclusion, the choice of using bottled water is up to your individual
preference. If your tap water has a significant taste and odor problem, you
may want to consider drinking bottled water. However, don’t automatically
assume that bottled water is any better than tap water. And remember, that
bottled water does not contain fluoride.
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