Emila Smith
Most of planet Earth is covered in water, and water is ultimately as vital to human, animal, and plant survival as the air is, it just takes a little longer for lack of it to cause any trouble; still, even mild dehydration creates a surprising number of issues.
Staying well-hydrated is essential for our health, yet, we cannot just drink any water. There are numerous kinds of water available that may be categorized by location collection, ingredients contained within, and treatment methods; that’s why it is essential to know as much as possible when attempting to identify healthy water brands.
Labeling Bottled Water
For those who prefer to purchase bottled water rather than drink municipal tap water, it’s crucial to understand that not all bottled waters are equal; they come from a variety of sources and contain differing ingredients, from alkaline waters to mineral waters. It’s natural for consumers to want to read the labels, but are labels truly informative, and, more importantly, are they understandable for the average consumer?
In 1995, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration created a standard of identity regulations for bottled water; these regulations require a description of the water in the bottle, as well as pertinent names that indicate the water is fine for drinking, such as ‘drinking water’, ‘bottled water’, ‘spring water’, or ‘purified water’. The FDA also requires a minimal indication of the source of the water, as well as generically identifying if the water is procured from a community water system on the labeling.
Federal regulations require the bottling company to furnish contact information should consumers desire additional information. This establishes a combined approach to bottled water labeling information, in which the company provides some info, but if you want more, you must contact them.
Reading Bottled Water Labels
Billions of dollars are spent annually on packaged water. Many consumers choose to drink bottled water rather than other kinds of beverages, and many select bottled water because they believe it to be safer than municipal tap water.
To comprehend a packaged water’s quality, reading the label is where you begin. Consumers should find the volume of water, nutritional content claims, and contact information, but it may also specify the type of water, the source, and treatment methods.
Water Types
Among the many kinds of marketed waters, commonly sold packaged waters include:
Drinking Water – this water is intended for human consumption and sealed in containers; this water may contain safe disinfectants.
Distilled Water – this water is steam from boiling that has been recondensed and packaged; the boiling of the water removes natural minerals and kills microbes.
Mineral Water – this water is sourced from underground and contains 250+ parts per million of dissolved solids in total.
Spring Water, Artesian Water, Well Water, or Groundwater – this water is sourced from an aquifer underground and can be treated, but there is no guarantee of treatment
Sterile water – this water is free of all microbes, this water can be sourced from anywhere but is treated to meet the requirements necessary for U.S. Pharmacopeia sterilization
Purified water – this water may be sourced from anywhere, but is treated to meet the standards for the U.S. Pharmacopeia definition of what constitutes purified water. It is free of chemicals and can also be free of microbes
Packaged Water Rather than Tap Water
Fears about the purity of tap water have fueled an increase in the popularity of buying bottled water. Packaged water does have one advantage, as it is considered a food product and, unlike tap water, must meet preparation and sanitation obligations.
Although marketing techniques and ploys will advertise packaged water as being superior to tap water, manufacturers must generally meet the same standards as tap water. Marketing methods may also point to zero calories or zero carbohydrates, while not referring to pertinent information about nitrates, arsenic, or other potential contaminants.
While the Environmental Protection Agency regulates tap water, the Food and Drug Administration regulates packaged water and defines the allowable levels of contaminants for bottled water. The FDA can monitor and run inspections on bottled water and the plants in which they are processed.
Hidden Behind the Labels
Not all bottled water is equal, and this isn’t solely because manufacturers may be bottling different types of water from a variety of sources. When referring to contaminants, there’s more than arsenic, lead, or nitrates to worry about.
PFA contamination is gaining increasing attention, as it is found everywhere in our environment, including in foods and supposedly clean drinking water. Referred to as ‘Forever Chemicals’, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used for consumer goods, and are practically indestructible, hence the ‘forever’ moniker.
These substances have also been linked to several health issues and diseases, including various cancers. The easiest way for PFAs to enter our bloodstream is through food and drink ingestion, and don’t fool yourself, not all packaged waters are exempt from PFA contamination.
In 2021, John Hopkins University researched 101 packaged water products and tested them for PFAs. In 39 of the 101 bottled waters tested, the products were found to contain PFAs.
Although the FDA has not yet set limits for PFAs in packaged water, that doesn’t mean consumers should not be concerned. While most bottled water does not contain concerning amounts of PFAs, this is not something that will currently appear on bottled water labels. Yet, as Consumer Reports have indicated, evidence warrants a cause for concern.
For consumers who prefer to avoid potential PFA contaminants in packaged water, purified bottled water is preferable, as most ‘purified’ waters are treated using reverse osmosis and will contain fewer PFAs than bottled spring waters.
Final Thoughts
Today, there is still no standardized label used on packaged water products. Labels may indicate the source or treatment process, but the FDA, which regulates bottled water, bases its standards on those imposed by the EPA for public tap water.
Where water is accessed can reveal a lot about what it may contain and the eventual treatment processes it goes through. Packaged water comes in many forms, including purified water, distilled water, mineral water, alkaline water, sparkling water, reverse osmosis water, deionized water, and spring water, with each subcategory having a different source and treatment process.
Interestingly, athletes often opt for spring water, as it is filtered naturally in underground waterways with filtering capabilities from sandstone, limestone, or clay. These elements aid in cleansing water and, at the same time, enrich the water with healthy minerals like magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium, and particularly bicarbonates that render spring water naturally alkaline.
The bottom line is to read labels carefully for the information they offer, and when in doubt, do your homework and ask questions.
Citations
JUST WATER. (n.d.). JUST Water | 100% Natural Spring Water in a Plant-Based Carton. https://justwater.com/
It, S. (2021, July 8). Bottled Water vs. Your Tap. Seaside. https://www.seasidesustainability.org/post/bottled-water-vs-your-tap
Bottled Water Regulation and the FDA. (2016, March 20). Food Safety. https://www.food-safety.com/articles/4373-bottled-water-regulation-and-the-fd
〈1229〉 Sterilization of Compendial Articles. (n.d.). https://doi.usp.org/USPNF/USPNF_M7408_01_01.html
Chow, S. J., Ojeda, N., Jacangelo, J. G., & Schwab, K. J. (2021). Detection of ultrashort-chain and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. bottled water. Water Research, 201, 117292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117292
Felton, R. (2021, June 17). New Study Finds PFAS in Bottled Water, as Lawmakers Call for Federal Limits. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/health/bottled-water/pfas-in-bottled-water-new-study-finds-a1111233122/