Who puts the fizz in “sparkling” water? Does bottled spring water really come from a spring? Who can bottle water?
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by Karma Metzgar, Extension Specialist — You see them everywhere, people carrying bottles of water. Who puts the fizz in “sparkling” water? Does bottled spring water really come from a spring? Who can bottle water?
The Food and Drug administration says that bottled water must be safe, sanitary and meet the same standards for contaminants as municipal tap water.
Bottled water is often tap water that has been filtered: estimates from the industry are that a quarter of all bottled water is simply tap water. Under current U.S. law, once water is purified (filtered) you don’t have to be told where it came from.
Most bottled water does come from springs or wells and is quite pure, but those sources can be inspected less often than municipal water supplies. Since most bottled water is not chlorinated, once it is open it is susceptible to bacterial contamination. This is particularly true if you carry it around at room temperature and sip directly from the bottle. If you finish the bottle in a day there is no concern, but if you keep a bottle for a few days (or reuse the bottle without sanitizing), there is a real possibility of bacterial growth.
There are a lot of claims in the bottled water business, some meaningless and some legitimate, according to an electronic newsletter, Nutrition News Focus. “EPA Certified” or “FDA Approved” are untrue since neither agency does this. Bottlers are sometimes not inspected for three years at a time by the Food and Drug Administration. Tap water is monitored under the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) much more frequently. Some legitimate claims are “NSF Certified” (formerly the National Sanitation Foundation) which indicates the company adheres to the standards set by NSF, and the International Bottled Water Association, which means the plant is inspected at least once a year, usually by NSF.
Here are some definitions of types of water if you choose to purchase bottled water.
Natural Water is water that is not derived from a municipal system or public supply and has not been modified by the addition or deletion of any minerals.
Spring Water flows out of the earth on its own at a particular spot and is bottled at or near its source. It is unmodified by the addition or deletion of minerals (if its bottler is a member of the International Bottled Water Association).
Purified Water, also known as distilled (vaporized and recondensed) water, is completely demineralized. It has what is often called a flat taste that many people consider objectionable.
Mineral Water, technically speaking, is any water that is not distilled, but to the International Bottled Water Association, it’s water that ‘contains not less than 50 parts per million total dissolved solids.’ The more solids, or minerals, the stronger the water’s taste.
Club Soda is water that has been artificially carbonated (with carbon dioxide) and contains added salts and minerals.
Seltzer is also injected with carbon dioxide but has not added salts.