Remember when having a drink of water seemed like a simple decision? You went to the faucet, pulled or turned the handle, and voilà, you had a glass of water. Little did we know in those primitive early days of the 1970s, that our ordinary tap water often carried with it a variety of contaminants. Once the dangers of some of those microscopic items were brought to light, our sights turned to purification and filtering. Over the years, products have entered the market promising to eliminate the vast majority of contaminants found in the water that flows from your kitchen faucet. From water pitchers with built-in filters, activated charcoal and filtration canisters for the water source in your refrigerator door, to complex filtration systems that can be installed between your water supply source and kitchen sink, "pure" is the new adjective use to describe water.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) notes that more than half of all Americans drink bottled water with about one-third of the population consuming it on a regular basis. Bottled water sales have tripled in the past ten years and generate approximately $4 billion a year in sales. Compared to the cost of tap water, bottled water prices are anywhere from 240 to 10,000 times more per gallon.

Both types of drinking water (tap and bottled) come from the same sources including rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that both bottled and tap drinking water can be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants but that presence does not necessarily mean the water poses a health risk. Minerals like magnesium and calcium (considered contaminants) give water a distinct flavor and are vital elements for the body. Contaminants become a health issue when they include pesticides and microbes that can cause adverse effects or illness.

If your water comes from a public water system, your water supplier is required to provide you with an annual water report, which will indicate the levels of various contaminants that exist in the water supply. Bottled waters are labeled and must list the water type (spring water, mineral water, or drinking water), the source, and the way the water is treated. The EPA notes that some bottled water comes from surface water sources, which typically comes from a public water system and receives additional treatment such as disinfection and filtration, before it is bottled. If the water comes from a pubic water system and has not been treated to meet the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) definition of "purified" or "sterile" water, the label must state that the source is from a community water system. If your water comes from a household well, the EPA recommends having it tested regularly for bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants.

When it comes to governmental standards, the EPA and FDA have differing duties. The EPA sets standards for tap water provided by public water suppliers while the FDA sets standards for bottled water based upon EPA standards. The FDA regulates bottled water as a packaged food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. If you are concerned about the quality of your tap or bottled water, the EPA recommends contacting the bottler or municipal water system and ask for the latest testing results and whether the water has been treated to remove contaminants. Carbonated water, soda water, seltzer water, sparkling water, and tonic water are considered soft drinks and are not regulated as bottled water.

The EPA also reminds consumers who use a home water cooler to clean and sanitize the unit regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions.

So, drink up. Water is vital for a healthy body and with bottled water more readily available than ever before, it's always convenient to quench your thirst with a quick drink of healthy water. But do your research, read labels, and check with the sources of your drinking water—you may be paying far more for basic tap water dressed in a pretty package.

Sources:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—www.Yosemite.epa.gov
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—www.epa.gov/safewater
Natural Resources Defense Council—www.nrdc.org

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