What is
bottled water?
Bottled water
is a great beverage choice for hydration and refreshment because of its
consistent safety, quality, good taste and convenience. The U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) fully regulates bottled water as a packaged food
product and requires bottled water to adhere to FDA's extensive food
safety, labeling and inspection requirements. Bottled water is also
subject to state regulations and, at the industry level, members of the
International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) are required to follow the
IBWA Model Code.
Water is
classified as "bottled water" or "drinking water" when it meets all
applicable federal and state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container
and is sold for human consumption. By law, FDA standards for bottled water
must be at least as stringent and protective of public health as standards
set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for public water
systems.
Some
beverages containing certain ingredients or additives may cause that
product to be classified as a soft drink, dietary supplement or some other
categorization. Soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not
considered bottled waters. They are regulated differently, may contain
sugar and calories and are classified as soft drinks.
[ Back to top
]
What
are the different types of bottled water?
FDA has
established a bottled water Standard of Identity to define the several
different types of bottled water based on specific characteristics of the
product. Bottled water products meeting the Standard of Identity may be
labeled as bottled water or drinking water, or one or more of the
following terms:
Spring Water - Bottled water derived from an
underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of
the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through
a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring. Spring
water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same
underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical
properties before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality
as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the
earth.
Purified Water - Water that has been produced by
distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes
while meeting the definition of purified water in the United States
Pharmacopoeia may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable
product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes
may include "distilled water" if it is produced by distillation,
deionized water" if it is produced by deionization or "reverse osmosis
water" if the process used is reverse osmosis. Alternatively,
"___
drinking water" can be used with the blank being filled in with one of
the terms defined in this paragraph (e.g., "purified drinking water" or
"distilled drinking water").
Mineral Water - Bottled water containing not
less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as
mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of
bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral
and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source. No
minerals can be added to this product.
Sparkling Bottled Water - Water that after
treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the
same amount of carbon dioxide that it had as it emerged from the source.
Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as "sparkling drinking water,"
"sparkling mineral water," "sparkling spring water," etc.
Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water - Bottled
water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing
underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at
some height above the top of the aquifer.
Well Water - Bottled water from a hole bored,
drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water
aquifer.
[ Back to top
]
How do
I know my water is safe?
Consumers can
trust that bottled water is safe for many reasons. First, bottled water is
strictly regulated at the federal level by FDA and at the state level by
state agencies. By law, FDA standards for bottled water must be at least
as stringent and protective of public health as standards set by EPA for
public water systems. This helps ensure that bottled water sold in the
United States meets stringent standards for safety, quality and labeling.
In addition, members of IBWA must meet strict industry standards required
by the IBWA Model Code, which in several cases are stricter than FDA,
state or EPA's public drinking water standards. To help ensure that
bottled water is as safe and of the highest quality possible, all IBWA
members use one or more of the following practices: source protection and
monitoring, reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and
ultraviolet light.
[ Back to top
]
How is
bottled water different from tap water?
Bottled water is
produced and distributed as a packaged food product and made specifically
for drinking. As a packaged food product, bottled water must adhere to FDA
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) required of all FDA-regulated food
products as well as specific GMPs unique to bottled water production and
packaging. GMPs require that each container of bottled water
is
produced in a sanitary environment and packaged in sanitary, safety sealed
containers that are approved by FDA for food contact. Bottled water is
also subject to FDA food recall, misbranding and food adulteration
provisions, which help ensure that consumers receive safe, high quality
bottled water and protects consumers from substandard
products.
In addition, members
of the IBWA abide by the IBWA Model Code, which includes a voluntary
system called HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). This
system was developed byFDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
and adopted by IBWA as a science-based approach to helping ensure safety
in every step of the bottled water process.
Taste is another
reason consumers choose bottled water. Chlorine is most often used to
disinfect tap water and can leave an aftertaste. Some bottlers use
ozonation, a form of supercharged oxygen and/or ultraviolet light as the
final disinfecting agent, neither of which leaves an
aftertaste.
Bottled water provides
consumers with consistent safety, high quality, good taste and convenient
portability.To help ensure that bottled water is safe and of the highest
quality possible, all IBWA members use one or more of the following steps
found in a multi-barrier approach: source protection and monitoring,
reverse osmosis, distillation, filtration, ozonation and
disinfection.
[ Back to top
]
What is
Cryptosporidium? Is it in my bottled water?
Cryptosporidium is a waterborne parasite that lives in animals and
can be passed into surface water through their waste. Cryptosporidia from
animal waste have been found in rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and
many other types of surface water. FDA's definition of bottled water from
ground water sources [21 CFR §165.110(a)(2)(ii)] states that "ground water
must not be under direct influence of surface water," and therefore is not
expected to contain Cryptosporidium.
According to
FDA bottled water GMPs, bottled water companies are required to use
approved sources. There are two types of sources from which bottled water
can be drawn: The first consists of natural sources (e.g., springs and
artesian wells). By law, these sources must be protected from surface
intrusion and other environmental influences. This requirement helps
ensure that surface water contaminants such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia
are not present. The second source of bottled water consists approved
potable municipal supplies. Bottled water companies that use these sources
typically reprocess this water
using methods such as distillation,
reverse osmosis, ozonation, deionization and
filtration. This ensures
that the finished product is very different-in composition and taste-from
the original source water.
All IBWA
member companies that us municipal supplies are required by the IBWA Model
Code to employ as a safeguard at least one of three processing methods
recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for
effective removal of microbial (surface water) contaminants, including
Cryptosporidium. These processing methods are reverse osmosis, filtration
and distillation. Ozonation and ultraviolet light may also be effective
treatments for Cryptosporidium inactivation.
.
[ Back to top
]
Is
bottled water regulated?
Most
certainly. The bottled water industry is regulated on three levels:
federal, state and, for members of IBWA, at the industry level.
FDA
regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers
assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated
and tested, and is of the highest quality. IBWA has been a long-standing
proponent of sensible regulations for bottled water that help to further
ensure safety and protect consumers. IBWA is active at all
levels of local, state and federal government, assisting in the
development of such regulations, where they help enhance public safety and
product quality.
[ Back to top
]
Do
imported waters have to meet the same regulations?
Yes. Any
imported bottled water brand sold in the United States must meet all of
the same federal and state regulations that apply to domestically produced
bottled water brands.
[ Back to top
]
Is
bottled water regulated differently from tap water?
Yes. Bottled
water is regulated as a packaged food product by FDA and must meet all
applicable food packaging regulations. EPA regulates tap water as a
utility.
[ Back to top
]
How
long can I store bottled water?
FDA has not
established a shelf life for bottled water. IBWA advises consumers to
store bottled water at room temperature (or cooler), out of direct
sunlight and away from solvents and chemicals such as gasoline, paint
thinners and dry cleaning chemicals. Bottled water can be used
indefinitely if stored properly.
[ Back to top
]
Is my
bottled water produced by an IBWA member?
The easiest
way to find out if an IBWA member company produces your favorite bottled
water brand is by visiting IBWA's Web site
(www.bottledwater.org).
[ Back to top
]
What is
IBWA?
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the
authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters.
Founded in 1958, IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international
bottlers, distributors and suppliers. Strengthened by IBWA Model Code, the
Association is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food
product, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high
quality bottled water products. Consumers can contact IBWA at
1-800-WATER-11 or log onto IBWA's web site (www.bottledwater.org) for more
information about bottled water and a list of members' brands.
[ Back to top
]
The information in this FAQ was provided by the
International Bottled Water Association.
