Pitfalls And Perils Of Drinking Bottled Water | Nutrition & Dieting articles | Well Being center | SteadyHealth.com
In much of the world, tap water is unsafe. Unfortunately, bottled water is not necessarily better. People who live in advanced nations generally fail to appreciate the value of safe, germ-free drinking water straight from the tap. The fact is, it's OK from a health standpoint to drink water staight from the tap most of the time in the United States, in Canada, in Australia and New Zealand, in the European Union, in many parts of the Caribbean, in Korea, and in Japan.
http://www.safewater.org/PDFS/resour...tled_Water.pdf
The Canadian Bottled Water Association defines bottled water as water that meets all federal and provincial regulations for potable water, is sealed in a sanitary container, and is sold for human consumption. Potable means that the water is safe for human consumption. However, the regulations for bottled water are not the same as those for tap water. The quality of tap water follows the Canadian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines, but they are only guidelines,
not enforced by law.
NRDC: Bottled Water
FDA Rules for Bottled Water Are Generally
Less Strict than Tap Water:
Even water defined as "bottled water" is not specifically required to meet treatment, contamination, or testing standards as strict as those applicable to city tap water.
EPA's Information Collection Rule has required that, over the past couple of years, big cities that use surface water (systems which serve the majority of the U.S. population) generally must test for common parasites such as viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium. By contrast, FDA rules do not specify that any water bottlers are ever required to do such testing.
•There are no treatment requirements to remove or kill bacteria and parasites in bottled water.
•There are no Cryptosporidium and Giardia testing for bottled water.
•Weaker standards for some chemical contaminants in bottled water
Fresh Water Systems Expands Promotion of UV Systems for Water Safety | Reuters
GREENVILLE, SC, Aug. 21, 2015/PRNewswire/—Fresh Water Systems Inc. (FWS), is one of the largest independent providers of water filtration systems in the US. According to FWS president Steve Norvell, "a week does not go by where we don't see numerous regional boil alerts from all over the country, and even
contamination of bottled water with dangerous microorganisms such as
Giardia (the most common), E. Coli, and Salmonella."
https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyc...a1,q7a4_c,q8a2
Both bottled water and tap water are safe to drink if they meet the standards set by the EPA and the FDA. Some bottled water gets more treatment than tap water. Other bottled water gets less treatment or
is not treated at all. Bottled water that contains sparkling water, seltzer water, tonic water, or club soda is considered a soft drink. It is not regulated under FDA regulations for bottled water. Mineral water comes from an underground source and contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved minerals. Spring water comes from underground water that flows to the earth's surface. It can only be collected at the spring. Artesian water comes from underground water that is under pressure. That pressure pushes the water to the surface after a well is drilled.
Bottled water can be tainted with E. coli bacteria. Proof positive that your bottled water may be tainted with E. Coli comes from Niagra Bottling, who issued a voluntary recall June 20, 2015. E. coli bacteria is of particular concern to people who have a compromised immune system. The following waters were recalled for the E. Coli scare: 7-11, Acadia, Acme, Best Yet, Big Y, Nature's Place, Pricerite, Shaws, Shoprite, Superchill, Morning Fresh, Niagara, Wegman's, and Western Beef Blue.
Sources of Infection & Risk Factors | Giardia | Parasites | CDC
The risk of humans acquiring Giardia infection from dogs or cats is small. The exact type of Giardia that infects humans is usually not the same type that infects dogs and cats.