The Bottled Water Debate - Behind The Scenes!

As the bottled water industry across the world grows to an unbelievable size, producing huge profits for the leaders in the market, whispers echo behind the scenes about the reality of bottled water and the suppression of information in this multi billion dollar world market. What is the truth behind bottled water.

According to the North American company Nestle Waters, bottled water is the fastest growing segment of America's beverage business and is the fifth best-selling beverage in the United States. According to the Australasian Bottled Water Institute, we spend about $385 million a year on bottled water, here in Australia.

It is a strange phenomenon that is seeing millions of consumers worldwide as being willing to spend 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon for bottled water than for tap water. The rush of consumers for bottled water is understandable as it is easy to see the benefits of water are well-documented.

We use water to aid our systems with performing the digestive process, as well as to regulate body temperature. It is also used to promote healthy and clean skin and has been found to be a natural lubricant for joints. Within our body water also plays a vital role in that it helps move nutrients around the body and also carries waste through our complicated works.

The purported benefits of bottled water are equally well-marketed. A few of the better documented benefits of bottled water are that 1) Bottle water seems to have a better, cleaner, and sometimes crisper taste than that of tap water. 2) Bottled water is very handy as it is a commonly sold product that has already been purified and usually chilled too. 3) Bottled water is a great alternative when traveling in foreign countries or any area where the water is not the same or even a similar quality as that which we are used to.

Is bottled water the great beneficial product it seems to be or is there a more sinister side to this industry? Are we being told everything, or do we need to look more closely at the industry and the products being produced? Read on as we take a look!

To begin with we should take a look at what is being said about the product, by the product and so it is important to study labels a little closer. Water bottled in Europe and labeled as "mineral water" must come from natural springs to earn its "seal of approval."

"Artesian water" is drawn from a well that taps into a confined underground aquifer where the water level stands about the natural water table, elevating the water's purity. "Well water" is water that must be pumped to the surface through a hole drilled for that purpose. Water that earns the label "spring water" may come from a natural spring OR from a hole that is simply adjacent to a natural spring.

Some bottled water flies "under the radar" of regulatory requirements. Water that is labeled "carbonated water," "disinfected water," "filtered water," "seltzer water," "sparkling water," "soda water," or just plain "water" may be exempt from specific water-testing and contamination standards. This however is not commonly publicized knowledge that should be openly shared with the public before they choose the brand of water they will buy.

After some searching through various records and reports, the following information was found about the results of a study performed by the NRDC ( Natural Resource Defense Council ). The study reports that some bottled water was found to be less than standard quality, finding such things as industrial solvents, inorganic contaminants like arsenic as well as bacterial contaminants.

The report goes on to say that the current regulations that govern the water standards of bottled water in the market had "gaping holes". In fact, the NRDC presents evidence to substantiate the claim that "misleading marketing of some bottled water."

This NRDC report also states "At the national level, the Food and Drug Administration is responsible for bottled water safety, but the FDA's rules completely exempt waters that are packaged and sold within the same state, which account for between 60 and 70 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States (roughly one out of five states don't regulate these waters either)."

To conclude the report, the NRDC closes by saying that even though bottled water is covered by the FDA rules, that the quality and purity testing is still far less stringent than those that tap water must pass!

Overall the testing performed by the NRDC produced the following amazing results:
"After testing more than 1,000 bottles of water, NRDC found that 33% were contaminated." This is illustrated in the full report of the NRDC.

Not only have there been findings that the product inside the bottles, supposed to be water from a spring or other such natural source, are not in fact that, there is also the chance that the purified water that the consumer bought, in faith of it being a bona fide product, is nothing more than tap water in a bottle with a fancy label on it. So we see that the contents of these bottles are at least questionable, now lets take a look at the bottles themselves.

Lets assume that your water is indeed a pure water from a spring found somewhere nearby you that has been tested and found to be pure, is it still possible that the water you drink when you buy your bottle is no longer pure? Water held in a plastic bottle at the manufacturer, then at the warehouse, then at the distributor, then at the retailer, and also all the time in transit between these places before you get it, leaves ample time to leech out components from the plastic containers. This is a real concern.

Another risk is when bottling plants reuse bottles as the bottles can become home to a wide variety of bacteria that can cause symptoms including stomach aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
To avoid the chances of this, it is safer to seek water sold in glass bottles.

Remember that how you store your water is almost as important as the water itself. Use glass containers or, the least reactive, #7 plastic bottles. You can find these bottles at most health food stores. They're also becoming "standard equipment" for workout enthusiasts, so look for them at gyms, sports stores, or online.

One last thing to keep in mind about the bottled water debate, concerns our environment. Bottled water is sold on the strength that is a healthy product that is safer for us than the alternative of tap water. A simple water filter would achieve this effect without the detrimental effects to our environment. What detrimental effects you ask? Consider the fuel that is burnt every year to transport this water from location to location and also to produce the bottles themselves. This leaves a massive carbon footprint on the planet that needs to be addressed.

In conclusion after presenting this information, take a think about exactly what is going on with bottled water and if you decide to continue using bottled water over tap water, then at least consider selecting a brand that you know is not trying to avoid purity testing by using labeling tricks, and also if possible buy locally made products to save our environment too.