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Bottled water choices have never been so varied-or so elite. But is the fancy stuff any better for you than H2O from the tap?
It's a clever business move: Commodify something essential and market it as a symbol of health and status. In the past 30 years, that has happened with water. Americans spent over $10.8 billion on bottled water in 2000, as tap water's reputation suffers and nonbiodegradable bottles clog landfills. So while water is a healthy choice, is bottled water better for us and the environment?
Q:
Before we get down to the nifty-gritty, what are the differences between the various types of bottled water?
A:
There are many different water varieties, generally labeled based on their source or mineral content. Here's a cheat sheet for what those labels mean:
Artesian (e.g., Fiji, Voss): Thought to be purer than other water sources, artesian water comes from a confined aquifer (i.e., a solid layer of clay, rock, ice, or other natural element), which pressurizes the water to the point that it rises to the surface naturally.
Mineral (e.g., Calistoga, Evian): To be classified as mineral water, this variety contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source. There must be constant levels and relative proportions of minerals and trace elements at the source. No minerals may be added.
Spring (e.g., Arrowhead, Crystal Geyser, Volvic): Spring water derives from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the earths surface at a specific location.
Purified (e.g., Aquafina, Dasani): This is generally water from the "municipal supply" (aka tap water) that has been purified by one of a variety of techniques: distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable process.
Q:
Is bottled water safer than tap water?
A:
Not necessarily. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates bottled water, whereas the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with state and local governments, oversees tap water quality. In theory, this setup makes sense: The FDA already monitors food safety at manufacturing plants. "There are specific food-manufacturing processes and standards required of bottled water plants," says Adam...
