BOTTLED WATER

By Alma Copeland
TEAM Resources

When bottled water first appeared in stores, I remember questioning why anyone would buy plain water! Now I occasionally find myself doing just that.  

The bottled water industry has grown an estimated 10% a year over the last few years. One reason is the concern over contaminated water supplies. E-coli-contaminated water supplies such as Walkerton have made news headlines. Water from wells can also become contaminated.

Health Canada sets out specific guidelines regarding bottled water so it pays to read the label.

Here are some definitions:

Spring Water: Comes from an underground source. It cannot come from a public water supply. It cannot be modified with chemicals, but carbon dioxide and ozone can be added during the bottling process to protect freshness. 

Mineral Water: Spring water with a larger amount of dissolved mineral salts.

Other Bottled Waters: Water from any source (municipal water, well water, etc.) that can be treated to make it fit for human consumption or to modify its composition. Treatments include carbonation, ozonation, ultraviolet irradiation and filtration to remove harmful bacteria. Read the label. It is possible that this water is simply tap water with a few minerals and chemicals, such as chlorine, removed. If it doesn't say mineral or spring water on the label, it may be tap water.   

Purity: According to Health Canada, there is no evidence to suggest that bottled water is safer than municipal tap water. They say our drinking water supply is one of the safest in the world - it's regularly tested and is subject to a very large number of guidelines as well as purification processes. 

Regulation: All bottled water for sale must be safe for people to consume. Mineral or spring water must not contain harmful substances at the source. Other bottled waters may undergo a variety of treatments and should meet the regulatory requirements for various strains of bacteria. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspects bottled water regularly. 

Differences in Taste: Different bottled waters have different tastes. They vary significantly in composition, as they pick up different minerals at their sources. According to Consumer Reports, differences in taste s may also reflect the type of plastic container used.

How Water Should Taste: Consumer Reports says water should have no taste. It should be clean, lively and a little crisp. Since some waters are bottled at various sources, they may have different tastes depending on where they were bottled.

How To Choose A Brand of Water: Reading the label can tell you a lot about the water. Otherwise, your choice should be based on personal preference. 

Different Types of Bottled Water: Health Canada says there is no evidence to suggest that spring or mineral waters have greater health benefits than other bottled water or tap water. 

Why Bottled Water Is Expensive: The Canadian Bottled Water Association says the process makes the water expensive. Bottled water is considered a food item. Therefore, it must go through the same manufacturing practices and undergo the same food regulations as other beverages for sale that must meet the Food and Drug Act. Pop and water share many of the same costs, transportation, distribution and refrigeration, and that is why water may be as expensive as pop, or more so. Also many waters are filtered or treated with high-tech equipment. 

Bottled water is significantly cheaper in larger quantities. It's okay to refill the bottle you use every day as long as you wash it out carefully each time you use it, since the bacteria your mouth brings to the bottle can spread.