Whether bottled water is better than tap water, and justifies its expense, remains under debate. Stephen Kay, vice president of the IBWA (the International Bottled Water Association, an industry trade group), says member bottlers are selling the quality, consistency and safety that bottled water promises, and providing a service for those whose municipal systems do not provide good quality drinking water.
“Bottled water is produced and regulated exclusively for human consumption,” Kay says. “Some people in their municipal markets have the luxury of good water. Others do not.”
Water, of course, is essential to human health. Drinking enough water to replace whatever is lost through bodily functions is important. But surveys indicate that most of us might not be drinking enough. Is bottled water part of the answer? To decide, consumers need to arm themselves with knowledge about what they're buying before they grab the next bottle of Dasani, Evian or Perrier off the shelf. “It really pays to do your homework,” says Stew Thornley, a water quality health educator with the Minnesota Department of Health.
Thornley agrees that consumers can depend on bottled water's safety and quality. But he says consumers should feel the same way about the quality of their tap water. Tap water may sometimes look or taste differently, he says, but that doesn't mean it's unsafe. In fact, the most dangerous contaminants are those that consumers cannot see, smell or taste, he says. But consumers don't need to worry about their presence, he adds. Municipal water systems serving 25 people or more are subject to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. As such, the water is constantly and thoroughly tested for harmful substances, he says. If there is a problem, consumers will be warned through the media or other outlets. “In lieu of being told otherwise, consumers should feel confident of the safety of their water,” Thornley says.
Dr. Robert Ophaug, a professor of oral health at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, notes that tap water has another advantage many people don't think about: It typically contains fluoride. Many communities have elected to add fluoride to drinking water to promote strong teeth and prevent tooth decay in residents, though some groups continue to oppose this practice and believe it's detrimental to health.
Ophaug says bottled water often does not have fluoride added to it. Or, if it has been purified through reverse osmosis or distillation, the fluoride may have been removed. People who drink mostly bottled water, especially those who have children, need to be aware of this, he says. They may need to use supplemental fluoride that is available by prescription from dentists or doctors. The supplements are usually recommended for children ages 7 to 16. Fluoride supplements, (NOT available from epic4health), cost around $15 for a three-month supply.
“At the least, inform the children's dentist or doctor that you are relying on bottled water,” Ophaug says.
The IBWA says there are more than 20 brands of bottled water with added fluoride available to consumers today. When fluoride is added to bottled water, the FDA requires that the term “fluoridated,” “fluoride added,” or “with added fluoride” be used on the label. Consumers interested in how much fluoride bottled water contains can usually find out by contacting individual companies directly.