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Geology Articles » Bottled Water
Bottled Water - Where Does That Water Come From?
Bottled water sales are exploding! According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation the wholesale value of bottled water sold in the United States during 2006 was about $10.99 billion - a 60% increase over what was sold during 2001.
Some Bottled Water History
The economic value of "special water" was first cultivated in Europe during the late 1700s when people began visiting natural springs to drink the water or bathe in it. Then in 1767, Jackson's spa in Boston began bottling their water. This increased their income and shared the water with people over a broad area.
In the early days of the water industry, "mineral water" and "spring water" were the most popular types of bottled water. Many people believed that "mineral water" had a medicinal effect and that "spring water" had a special purity because it had just emerged from the ground and had not been used. The industry began with these perceived benefits of bottled water and perception remains a driving factor for sales.
Data From Wikipedia / Beverage Marketing Corporation
Is Bottled Water Simply High Priced Tap Water?
Sure, lots of tap water is sold in bottles. However, bottled water is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and FDA requires bottlers to identify what type of water is in every bottle. If the label says "from a community water system" or "from a municipal source" you are buying the equivalent of tap water.
The bottler may also treat municipal or community water so that it meets the United States government's definition of "purified water", "demineralized water", "deionized water", "distilled water" or "reverse osmosis water".
How About the Premium Bottled Waters?
Some bottled waters are specially produced from the ground or from a natural water source. These are also regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and must be labeled according to FDA definitions. Listed below are some of the most common water identities:
Vintage Mineral Water Jug
BLM Image (from about 1906)
(Enlarge Image) |
Mineral Water
is a natural water produced from a well or spring that naturally contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. These dissolved solids would, under most circumstances, be considered impurities. However some people believe that the dissolved minerals provide specific health benefits. There are few rigorous studies to support the benefits of mineral waters produced from specific sources. The FDA does not allow the producer to add any additional minerals to the water or claim that the mineral water provides any "health benefit".
Ground Water or Well Water
is water that is produced from a well that penetrates the water table. The water table is a level in the ground below which all pore spaces are filled with water. Many community and municipal water systems produce their water from a well. There is nothing special about these waters. They have no natural properties that make them superior to other commercial waters.
Cross section showing an aquifer tapped by artesian wells. USGS Image.
Artesian Water
must be produced from an artesian well. To be an artesian well the water in the aquifer (a subsurface rock unit that holds and transmits water) must be under enough pressure to force it up the well to a level that is higher than the top of the aquifer. Artesian water has no special chemical or medicinal qualities.
Cross section showing an aquifer tapped by artesian wells. USGS Image.
Spring Water
must be produced from a spring. A spring is a location where water flows naturally to earth's surface. In the past many people believed that spring water was special because it emerged from the ground and had not been used before. However, the processes which form springs are now well understood and the water that flows from them has no special qualities.
Sparkling Water
is spring or well water that naturally contains dissolved carbon dioxide - thus the water is naturally carbonated. The producer may artificially replace any carbon dioxide that is lost during processing but may not add more than what the water had when it emerged from the ground.
Why Am I Paying Big Money for Bottled Water?
If you are drinking bottled water because you think that it is more pure, better for your health or safer than community or municipal water you are probably not getting your money's worth. The purity standards for bottled water are no higher than those applied to tap water - in some instances they are lower or less rigorous.
The benefits of bottled water are convenience and novelty. Instead of buying bottled water you can carry a canteen or a reusable athletic bottle. Or, recycle an empty water bottle by filling it from your tap. That will save you a lot of money - bottled water costs thousands of times as much as water from your tap! It will also help the environment because water bottles are one of the major sources of plastic going into landfills today - and shipping billions of gallons of water every year uses a lot of fuel.
The REAL Benefit is What You Didn't Drink!
Water has no calories, no dissolved sugar, no alcohol and no caffeine. If you regularly drink water as a replacement for soda you might lose a little weight. Replace iced tea or coffee to lower your caffeine intake. Quench your thirst with some water instead of a beer and you will save calories and maybe a fender bender on the way home. All of these are good for your health. It's easier for most people to drink water as an alternative beverage than to go without one.
So, start thinking of water as a beverage. Bottled water and tap water are both healthier to drink than most of the alternatives. Drink bottled water when you need convenience. Drink tap water to save money and preserve the environment.
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