The bottled water industry often makes the FALSE claim that it is far better regulated than tap water suppliers are.
- The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has said “When compared to the level of regulation and scrutiny applied to tap water . . .bottled water consumers come out way ahead.”
- IBWA asserted that “If one considers the full range of FDA consumer protection standards, bottled water safeguards have been more complete and protective for a longer time than tap water standards.”
- IBWA contends, “Quality is in every container of bottled water. It’s consistent and it is inspected and monitored by governmental and private laboratories. Unfortunately, tap water can be inconsistent — sometimes it might be okay while other times it is not.”
- The IBWA further declares that “bottled water is strictly regulated on the federal level by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and on the state level by state officials. This ensures that all bottled water sold in the United States meets these stringent standards.”
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DECEPTION:
In a review by an environmental action group known as the Natural Resources Defense Council, the federal bottled water regulations are actually much weaker than tap water regulations.
Here is the first problem with bottled water regulation:
The FDA ,under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, is supposed to have adopted and applied all EPA tap water standards to bottled water within 180 days after the EPA issued the standards. There is one big loop hole here because the FDA has been authorized to refuse applying EPA tap standards to bottled water in certain situations where it has determined and publishished reasons why it would not be appropriate for bottled water. There haven’t been any situations where they have refused to apply the standards because they never adopted these standards in the first place.
Here is the second problem with bottled water regulation:
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) amendments modified the FFDCA to provide that, by operation of law, if FDA does not adopt new EPA tap water rules for bottled water within 180 days, EPA standards will automatically serve as bottled water standards.
HERE IS THE LOOPHOLE: If the FDA decides to adopt its own standards, they must be at least as stringent as EPA tap water standards, unless FDA finds that the contaminant does not occur at all in bottled water. If this is the case, the FDA can waive the requirement to have a bottled water standard.
Gaping holes remain in the regulatory fabric for bottled water, and FDA and state resources dedicated to bottled water protection and enforcement generally are thin to nonexistent.
SO HERE IS THE SOLUTION:
Don’t buy bottled water any more and save your money! Your probably thinking “How will I drink water that tastes good away from home?” The answer is buy a portable water filter. Many are available to choose from pick the one you think will fit your needs. Stop worrying about the unregulated bottled water industry and don’t give up by drinking bad tasting, foul smelling tap water! GET A BOTTLE FILTER TODAY!