Water, water everywhere—but how do you choose to hydrate? According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Water Health Series – Bottled Water Basics,” Americans spend billions each year on bottled water, making it one of the fastest growing drink choices in the United States.
No matter where you’re from in Texas, bottled water can be beneficial—especially during times of crisis, severe weather, or just exploring the outdoors in some of the state’s more inhospitable environments. However, we can all agree that there are more environmentally conservative means to stay hydrated, as well as to deal with the disposal of common plastic water bottles, in order to better Take Care of Texas.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the EPA are both responsible for the safety of our national public drinking water. In Texas, through the Safe Drinking Water Act, TCEQ is delegated authority by EPA to regulate public drinking water (tap water), while the Texas Department of State Health Services regulates the drinking water bottling process consistent with FDA regulations. (Bottled water is considered a food product when it’s stored, and state regulatory agencies must approve bottled water sources.)
Bottled water comes from one of three sources:
The bottled water label must name its source. If the bottler has treated the water, the label must also identify the method of treatment.
In order to understand the quality of bottled water, one must understand how to read the label. This type of information includes the volume of water, related nutritional claims, and any contact information for the bottler. The label may also include the type of bottled water, its source, and the way in which it is treated. For more specific information, you can contact the bottler directly.
Below you can find the FDA's classifications for labeling bottled water.
Bottled water may also contain flavors and/or added nutrients, or be used as an ingredient in beverages, such as diluted juices or flavored bottled waters. However, beverages labeled as containing sparkling water, seltzer water, soda water, tonic water, or club soda aren’t categorized as bottled water under the FDA’s regulations, but instead as soft drinks. The flavor/nutrient-added waters must also meet both bottled water standards and FDA safety requirements, and additives must be clearly identified on the ingredient label.
Don't drop that bottle and stay tuned for the second part of this bottled water blog post!
