By Staff
waterhead.com
October 14, 2011

Bottle water companies claim that their treatment systems help to produce clean, and good-tasting water, which is free, of all impurities including the unregulated pharmaceutical, as well as, the industrial chemicals  found in tap water. An investigation held in Chicago by RedEye and the Tribune found that three of the top-selling water brands did not contain the 15 pharmaceuticals which they were tested for. They also did not contain Teflon and Scotchgard chemicals which have been found in the areas drinking water.

Although bottle water is not subject directly to the Safe Drinking Water Act which regulates the public drinking water, it is, however, regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. This holds similar standards, which limit any, regulated contaminants. Unlike the utilities companies that provide drinking water, the bottle water companies are not required to report results to the public. Also, the government does not require these companies to test their water for any pharmaceutical. Two major companies have stated that they do test for any pharmaceutical but refuse to provide details of the testing or results.

The three major bottle water companies that were tested by RedEye and Tribune were Ice Mountain by Nestle's, which comes from a Mecosta, Michigan spring; and Aquafina bottle water from Pepsi, as well as, Dasani by Coco-Cola, which are both tap water from Lake Michigan that has been purified. Nestle's says that they pass their Ice Mountain water through micro-filters in order to remove all particles. It is then passed through ultraviolet lights that kill any bacteria.

According to Kevin Mathews, who is the director of all health and environmental affairs with Nestle bottle water in North America, the company does preform certain testing on their Ice Mountain water for pharmaceutical. However, he refused to provide any results found. Aquafina and Dasani representatives say that their multi-step purification system eliminates contaminants in their bottle water, including any pharmaceutical.

Aquafina bottle water is treated using a seven-step system for purification. This includes extensive filtration, reverse osmosis, which removes any, dissolved solids, a charcoal filtration system that removes the taste of chlorine and ozonization which helps to repel any unwanted particles. Dasani bottle water, which is tap water that is pulled from the suburban Alsip and Niles, undergoes a very similar process, says the company. Minerals are also added to improve the taste.

Experts in water treatments say that reverse osmosis, which is the process that strains the water through semi-permeable membranes in order to catch any contaminants, is one of the most advanced water treatment methods being used, and should remove all impurities from bottle water. Many of the municipal drinking water utilities claim that this technology is way too expensive for most taxpayers. Although most pharmaceuticals have a large molecular weight that can keep them from getting past the membrane pores, this is not always the case, according to Joseph Harrison, who is the director for Water Quality Association which represents the industry for water treatment. Harrison claims that they can often break down into small metabolite's which can get through.

Before selecting your brand of bottle water, be sure to do some research in order to know what you are really getting in your water. Bottle water is convenient and can serve many advantages. However, it is still being questioned by many as to if it is really healthier than tap water.

Others who read this, also read Water And Your Health Are Connected, Top Reasons to Conserve Drinking Water, Tap Water Can Be Controversial, The Biggest Causes of Water Pollution, Top Reasons to Carry a Water Bottle, Water Nutrition Benefits of Drinking Water or The Untold Truth On Bottle Water.