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- What
is bottled water?
- What are the different types of bottles water?
- How much water should I drink everyday?
- I do not seem as thirsty when I am cold. Do I need to drink as much water?
- Can I tell how much water my body needs by how much I sweat?
- Can I drink soft drinks to rehydrate?
- The tap water in my area is proclaimed to be “safe to drink”. So what are the advantages of bottled water?
- I’ve been boiling tap water so far without any problems. Are there any reasons why I should switch to bottled water?
- What about pitcher filters?
- How long can I store bottled water?
- What is the proper way to store bottled water?
- Does bottled water contain chlorine?
- Why should people pay to drink bottled water when they can drink tap water for free?
What
is bottled water?
Water is called "bottled water" if it meets all federal and
state standards, is sealed in a sanitary container and sold for human
consumption. Some bottled water includes carbonation, which can occur
naturally in the water or be added by the bottler. Flavors, extracts and
essences -- derived from spice or fruit -- can be added to bottled water,
but these additions must comprise less than one percent by weight of the
final product. Beverages containing more than the one-percent-by-weight
flavor limit are soft drinks, not bottled water. Bottled water cannot
contain sweeteners or additives (other than flavors, extracts or essences)
and must be calorie-free and sugar-free. In addition, most bottled waters
are sodium-free or include "very low" amounts of sodium.
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What
are the different types of bottled water?
There
are several varieties of bottled water, including: artesian water,
mineral water, sparkling water, spring water, well water and purified
water. A specific definition for each term has been proposed as part
of new, additional regulations being considered by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).
Artesian
Water: Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer
( a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) which stands above
the normal water table.
Mineral
Water: Bottled water originating from geologically and physically
protected underground water source. Mineral water must contain mineral
and/or trace elements that make it clearly distinguishable from other
types of water. This content must remain constant in the water's original
state at the point of emergence from the source.
Sparkling
Water: Bottled water containing carbon dioxide, which occurs naturally
or is added following emergence from the source. (An important note: soda
water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled waters.
They are regulated separately, may contain sugar and calories, and are
considered soft drinks.)
Spring
Water: Bottled water that flows naturally from an underground
source to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected directly
from the spring or from a bore hole that is adjacent to the water's natural
point of emergence. Spring water collected by pump, or any other device
applying external force, must retain all the properties of, and be of
the same composition and quality as, the water flowing naturally to the
surface.
Well
Water: Bottled water collected from an aquifer through a hole
bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground.
Purified
Water: Bottled water produced by distillation, deionization, reverse
osmosis or another suitable process that meets the definition of purified
water in the United States Pharmacopoeia. Water that meets this definition,
and is vaporized then condensed, may be labeled "distilled water."
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How much
water should I drink everyday?
That depends on your body weight and daily activity level. A general rule
of thumb is to drink at least eight glasses of water a day (1 glass=8
ounces, 8 glasses=64 ounces). But the more active you are, the more water
your body needs.
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I
do not seem as thirsty when I am cold. Do I need to drink as much
water?
Absolutely.
You still lose water through perspiration and exhaled air. When cold,
dry air is inhaled, it is warmed and moistened in the lungs and exhaled
as humid warm air. This process makes intense demands on the body's water
supply.
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No. Sweat is not an accurate indicator of dehydration. The amount a person sweats can depend on a variety of factors such as environment, clothing, temperature and activity level. You can't judge your hydration level by the amount of sweat on your skin or t-shirt, or by how thirsty you feel. To be safe, make sure you follow the guidelines contained in the chart under "How much water should I drink every day?"
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Can
I drink soft drinks to rehydrate?
No. The caffeine found in many soft drinks acts as a diuretic and depletes
your body of fluids rather than replenishing them. By drinking these beverages,
you could be making matters worse.
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The tap water
in my area is proclaimed to be “safe to drink”. So what are the advantages
of bottled water?
Tap water quality is inconsistent at best, and suffers from several
disadvantages. First, municipal tap water is usually treated with chlorine,
which makes the water taste bitter. Second, tap water flows through pipes,
which in older buildings, may contain lead. Its quality is not guaranteed
by the time it reaches you. Furthermore, the supplies are often threatened
by industrialization, agriculture, and natural disasters.
Bottled water, on the other hand, offers
a more consistent, superior taste compared to tap water. It contains no
lead or other harmful chemicals, and no chlorine is used during the purification
process. The sealed bottle also protects the water, so what you get in
the bottle is the same water as the source. And let’s not forget the convenience
of having both hot and cold water offered by our service.
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I’ve
been boiling tap water so far without any problems. Are there any reasons
why I should switch to bottled water?
While boiling tap water kills
some harmful bacteria, it does not remove any of the chemicals or minerals
that may make the water taste objectionable, or may be hazardous to your
health. Boiling tap water is also inconvenient and wastes energy and time.
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What about
pitcher filters?
Pitcher filters will remove chlorine
and other objectionable/harmful chemicals from tap water, but they often
leave black particles in the water. While not harmful, some people consider
them to be objectionable. Also, the filters must be replaced every
two months to retain optimal performance.
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How
long can I store bottled water?
The
Food and Drug Administration has not established a shelf life for bottled
water. Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly.
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What
is the proper way to store bottled water?
Bottled
water should be stored in a cool (i.e. room temperature), dry environment
away from chemicals such as household cleaning products and away from
solvents such as gasoline, paint thinners and other toxic materials.
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Does
bottled water contain chlorine?
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Why should people pay
to drink bottled water when they can drink tap water for free?
The number one reason consumers choose bottled water is taste. Unlike
tap water which uses chlorine as a final disinfectant, bottled water is
most commonly disinfected with ozone, which does not leave a residual
taste.
Second, consumers are concerned about the quality of their tap water. In
addition to concerns, about chlorine by-products, contaminants such as
lead, nitrates and micro-organisms have been discovered in municipal water
supplies. Consumers are turning to bottled water because they can be
assured of bottled water's high quality.
The third reason consumers choose bottled water is for what it does not
contain -- calories, caffeine or alcohol. Consumers are leading a more
healthful lifestyle and turning more frequently to bottled water.
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©2004 Yowza Spring Water