Drinking Water: Is Bottled Best?
Clients often ask me about the pros and cons of drinking bottled water vs. drinking tap water. After all, water is always a big part of our discussion concerning a healthy diet and properly functioning digestive tract. Admittedly, however, I've been avoiding this topic because I'm completely confused by it. But it's time to make some sense of the water story and to offer some suggestions on what to drink in a country that has grown to rely on bottled water as the quintessential healthy on-the-go beverage.
Bottled water certainly is popular. According to the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) sales have grown almost 10-fold in the last 20 years, and have tripled in the last ten. Over half of Americans drink bottled water regularly and fork over about $4 billion a year, yet 25-40% of that water doesn't come from the pristine streams and mountains we see so often on the bottle labels. This is because the Food and Drug Administration allows manufacturers to treat water with chemicals and call it spring water. So are we getting what we think we're getting? A consumer usage survey reported in 2000 that 30% of people who buy bottled water buy it because they trust that it comes from a clean source. I would also add that they probably assume that not only is the source clean, but the way that it is handled from source to shelf (disinfected, manufactured and shipped) is also high in safety and reliability. But bottled water is policed much differently than tap water, and regulations vary by state, free from federal mandates. Bottled water must meet the same safety standards as water from a municipal system, but, while the Environmental Protection Agency reviews standards and tests for contaminants in public drinking water on a daily basis, the EPA tests bottled water just once a year and more frequently only if there is a complaint. Yet there is no difference in the potential for contamination and there is little control over where the water is being sourced, and what hazards might be surrounding that source, such as waste dumps, industrial sites or even a local cattle farm.
For argument's sake, however, let's say that the bottled water you drink has met all the safety standards. That's great. Now the next question is, what about the actual bottle? Does that pose a health risk? When plastic bottles sit for weeks or months in a warehouse facility, they naturally breed bacteria, and elevated temperatures can accelerate bacterial growth. Keep in mind also that manufacturers are currently not required to put expiration dates on bottles (even beer has a "born on" date) so there is no way of knowing how long a bottle has been hanging around a warehouse, waiting to be shipped to a store. Those plastics eventually leach out some potentially dangerous compounds into the water that you drink. For instance, scientists at the FDA found traces of bisphenol A (BPA) in water housed in common water cooler containers. BPA is considered an endocrine disruptor that can alter reproduction in animals. Research has also shown that low BPA levels have had an adverse effect on prostate development, tumors, breast tissue development, sperm count and enlargement of fat cells in the body.
Bottled water also creates a tremendous strain on the environment. According to the Earth Policy Institute (EPI), the plastic most commonly used for bottles is polyethylene terepthalate (PET), which is derived from crude oil, and 1.5 million barrels of oil are needed annually to meet the demands for PET bottled water production. The Container Recycling Institute in Washington DC also notes that approximately 86% of plastic water bottles become garbage or litter. Those plastics can take between 400 and 1,000 years to degrade. We pay for the convenience of bottled water, but at the cost of the environment.
So is bottled water best?
Maybe the best solution for reaching your own daily water intake goal is to pour your own filtered tap water into a bottle. Reverse osmosis filters have been shown to get rid of most contaminants, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia. They will also eliminate heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead and mercury, and other pollutants like arsenic, barium, nitrate/nitrite and perchlorate. Even activated carbon filters like Brita® Water Filters can help to get rid of bad odors and some heavy metals.
If a plastic water bottle is still your carry around choice, you may want to, at the very least, find a water bottle that contains either polypropylene (#5PP), high density polyethylene (#2HDPE) or low density polyethylene (#4LDPE). These are plastics that are safer to use for storing food and beverages, and none are known to leach out harmful substances. The code for the type of plastic should be printed on the bottom of the bottle.
The January 2007 Issue of Environmental Nutrition also offers these tips for safer water bottle usage:
- Buy a major brand from a company that's a member of the International Bottled Water Association. (Check online at www.bottledwater.org; click "What Is IBWA," then "Brand List.")
- Buy bottled water from a store that sells a lot of water. That means a frequently replenished supply.
- Store bottled water in a cool place.
4. Once you drink from a bottle, refrigerate it and finish within a day or two.
As for tap water safety, of Environmental Nutrition suggests running water for 20 seconds in the morning to flush out chemicals that may have leached out overnight. Also, leaving a pitcher of tap water uncovered for several hours will allow chlorine to evaporate and improve taste.
So in the heat of the summer, by all means drink up. But remember that water is good for you only when it is pure and safe. And it certainly shouldn't add to a strain on the environment. If we all drank a few less bottles and picked up some glasses of water instead, we could save some precious land and energy. It's the least we can do for our health, and for our environment. (send comments to smnutrition@rcn.com)
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