Field and Garden: Drinking water - bottled or tap?

Some readers may know that my wife and I lived in China for 18 years before moving to North Dakota.

I was telling a group of men about our experience during breakfast several weeks ago, when the topic of water came up.

“The tap water in China is untreated and not safe to drink,” I said. “Those who can afford it typically have purified water in five-gallon bottles delivered to their homes. The alternative is to fill a kettle and boil the water before drinking it.”

The men seemed surprised. A safe water supply is something that we take for granted in most of the U.S.

The conversation continued for several minutes and then came back to the topic of water.

“Your comments remind me of questions I’ve had about bottled water,” said one of the men. “What’s the difference among the many types of bottled water on the shelves of the grocery store? And is bottled water any better than the water that comes out of my tap?”

I did some research to answer the man’s questions. Here is what I discovered.

Bottled water is considered food and is therefore regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA defines the following types of bottled water.

Artesian water comes from an underground aquifer that is under pressure. The pressure forces the water level to rise above the top of the aquifer.

Mineral water is obtained from a protected, underground source that naturally contains at least 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids.

Purified water has been treated by distillation, deionization, or reverse osmosis to meet standards set by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia.

Spring water flows to the ground surface either naturally or through a bored hole which taps the underground formation that feeds the spring.

According to the Beverage Marketing Company, the average American in 2022 consumed 47 gallons of bottled water compared with 36 gallons of carbonated soft drinks.

Bottled water is a big industry in the U.S., with sales approaching 46 billion dollars annually.

American consumers report choosing bottled water for several reasons including taste, quality and convenience.

Experts point out, however, that bottled water sold in the U.S. is not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water.

The experts say that the FDA’s standards for bottled water are less stringent than those governing local water treatment plants, which are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

And there is concern that bottled water isn’t treated with fluoride, which may explain why the incidence of cavities is increasing in young people.

Homeowners who have a private water source, such as a well, are responsible for ensuring their own water safety. Annual testing is recommended.

The publication “Drinking Water Quality: Testing and Interpreting Your Results” is a helpful resource to people who are concerned about the quality of their well water.

The publication can be downloaded from the website of NDSU Extension. If you would like to receive a copy of the publication in the mail, please contact me in the Extension office (652-2581).