Bottled drinking water has garnered a lot of attention lately, primarily due to the promotional campaigns of many bottled water companies. Nowadays, everyone seems to be purchasing bottled water under the impression that it is safer than tap water.

Bottled water companies project an image of purity, but in reality, the bottled water industry is not obligated to disclose any water quality testing they may conduct. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets bottled water standards based on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) tap water standards. Therefore, bottled drinking water is only deemed safe if it meets EPA's standards.

In contrast, public water utilities, which supply tap water, undergo water monitoring and treatment processes and can provide annual water quality reports to customers. (For a copy of your water quality report, contact the company that issues your water bill).

In 2007, the EPA stated that "bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water" and added that "consumers who choose to purchase bottled water should carefully read its label to understand what they are buying, whether it is a better taste or a certain method of treatment."

Americans are buying into the image of pure water from glaciers and mountain springs at prices up to 1,900 times the cost of tap water. Unfortunately, less than half of bottled water companies disclose their water source (i.e., municipal or natural) or whether or how their water is treated.

Environmental studies have revealed contaminants above legal limits and safety standards in some bottled water brands. According to the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit environmental research center, analyses conducted on ten brands of bottled water revealed not only disinfection byproducts but also wastewater pollutants like pharmaceuticals, metals, fertilizer residues, and solvents.

Other environmental concerns related to bottled drinking water you should consider before purchasing include:

• Over-extraction of water for bottling puts a strain on rivers, aquifers, and other sources, including public water sources

• It contributes to global warming and other air pollution through plastic manufacturing and transportation

• Of the several dozen billion plastic bottles of water sold in the U.S., only a fifth are recycled. The rest end up in our landfills when properly disposed of

Recommendations for the Bottled Drinking Water Consumer

If you purchase bottled water, Integra Environmental and Water Services recommend you consider the following:

• Discover the source. Only the states of New York and Massachusetts maintain a list of the sources of bottled water. If the label says the source is a "public water supply" or a "municipal source", this means the water you're purchasing at a high cost is actually tap water. You can also call your state or the company to find out the source

• Buy bottled water from known protected sources or from companies that readily provide quality data information

If you're looking for an alternative to bottled water, consider the following recommendations:

• If you have access to a public water supply, request the quality data report and purchase a drinking water filter capable of treating any identified contaminants

• If you own a private water well, consider obtaining one of our water testing kits to evaluate your water quality and install a suitable water treatment and/or a drinking water system