Bottled Water Advantages and Concerns

Plenty of safe drinking water is important for your health. It maintains normal body functions, carries nutrients to cells and keep you hydrated and energized. Bottled water and packaged drinking water even ice are now available in many developed and developing countries. Mobility and traveling are increasing every day and safety measures for drinking water are now getting more priority than before. Consumers now prefer packaged drinking water for various reasons e.g. convenient to carry, confidence on branded suppliers, taste, easily available, affordable to most of the people etc. However packaged water has some advantages but its safety and potential benefits are an important consideration in public health.

Safety of packaged drinking water:


Someone now prefers bottled water compare to tap water which has valid reasons e.g. water contamination, taste, odor, and choice. Different types of packaged drinking waters are now available in market e.g. plastic bottle, bags, vessels, cans, laminated boxes and as ice. Size varies considering context e.g. single servings (250 ml) to large containers (80 liters). Many people believe that bottled water is produced after proper treatment and improves taste, odor, and color. The filtration system for packaged drinking water eliminates contaminants such as lead, parasites and byproduct of chlorine. Tap water is already filtered to remove particles, chemicals and bacteria in the U.S. but packaged drinking water is now more preferred to Americans regarding outdoor and traveling purposes.





Removal of some substances form the packaged water is more difficult compare to tap water. Some hazardous materials are glass chips and metal fragments. Other problems are these packaged or bottled water is stored for longer periods and at higher temperatures compare to pipe distribution systems. Another important aspect is that bottle and containers are reused without properly cleaning and disinfection by some manufacturers.




Therefore control of glass chips and metal fragments in bottle or containers need special concern. There is difference in contamination occurrence and levels among the packages or containers water. Some microorganisms may grow higher level in bottled water. The growth of microorganisms is less frequently in gasified water and glass bottle compares to still container and the plastic bottle.


As an oxidant, ozone is sometimes used before bottling water to prevent precipitation of manganese and iron. If the water contains natural bromide, then a high level of bromate will be formed unless care is taken to minimize it.


Potential health benefits of bottled drinking water:

According to some consumers, bottled water has some advantages compare to other drinking water e.g. high mineral content which has some health benefit. Certain mineral water which contains essential micro-nutrients such as calcium is useful to health. Here important thing is that concentration of minerals and their medical acceptability to the body. Packaged water must be regulated by appropriate authority e.g. FDA, EPA and consumers should give attention to proper certification, expiry date and storage before drink.


For outdoor visit or traveling, bottled water is more suitable but its cumulative cost is much higher than outdoor water filters. There are verities outdoor water filters are now in market based on its capacity and durability.










You may use some branded outdoor water filters e.g. LifeStraw, Sawyer, Katadyn

Besides, outdoor water filters, for your home it is necessary to use water filters at home. Following information will help you.

  
There are different formats of Point of Use (POU) systems of water filters available in the market. Those includes:


1. Personal water bottles (e.g. BRITA, LifeStraw, Basily)

2. Pitcher or pour through filters (e.g. MAVEA, BRITA, PUR, ZeroWater)

3. Refrigerator filters (Built-in /integrated and Aftermarket styles) (e.g. RPWFE GE, Whirlpool, Everydrop)

4. Counter top filters (e.g. APEC, APEX, LeDoux, iSpring, New Wave)

5. Faucet-mount filters (e.g. PUR, iSpring, Culligan, DuPont)

6. Plumbed-in systems (e.g. Everpure)

7. Plumbed-in to separate faucet systems (e.g. Malida)

More information

More information on safe water, please click on PUR Water Filters!
To see Home Water Filters please CLICK HERE.
To see Outdoor water filters please CLICK HERE.
To see Branded water filters please CLICK HERE.

Some articles on safe water and water filters:

• Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality
• 5 Steps For Dining Water Filtration System
• Tips on Safe Drinking Water for Travelers
• How to Choose Your Home Water Filter
• Desalination for Pure Drinking Water
• The Truth About Water Filters In 5 Minutes
• Drinking Water Safety Management – Strategy and Framework