How It's Made

Bottled Water

Bottled water isn’t born that way. So just how does it get into the beverage bottle?

There are different answers because there are different types of bottled water products.

The Food and Drug Administration established a Standard of Identity so consumers will know what kinds of bottled water exist. They include:

• Spring Water: Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring.
• Purified Water: Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes while meeting the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia may be labeled as purified bottled water. Other suitable product names for bottled water treated by one of the above processes may include "distilled water" if it is produced by distillation, “deionized water" if it is produced by deionization or "reverse osmosis water" if the process used is reverse osmosis.
• Mineral Water: Bottled water containing not less than 250 parts per million total dissolved solids may be labeled as mineral water. Mineral water is distinguished from other types of bottled water by its constant level and relative proportions of mineral and trace elements at the point of emergence from the source.
• Sparkling Bottled Water: Water that after treatment, and possible replacement with carbon dioxide, contains the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had as it emerged from the source.
• Artesian Water: Bottled water from a well that taps a confined aquifer (a water-bearing underground layer of rock or sand) in which the water level stands at some height above the top of the aquifer.
• Well Water: Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, which taps the water aquifer.

The above definitions are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR 165.110(a).

Aquafina from Pepsi and Dasani from Coke are purified waters. The biggest marketer of bottled water, however, Nestlé Waters North America, specializes in spring water. Poland Spring, Arrowhead, Ozarka, Zephyrhills and Deer Park all meet the description of spring water as well. If you’re wondering what kind of water you’re drinking, of course, read the label.

Bottled Waters Are Safe

What all kinds of bottled waters have in common is that they are safe. The Food and Drug Administration strictly regulates bottled water, as do state agencies. FDA standards are up to those set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for public water systems, meaning all bottled water sold in the United States meets stringent standards regarding safety, quality and labeling.