There are approximately 430 bottling facilities in the United States producing more than 700 different brand labels.

2. How Many Imported Brands Of Bottled Water Are There In The United States?

There are over 75 brands of imported waters, most of which are carbonated mineral waters.

3. What Are The Various Types Of Bottled Water?

There are several types of bottled water, depending upon the source of the water. A clear distinction should be made between the sparkling bottled waters, which are consumed as a refreshment beverage, do not contain calories or caffeine and may have a hint of flavor; and non-sparkling bottled waters, which are consumed as a source of drinking water. These waters are also used for cooking and for mixing with coffee, powdered mixes and concentrated juices. Non-sparkling bottled waters are generally purchased through home or office delivery service or at grocery stores in containers of one gallon or more. Sparkling bottled waters are purchased in package sizes of one liter or less in restaurants and grocery stores. These waters are consumed in lieu of other beverages.

Approximately 75 percent of bottled water comes from protected springs or wells. The remaining 25 percent is derived from public water supplies that meet federal and state requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. This water is further purified and processed by the bottler to result in a high quality bottled drinking water. The various types of non-sparkling bottled waters are:

Drinking Water: Bottled water obtained from an approved source that has at minimum undergone treatment consisting of filtration processes such as activated carbon and/or particulate and has been treated with ozone or an equivalent disinfection process.
Natural Water: Bottled spring, mineral, artesian well or well water which is derived from an underground formation and is not derived from a municipal or public water supply. The water has not been modified by blending with water of another type or by the addition or deletion of dissolved solids, except as it relates to ozonation or equivalent disinfection and filtration.

Spring Water: Bottled water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface of the earth. Spring Water meets the requirements of Natural Water.

Well Water: Bottled water from a hole bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground which taps the water of an aquifer. Well Water meets the requirements of Natural Water.

Purified Water: Bottled water produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable process and that meets the definition of purified water in the United States Pharmacopoeia. Water which meets this definition and is vaporized, then condensed, may be labeled "distilled water." Water can be purified by:

Distillation - Water is vaporized, then condensed leaving the water free of dissolved minerals.

Deionization - Water is passed through resins which remove most of the dissolved minerals.

Reverse Osmosis - Water is forced under pressure through membranes which remove 90 percent of the dissolved minerals.

Club Sodas and Seltzer Waters: The International Bottled Water Association does not consider these two products in the bottled water category as they are regulated separately, are not required to meet bottled water standards and are considered soft drinks.

4. What Is Mineral Water?

The Federal Food and Drug Administration, which regulates bottled water as a "food," has declined to define "mineral water" or "natural." FDA's standards do not currently regulate mineral water for the numerical quality standards as for other bottled waters, however, mineral water still must meet FDA Good Manufacturing Practices, the Federal Food, Drug and Manufacturing Practices, the safety standards and labeling requirements. Key bottled water states such as California, Florida, New York and others require mineral water to meet these numerical quality standards. Most mineral waters come from countries of the European Community which also stringently regulate bottled water.

Several states have regulations which require a water to contain not less that 500 parts per million (ppm) total dissolved solids in order to be labeled a mineral water. The International Bottled Water Association has adopted the following definition:

Mineral Water: Bottled water coming from an approved source tapped at one or more boreholes or natural springs, originating from a geologically and physically protected underground water source. Mineral water shall be clearly distinguishable from other types of water by its specific content of minerals and trace elements which in the original state at the point of emergence remain constant. The total dissolved solids (TDS) of natural mineral water shall appear on a label of the bottle and be stated in milligrams per liter. "Mineral Water" shall meet the requirements of "Natural Water."

Carbonation: For those mineral waters which are bottled and sold as carbonated or sparkling waters, the following information is declared on the label: (a) "naturally carbonated mineral water" or "naturally sparkling mineral water" means water whose carbon dioxide content is from the same or adjacent source as the water. (b) "carbonated natural mineral water" or "sparkling natural mineral water" means natural mineral water to which has been added carbon dioxide of an origin other than the water table or deposit from which the water comes. (c) "carbonated or sparkling water" means water to which has been added carbon dioxide of an origin other than the source water.


5. Do Bottled Water Companies Use Chlorine?

The final disinfectant agent used by almost all bottled water companies is O₃ (ozone), a form of oxygen. Unlike chlorine, which is commonly used by public water supplies to disinfect the water, ozone is used for the same purpose, yet leaves no chemical residual, aftertaste or smell.

6. Is Bottled Water Healthier Than Tap Water?

Unsubstantiated health claims about bottled water are unlawful. However, all bottled water must come from a government approved source. The source must be inspected, and the water sampled, analyzed and found of a safe and sanitary quality with or without treatment.

While the Europeans have for hundreds of years believed in the health benefits of various natural mineral waters, health claims for bottled water cannot be made in this country. Certainly, if a drinking water supply has been declared contaminated or above the established maximum contaminant level, then bottled water is an especially good choice for safe drinking water.

Some doctors prescribe bottled water to pregnant women and small children, especially in areas where the drinking water contains a high level of nitrates. Only one percent of the water that comes into the home is for drinking or cooking. It is this one percent, however, that properly monitored bottled water companies can ensure to be safe, free of chlorine taste and delivered only for consumption.

IBWA believes that it may not be economically feasible or practical to make all household water meet the quality of drinking water when over 99 percent of that which comes into the home is used for washing, flushing toilets and other uses. Bottled water can be conveniently and economically purchased or supplied to meet home drinking and cooking needs.

7. What Is The Difference In Market Share Of Domestic Still Waters And Imported Waters?

There were approximately 1,753,300,000 gallons of non-sparkling domestic bottled water; 176,000,000 gallons of sparkling domestic bottled water; and 73,900,000 gallons of imported bottled waters sold in the United States in 1990.

8. What Is The Total Per Capita Consumption Of Bottled Water?

Americans consumed an average of 8.0 gallons in 1990; 7.1 gallons of non-sparkling and 0.9 of sparkling water.

9. What Are The United States Sales Of Bottled Water?

In 1990, the estimated value of imported and domestic bottled water sold in the United States was more than $2,200,000,000.

10. Which States Consume The Most Bottled Water?

States representing the top five markets in the United States in order of rank are: California, New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois.

11. How Many People Drink Bottled Water In The United States?

Approximately 1 out of every 6 households currently consumes non-sparkling bottled water as a source of drinking water. In Southern California; 1 out of every 3 homes use bottled water. California accounts for 35.6 percent of the total bottled water consumed in the United States.

12. How Much Has The Bottled Water Industry Increased?

Total volume of the industry has increased nearly 400 percent in the last decade - from 536.4 million gallons in 1980 to 2,003.2 million gallons produced in 1990. In the last five years, the United States per capita consumption of bottled water doubled to 3.0 gallons per capita. Total sales increased by more than 13 percent in 1990 from 1989 and have doubled in the last five years.

13. Why Have Sales And Consumption Increased So Dramatically?

The bottled water industry has experienced substantial growth in the past decade due to an increased consumer awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and concerns about drinking water and other beverages.

14. Why Do Consumers Buy Bottled Water?

According to a survey conducted by Tandem Probe, Inc., more than 60 percent of those consumers cited taste as their primary reason for buying bottled water. Other reasons cited were safety and concerns about "too many chemicals in tap water."

Source: Tandem Probe, Inc. Survey, October 1988

15. Where Do Most People Buy Bottled Water?

Based on wholesale dollars, the market for bottled water products breaks down to retail grocery/off premise - 41.5 percent, commercial delivery - 21.3 percent, home delivery - 21.4 percent, restaurants/on premise - 9.4 percent and vending - 6.4 percent.

16. What Is The Average Retail Price Of Bottled Water?

The average retail price of a one gallon bottle of domestic drinking water is 90¢, $5.29 for a five gallon delivered bottle, and $4.01 per gallon of sparkling water (Note: sparkling water is usually sold in containers smaller than one gallon).

Source: International Bottled Water Association

17. Is Bottled Water Regulated By The Government?

Bottled water is a highly regulated drinking water supply. Bottled drinking water must meet established quality standards. These are based on the maximum contaminant levels set under the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act.

Because bottled water is considered a "food" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, its production is also required to meet established criteria for sanitation and quality control. All bottled water, including mineral water, must be processed and packaged in accordance with the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), as well as any other regulations prescribed by local governments or country of origin.

Unlike public water supplies, bottled water cannot be granted exemptions and variances for failure to meet federal quality standards. In a number of states, bottled water must test for and meet stricter standards than public water supplies. IBWA actively seeks strong regulations in all jurisdictions to ensure the consumer's protection.

18. Does IBWA Have Any Additional Regulatory Programs?

The International Bottled Water Association, with the support of its membership, has taken a proactive step of establishing its own inspection program for the production of bottled water. This inspection is in addition to those already conducted by FDA and state or local governments. IBWA's annual plant inspection program is administered by an independent, internationally recognized third-party inspection organization, the National Sanitation Foundation. These unannounced inspections of all members' plants are mandatory for membership. In addition, a concentrated technical program is available to IBWA members through manuals and training programs to ensure quality control. IBWA's program follows standards which exceed those of the federal government.

19. What Is The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) And Who Is Represented?

IBWA is the trade association for the bottled water industry. Founded in 1958, the association represents over 85 percent of the total company sales in the United States. The association also represents international bottlers who both sell and distribute imported waters in the United States as well as other countries. Membership is also open to manufacturers of bottled water supplies, distributors and other classes of membership. The association serves the membership with educational, government relations, technical training, membership services, public relations and with various publications on the industry.

20. Where Can Someone Obtain Additional Information On Bottled Water?

Contact the International Bottled Water Association, 113 North Henry Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, (703)683-5213 or fax (703)683-4074.

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