By April Day, Publishing Director for Save the Water\u2122 | June 13, 2019<\/p>\n
You are in the United States. You want to drink safe water. You heard about the unsafe water in Flint, Michigan. So you buy a bottle of water. Safe, right? Wrong.<\/p>\n
Although there are situations where tap water is unsafe, like in Flint, Michigan, the water utility must tell you that it isn\u2019t safe. Some of those water utilities may not tell you right away when they find out, but the United States law called the Safe Drinking Water Act requires them to tell you when your tap water does not meet national safety standards for drinking water.<\/p>\n
Surprisingly, this isn\u2019t true for bottled water.1<\/span> As a consumer, bottled water companies don\u2019t have to give you as much info about your water as tap water providers. You can take several steps to keep yourself and the environment safe: drink tap water, get it tested, and have a reusable bottle.<\/p>\n The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water. That is to say, they monitor its safety on a regular basis. Also, because the Safe Drinking Water Act applies to tap water, water utilities must send consumers a report about how safe the water is and whether it meets national water standards.1<\/span><\/p>\n The same can\u2019t be said for bottled water. Instead of the Safe Drinking Water Act applying to bottled water\u2019s safety standards, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act applies to bottled water.2<\/span> What does that mean?<\/p>\n It means that the Food and Drug Administration is charged with regulating bottled water.2<\/span> The laws that apply differ. For example, the Food and Drug Administration can either apply EPA\u2019s rules for safe drinking water to bottled water\u2026or find \u201cthat the standard isn\u2019t necessary for bottled water.\u201d2<\/span><\/p>\n The Food and Drug Administration also monitors bottled water plants through inspections. But it doesn\u2019t do them on a regular schedule.1<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, bottled water has been \u201crecalled.\u201d For what? The following have been found in bottled water:<\/p>\n These recalls happen months after the water is on the shelf.4 Not everyone will get the notice.3 Also, the bottle company can still sell the water.1<\/span><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s the Difference Between Tap Water and Bottled Water?<\/h2>\n
Do the Differences Really Matter? Yes.<\/h2>\n
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