1. How do we ensure bottled water safety?

Bottled water is one of the safest food and beverage products. Not only does the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) set stringent safety and quality regulations for bottled water, it also has determined that containers used for this product are safe for use with foods and beverages and do not pose a health risk to consumers. FDA requires bottled water to meet both general food Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) regulations and specific bottled water GMPs and Standards of Quality and Standards of Identity.

2. What are the benefits of bottled water?

Bottled water delivers safe, healthy, and convenient hydration. Far from a luxury, it’s a health essential for vulnerable populations and a sustainable choice.

3. What do scientists say about microplastics in bottled water?

The FDA has specifically said “it is not aware of scientific evidence that would support consumers being concerned about the potential level of microplastic or nanoplastic contamination in food, including bottled water.” According to the FDA, there is no scientific evidence that microplastics in food or bottled water pose a health risk.

4. What makes bottled water packaging safe?

For more than 50 years PET plastic has been approved for food and beverage use by the FDA and regulatory agencies worldwide. PET is chosen because it is lightweight, durable, transparent, pressure-resistant, and versatile. Its stability and protective properties make it one of the safest and most reliable food packaging materials available. It is also used safely for packaging juices, soft drinks, peanut butter, salad dressings, and many other foods.

5. Where does bottled water come from? 

There are multiple sources of bottled water and a variety of classifications of types of water. Some bottled water comes from spring or other groundwater sources. Other bottled water begins as municipal water and is then purified. All bottled water, regardless of its source, must undergo testing to ensure that it meets FDA safety standards that are, by law, just as strict as EPA tap water standards. As a packaged food product, bottled water must adhere to the FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) required of all FDA-regulated food products as well as specific GMPs unique to bottled water production and packaging, which help ensure that consumers receive safe, high-quality bottled water and protects consumers from substandard products.

6. What are the different types of bottled water?

There are several types of bottled water:

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. Spring water collected with the use of an external force must be from the same underground stratum as the spring and must have all the physical properties before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth.

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. 

Mineral Water – To be considered “mineral water,” bottled water must contain at least 250 parts per million of total dissolved solids. 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. Sparkling bottled waters may be labeled as “sparkling drinking water,” “sparkling mineral water,” “sparkling spring water,” etc.

Artesian Water/Artesian Well 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.

7. How do plastic bottled water containers impact the environment?

Plastic bottled water containers are the most environmentally friendly packaging material and have the smallest water and energy use footprint of any packaged beverage. Results from a 2024 Water and Energy Use Study show that the amount of water and energy used to produce bottled water products in single-serve plastic containers in North America is less than all other types of packaged beverages – and that includes aluminum cans, beverage cartons, and glass bottles.

Bottled water containers are 100% recyclable – including the caps. Most 16.9 oz (half liter) bottled water containers are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is the one of the most recycled plastics in the world. PET plastic can be recycled over and over and made into more bottled water containers.