FAQs
CLEAR AND FRESH WATER
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Bottled water is regulated at the industry, state, and federal levels. Industry associations such as the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) require members to undergo an annual, unannounced inspection by an independent party. The IBWA has also set up a Model Code to ensure quality in products produced by members. States provide additional inspections and certification. The Food and Drug Administration regulates the industry at the federal level. All bottlers must adhere to their regulations regarding quality, labeling, and manufacturing.
The EXP date listed on the bottle refers to the shelf life of the bottle itself and not the water contained inside. However, waters with additives or flavor, do expire. Please check your bottle before you drink.
Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water
Natural 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.
Drinking-Water
Drinking water is another name for bottled water. Drinking water is what is sold for consumption in sanitary containers and contains no added sweeteners or chemical additives, other than flavors, extracts, or essences. This type of water must be calorie-free and sugar-free. Flavors, extracts, or essences may be added to drinking water, but they must comprise less than one percent-by-weight of the final product or the product will be considered a soft drink. Drinking water may be either sodium-free or contain very low amounts of sodium.
Purified Drinking Water
Water that has been produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis, or other suitable processes, and that meets the definition of purified drinking water in the US 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, “deionization water” if the water is produced by deionization, or “reverse osmosis water” if the process used is reverse osmosis.
Spring Water Natural 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 that taps the underground formation and finds 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.
Well Water
Natural water from a hole bored, drilled, or otherwise constructed well in the ground which taps the water of an aquifer.
Public water systems (tap water) provide quality water for human consumption and other uses (e.g., washing clothes, bathing, and industrial and commercial uses) through a piped distribution system to specific communities. Public water systems are granted exclusive rights to provide water to consumers in a particular geographic or municipal area. Consumers do not, therefore, have a choice of which public water system will provide water to their homes or businesses.
Bottled water is a packaged food product sold in individual, sanitary, sealed containers. It is intended solely for human consumption. Consumers have a variety of bottled water choices available to satisfy their particular tastes and price preferences. It is sold in many different package sizes, including 3- and 5-gallon containers used in bottled water coolers, 2.5-gallon refrigerator-size containers, and “on-the go” half-liter, one-liter, and 1.5 liter convenience–size packages. Consumers choose bottled water for several reasons: taste, quality, and convenience. Source: http://www.bottledwater.org/health/bottled-water-vs-tap-water
For a family of four that uses water for drinking only, we recommend starting with four 5-gallon water bottles per month. During your first month, you can determine, more precisely, your family’s level of consumption. If your family uses bottled water for cooking and juice, as well as for drinking, we recommend starting with five or six 5-gallon water bottles per month. You can always adjust accordingly to your family’s consumption.
Here are some suggestions that will help determine your need:
10–15 Employees: Start with three 5-gallon water bottles per week and adjust according to actual consumption.
15–30 Employees: Start with five 5-gallon water bottles per week and adjust according to actual consumption.
30+ Employees: Start with one 5-gallon water cooler and five 5-gallon water bottles for up to thirty people per week; additional employees may require additional coolers and water bottles. Ask your sales representative to help you determine the appropriate amount.
A product that is BPA-free is one that does not use the organic compound Bisphenol A in its construction. In the past, many plastic products such as baby bottles, plastic plates and cutlery, storage containers, and drink bottles have been made using BPA.
Drinking too much water can result in water intoxication, also known as hyponatremia, causing the inside of cells to flood due to abnormally low sodium levels in your bloodstream. In severe cases, water intoxication can lead to debilitating health problems such as seizures, coma, and even death.
Distilled water is not harmful to drink. But you’ll probably find it flat or just blah. The reason is it’s stripped of important minerals like calcium, sodium, and magnesium that give tap water its familiar flavor. The only thing that’s left is just hydrogen and oxygen and nothing else.
Health professionals commonly recommend eight 8-ounce glasses, which equals about 2 liters, or half a gallon a day. This is called the 8×8 rule and is very easy to remember.