When environmental groups reported recently that more than
380,000 Georgians were
drinking contaminated water, were you tempted to run for the
bottled stuff?

Before you chug-a-lug, check the label. That bottled spring
water may have sprung forth
from a tap.

New Food and Drug Administration guidelines "define
where bottled water must come
from in order to make claims on their labels," said Connie
Crawley, a food, nutrition
and health specialist with the University of Georgia Extension
Service.

Bottlers must now prove their water source to use labeling
terms like artesian well
water, ground water, spring water or mineral water.

Besides setting standard definitions, the new regulations
also require bottled water
must meet EPA standards for tap water.

"That means the bottled water must at least be as
contaminant-free as your tap
water," Crawley said.

The regulations are specific.

If you buy a bottle of water labeled "spring
water," that means that the
water flows to the surface naturally or through a bored hole
near the spring.

"Natural spring water" must reach the surface
without mechanical pumps and
can’t be processed in any way other than put in a bottle.

"Mineral water" must come from an underground
source and have at least 250
parts per million of dissolved solids.

"Artesian well water" is from a manmade well that
is tapped into an aquifer.
It’s drilled and doesn’t come naturally to the top.

"Seltzer water" is filtered, carbonated tap
water.

"Club soda" has minerals and salts added that
control acidity, and may have
flavors, sugars or juices added.

"Still water" comes from any source, but has no
carbonation — Evian, Poland
Spring and Great Bear, for example.

Some bottled water companies once made big bucks by bottling
tap water and selling it
back to consumers. No longer. Bottled tap water must now carry a
label marked
"municipal water supply."

"They’re trying to make it so people will clearly
understand what they have when
they get something in a bottle," Crawley said. "They
want it so that no one can
deceptively bottle water that hasn’t come from a natural
spring."

The regulations also have safety in mind.

"Spring water hasn’t been through a water treatment
plant and supposedly hasn’t
been contaminated or doesn’t have additives like
chlorination," Crawley said.
"It’s pure enough to be consumed as is without
treatment.

"That’s why the FDA is saying that it must meet the EPA
standards for safe
drinking water," she said. "They’re making sure, first
of all, it really is
spring water, and second, it’s safe."

Also included in the new definitions are sparkling water and
distilled water.

"Sparkling water" must have a certain amount of
carbonation. Natural
sparkling water must be carbonated from the source.

"Distilled water" has had all the minerals and
other chemicals taken out.

"Bottled waters became popular because some people feel
there’s some possibility
chlorine causes cancer," Crawley said. "But there’s no
proof of that. Spring
water is supposed to be free of contaminants or treatments with
substances that will harm
us."

Taste is also a factor. Some think spring water tastes better
and has no aftertaste.
Others like the mineral taste of mineral water.

While the regulations took effect May 13, expect some lag
time for bottles already on
the shelf to be sold.

"The FDA doesn’t go out and look for the bottles unless
they have
complaints," Crawley said. "They usually trust the
producer to be honest.
Consumers should report suspected deception to the FDA."