Many people assume that bottled water is purer and safer than tap water, however, The Environmental Group investigated nearly 200 popular bottled water brands and discovered that less than two percent disclosed three important pieces of information that can affect safety: the water's source, purification methods, and the chemical pollutants in each bottle. Fluoride is a natural element found in all drinking water and is considered a beneficial nutrient in trace amounts. Chloride is a compound of chlorine, the chemical used to sanitize drinking water. Both can be found in some brands of bottled water.
Bottled Water Containing Fluoride
Fluoride is naturally occuring in most water sources and is known to help prevent tooth decay. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limits fluoride to 4 milligrams per liter in drinking water. According to the International Bottled Water Association, numerous manufacturers add fluoride to their bottled water, although this must be reflected on the label. Some bottled water that contains fluoride inlcude: Artesian Wells Inc., Eureka Water Co., Century Springs Bottling Co., Mount Olympus Waters Inc., Natural Springs Water Group, Nestle Waters North America Inc., Puritan Springs Water, and many more across the United States.
Bottled Water With Chloride
Dasani bottled water, developed by Coca-Cola in 1999, draws its water from local sources and it is disinfected with ultraviolet light. In the U.S., the water is put through osmosis to remove impurities. Dasani adds minerals including Epsom salt, potassium chloride, and table salt to create its distinct taste.
Bottled Water Containing Chloride And Fluoride
Ozarka Natural Spring water uses water from natural springs in Texas and distilled water from local wells and municipal water sources. Ozarka publishes a water quality report that includes an analysis of the mineral ingredients. The concentration of chloride in Ozarka Natural Spring bottled water is .61 to 18 mg, however the maximum level allowed is 250 mg. There is 0 to .05 mg of fluoride in this water and the the maximum contaminant level for fluoride is 1.24 to 2.24. The maximum contaminant levels are set by the EPA and the Food and Drug Administration. When you are not sure how much chloride or fluoride is in a bottled water brand, you need to go to the manufacturer and request a mineral analysis to determine if the levels of these minerals are exceeding the regulated amounts.
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Writer Bio
Dawn Sutton began her writing career in 2004 with an article on Internet counseling for a psychology journal. She writes numerous Internet articles on a variety of subjects including health, travel, education, crafts and much more. Sutton has published the books "The Manual" and "God's Girl" and numerous feature film scripts. She has a master's degree in social work from the University of Toronto.