Aquafina Labels to Spell Out Source - Tap Water

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

Aquafina labels to spell out source - tap water
By Martinne Geller
Thu Jul 26, 5:31 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - PepsiCo Inc. will spell out that its Aquafina bottled water is made with tap water, a concession to the growing environmental and political opposition to the bottled water industry. According to Corporate Accountability International, a U.S. watchdog group, the world's No. 2 beverage company will include the words "Public Water Source" on Aquafina labels.

"If this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then it's a reasonable thing to do," said Michelle Naughton, a Pepsi-Cola North America spokeswoman.

- snip -

Pepsi's Aquafina and Coca-Cola Co's Dasani are both made from purified water sourced from public reservoirs, as opposed to Danone's Evian or Nestle's Poland Spring, so-called "spring waters," shippd from specific locations the companies say have notably clean water.

Coca-Cola Co. told Reuters it will start posting online information about the quality control testing it performs on Dasani by the end of summer or early fall.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070726/hl_nm/pepsico_aquafina_dc

[Robbien]

1. Yep. Nestle bottle water comes from the same municipal water facility

as my Michigan relative's tap water does.

Same water, same water processing facility. Nestle just has a bigger water spigot than those found in Michigan homes.

[MaineDem]

2. And in Maine it comes from separate wells but the same source as municipal supples

Granted, it's "spring water" because a spring runs through the aquifer "eyes" but it's still the same water that comes out of many taps. I also grant them that it's good water. But that's about all I'll grant them.

[originalpckelly]

26. Not entirely accurate, they purify the water big time.

It's far cleaner and has no chlorine than standard tap water.

[lame54]

49. no they don't

they sell you tap water and make a huge profit

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fCutvXccFlA

[Robbien]

52. There is no need. Tap water is great up there.

They say they do extra things to the water, but there really is no need. I do not see any corporation decreasing their profits by spending money to do something when it is not needed. They just say they do and watch the money roll in.

[klyon]

54. that is what I understand

Aquafina runs the water thru a reverse osmoses system and hits it with UV light for bacteria. There is no comparison to chlorinated tap water that travels miles in old pipes. Spring water seems the scariest to me, at least city systems meet some standard. We could do better but a new standard is needed. What you don't know could hurt you.

KL

[soothsayer]

3. caveat emptor. says so right on the bottle, for those with eyes

[Truthiness Inspector]

59. LOL

That's exactly what I was thinking too. :o

[Vinca]

4. Bottled water has always been the biggest rip off.

Get yourself a bottle and fill it up before you leave the house. If your water isn't as "pure" as you'd like, filter it. A $9 filter cleans gallons and gallons of water.

[MaineDem]

5. I totally agree (n/t)

[Gman]

8. Does the filter clean up the taste of normal tap water?

Our water lines are old and although we have one of the purest sources of water in the country, by the time it gets to homes it tastes "stale" for lack of a better word. That's why I've gotten to prefer bottled water. Will these filters clean up the taste to taste "fresher"?

[Kagemusha]

12. It helps a lot. Personally, I don't have tap water from a reservoir...

I live in a rural area and mine's from a deep well. I couldn't stand it well without filtration, so I was one of the few with an actual good reason to get bottled water.. but filters do help a ton in general. (Edit: Just to be more explicit, I don't need bottled water as long as I have a working filter. Not at all. Good luck to you.)

[AllyCat]

39. Yes. We have a Pur filter on our home tap

It filters out all the "tastes" and "odors" as well as a lot of nasties that get into city water that aren't removed by municipal filter systems (MTBE, Dioxin, etc). Read the label of the type of filter you buy and it will tell you what it removes. My only gripe is that it does not get rid of all the lead, a major problem in our area (old house, lead pipes from city lines to house).

You can shell out more money for a reverse osmosis (RO) system and if you buy a lot of bottled water, it will end up saving money in the long run. It does take out a lot of the minerals and makes the water sort of acidic, not really a good thing either. You can combat it by using a liquid mineral supplement and putting a few drops in your glass or water bottle.

One more aside: if you are filling up a sport bottle or Nalgene-type bottle, be wary of the clear and colored plastic ones, or those made out of Lexan. They contain a compound called bisphenol-A and once the insides of the bottle get scratched from cleaning brushes or what not, the compound leaches out of the plastic and into your water. Bisphenol-A is a hormone disrupter. Stick with the opaque or translucent plastic Nalgene bottles instead. They're cheaper than Lexan-types.

[namvet73]

51. We use the PUR filter also......

After seeing a piece on television about privatization of water, I decided to avoid bottled water.
Our tap water has an unpleasant taste, but the filter works beautifully. I use unfiltered water for cooking because there really isn't anything wrong with the tap water and it doesn't seem to affect the taste of the food. I keep a container of chilled water from the filter in the fridge.

I saw a recent calculation that bottled water costs about 3 times as much as gasoline. It is a huge ripoff.

As far as mineral content and nutrition, why not consider getting that from a good diet with a simple supplement? You might not even need the supplement.

It always annoys me when I see, say, a commercial for "Total" cereal and how many boxes of some other wheat flakes it would take to give you the nutrition of Total. One shouldn't be getting all their nutrition from a breakfast cereal. It's so ridiculous, but people buy into it.

[goclark]

65. We have a filter on our refrigerator ~ does that help? nt

[flamingyouth]

46. We have a water filter and yes, it reallly does help.

It was a good investment and I'm glad we're no longer buying bottled water.

[Maraya1969]

55. I have a water filter on the outside of my house and another underneath

the sink. My X put the one outside so I guess it would be a plumber's job but the one under the sink is great and easy to install. The water passes through 2 filters


Here is a comparison chart. They are not that expensive especially when you consider how much you spend on bottled water.

http://www.waterfiltercomparisons.net/WaterFilter_Comparison.cfm

[Gman]

61. Thanks to all

I think I'll invest in a filter.

[NashVegas]

62. I Feel It Goes Better

When I was a teen, we had great-tasting well water. What comes out of my Brita pitcher is the next best thing.

[Pretty_in_CodePink]

9. I have a Sigg

It is a beautiful eco-friendly, reusable bottle that is a pleasure to drink from. It has paid for itself many times over - and I'm staying hydrated! http://www.mysigg.com/?gclid=CJ_vgK7qx40CFQTogAodVxVNQA


Edited for grammar

[Ian David]

16. ooh! I'm getting some of these! They're Dishwasher Safe! (But hand washing suggested)

Are SIGGs dishwasher safe?

Yes, putting a SIGG in the dishwasher will not harm the bottle in any way. However, because the opening of the SIGG mouth is narrow, a dishwasher may not thoroughly clean the inside of the bottle. That's why SIGG Switzerland recommends hand-washing the bottles.

<snip>

Can I use my SIGG bottle for consuming alcohol?

Yes, if you are over the legal drinking age. The SIGG bottle and liner is built to handle any consumable beverage. However, do not store alcohol in your SIGG. Especially in a hot environment, a fermentable beverage like alcohol can generate pressure.

<snip>

What's the best way to clean my SIGG?

Rinsing your SIGG thoroughly under the faucet with warm, soapy water at the end of every day and letting it air dry with the top off provides sufficient cleaning in most cases. When more thorough cleaning is required, you can use baking soda and vinegar. For tough jobs, pick up some SIGG cleaning tablets and a SIGG brush. Do not use a hard bristled brush to clean the interior of your SIGG bottle as this may damage the liner.

<snip>

Does using a reusable water bottle make sense financially?

Yes, dollars and sense! The EPA strictly regulates the quality of tap water and according to the NRDC, bottled water is neither purer nor safer than tap water in most communities. In fact, many of the leading bottled water brands (Aquafina, Dasani, etc.) are sourced from municipal tap water. Assuming you drink 1 liter per day, you'd spend $500-$1,000 in bottled water a year. Many SIGG bottles are still being used 10-20 years after they are purchased – so you get good bang for your buck! Consider a home water purification system and a SIGG to save money – and the Earth.

More:
http://www.mysigg.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=5


edited to add:
Why don't they have any designs with Environmental messages on them?
http://www.mysigg.com//index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=20

[JudyM]

22. Shame that they're aluminum, since aluminum production is extremely toxic to the environment.

I used to work at EPA and learned that the "dross" (powder-like residue from aluminum refinement)that's a byproduct of production is really harmful. I avoid everything aluminum at every chance. Too bad, cuz these bottles are otherwise a great idea. The flasks are stainless steel, though, so I might get one of them.

[Ian David]

23. They also have Lexan. n/t

[JudyM]

57. ooh, missed that little danger. So are you still going to buy one?

[Ian David]

67. Is Lexan okay? n/t

[JudyM]

70. It leaches BPA, associated w/ cancer, obesity and birth defects, among other potential risks...

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2004/08/02/umbra-bottles/

http://www.greenfeet.net/newsletter/The-dangers-of-plastic-water-bottles.shtml

Much safer to avoid plastics altogether, both for the safety of your water and for its lasting environmental impacts!

Hope that doesn't burst your bubble...

:pals:

[Ian David]

71. Oh, good. Because all my eating utensils are made with compressed, kiln-fired elephant dung. n/t

[emmadoggy]

56. Those are so COOL!

:7

[ccinamon]

32. Sorry - not in Euless, TX!

Our water is so filled with chlorine and other chemicals that taste bad, that I have to filter the water twice before I can drink it.

I switched 4 years ago, because it was cheaper for me to buy water by the gallon than buying TWO filters a month - at the time, the cheapest I could find filters was $17 each, not nine.

I can get 2.5 gallons for $3 and it lasts me a week.

[acmavm]

6. I read a long time ago that most bottled water comes out of the

same source as our tap water does. And I believed it. But all the same, I'm sitting here looking at my bottle of green tea spiked Dasani as I type.

It just seems to taste better. Omaha has horrific water. I can drink well water, I can go to Denver and drink their water, I LOVED the water in Anchorage. I cannot drink Omaha's swill.

[Robbien]

7. The bottle water companies make sure they do surveys

of the better muni water supplies. The Great Lakes Region has some of the better systems. If your muni water system in Omaha is not up to par, I expect there are not too many bottle water companies extracting muni water in the area.

[zanne]

10. I only know that it tastes alot better than my tap water.

When I'm thirsty, I want to drink water--not chlorine.

[Kagemusha]

13. ...Wait a sec, chlorine is added later in the process? Not at the reservoir?

If that's the case, why are environmentalists continually calling bottled water "tap water"??? It's from the same source as the tap water, but the reservoir water is not exactly the same as the tap water???

Well doesn't that blow a huge hole into the anti bottled water propaganda...?

Mind you, filtering probably helps and all still but... when I hear people say "it's tap water," I expect them to mean "it's the same water that comes out of the tap," not "it's from the same source as the water that comes out of the tap," because that's not the same thing. At all.

[zanne]

19. I only know what it tastes like.

Every city's tap water tastes different. Mine was good until about 10 years ago. I really should just call the water dept. and ask them why they put so damn much chlorine in there.

[TwilightZone]

29. Chlorine is often added to counter bad smells.

Our utility company in Omaha, NE, for example, noted in their newsletter that they add chlorine to counter the natural dead-leaf smell of the water. It's pretty noticeable and more so during certain times of the year.

The water originates in the Missouri River, which *is* pretty disgusting water to begin with.

[AllyCat]

41. Actually, cities worry about getting bacteria in the water during transit

from their plant to your house. Colorado Springs used to add more chlorine to the water during summer when road construction crews were more likely to hit water mains and disrupt water supplies. They had to do it to make sure people didn't get giardia (actually a protozoan killed by chlorine). But yeah, it's added later in the process to keep people from getting sick from the local "bugs".

[Kagemusha]

42. Still doesn't amount to what reply #25 is saying (for example).

That the bottled water is itself tap water.

[AllyCat]

43. I'm not disagreeing with that fact. I was responding to the poster

who seemed surprised that chlorine was added later. I was just recounting what they do and why. I have no doubt that they are bottling tap water. It's a little bit easier to take with Dasani and Aquafina because at least they admit what they are doing, but also state on the label how they filter the water. If they filter tap water, they are removing the chlorine, which is fine by me.

[Kagemusha]

66. Ah. I was he, who was surprised, but only because that changes it.

I mean, the water is still just as 'good', it just would have a different taste because of the chlorine, which explains why everyone says bottled water tastes better in spite of environmentalists yelling at the top of their lungs that it comes from the same SOURCE.

Though yeah, filtering works great too. About the only other reason bottled water must have caught on is because it's bottled (and therefore portable in convenient form). Of course the bottles take energy to make.

[Donnachaidh]

27. agreed -- isn't it funny that we go apeshit about pets drinking from pools

But we then dump chlorine in our drinking water, because it's *cheaper* than setting up facilities to ensure clean drinking water for humans. :shrug:

[The Stranger]

11. Come on, folks -- let's kick it, recommend it, and get the word out about this.

[Ian David]

14. It could have been worse...

[Honeycombe8]

15. I just bought a case of this stuff. I bought it 'cause it's "purified."

I didn't care WHERE the water originated. I like "purified" water.

But it's nice to know where it comes from. As long as it really IS purified. It tastes clean to me.

I like Deja Blue the best, but I think it's because I like the blue bottles.

BUT I hear now that the making of those plastic bottles is way harmful for the environment. I thought because they are recyclable that they're okay, but I read that it creates a lot of pollution just to MAKE the bottles. Some city (NY? Boston?) has banned the use of bottled water in public or something.

Aaaaargh. I can't win for losing. Tap water is supposedly bad for you. Bottled water comes in polluting bottles. Diet sodas cause heart disease, a report this week said, as well as leeches out body's calcium.

What's a person to do?

[ProspectorBill]

17. Relax

Drink what you wish. From an old(er) person, enjoy everyday of life and don't stress. That WILL kill you.

[saigon68]

20. Good advice

[zanne]

21. Good point.

And welcome!

[valerief]

36. Yeah, but most of the water in your lifetime was probably cleaner than

water younguns are starting out drinking today.

[Honeycombe8]

50. Oh...okay. Don't have to suggest that twice to me! Sounds good.

EXCEPT that my main issue is the environment. I do make it my business to at least TRY to do the least harmful things.

Imagine how much better off the environment would be if we all just TRIED to do the least harmful thing in many areas. Autos would be made to get 40 mpg, the air would be cleaner, vinyl siding manufacturing plants wouldn't be causing all the toxic deaths that it is, our streams would be cleaner, we wouldn't be a country dependent on oil, etc., etc. All just from the mass public trying to do better in many areas.

So...I like to try.

I think I'll give up the bottles....or maybe switch to buying gallon ones and pouring into my own bottle. That sounds good.

[RedEarth]

18. Use a Brita water filter at home for your tap water

...then if you need something portable to take with you use something like this.....



http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reusable-bottles-c-19.html

[arikara]

68. I just use a clean quart sized glass Bragg apple cider vinegar bottle

No more plastic. Its a good size, and if it gets warm in the car I can still safely drink the water. People have been admiring my bottle so I bring extras to my exercise class to hand out.

Other people use the glass Sobe bottles, they are a bit smaller.

http://image.bizrate.com/resize?sq=160&uid=377462528&mid=19205

edit to add photo

Hmm... wonder why the link shows and not the pic?

[WindRavenX]

24. Hasn't this been known for years?

The only good thing about bottled water is that it's essential for natural disaster victims--other than that, if you buy bottled water, I'm just inclined to shake my head.

[BlueEyedSon]

25. LMFAO!!! I bet most bottled water sold is tap water

[stressfulreality]

28. i admire pepsi's honesty!! n/t

[mikeytherat]

30. An old Mad Magazine cartoon, from the mid-70s, mocked this.

It showed people drinking from water coolers with "Fresh, Healthy, Spring Water" displayed prominently, while we can see, out behind the "bottling plant," Smitty the janitor, filling the bottles with a garden hose.

mikey_the_rat

[shain from kane]

31. I don't drink water. Fish piss in it.

[Catherine Vincent]

37. What? There's lots of stuff in water. That's why they filter it,.

How can you survive without water?

[shain from kane]

40. Actually, this was a quote, somewhat censored, attributed to W. C. Fields.

I don't drink water. Fish poop in it.
Variant: I don't drink water. Fish fuck in it.
(Sometimes the second part of the statement is quoted as a response to a question as to why he didn't drink water. "Water rusts pipes." was also a reason he gave for not drinking it.)

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/W._C._Fields

[JudyM]

69. that is just too funny. made me spit out my evian...

:spray: :rofl:

[Summer93]

33. Drink tap water

I filter my water even though I have a deep well. I take it with me also. I cannot afford to spend $1 for a cup of water.

[Vilis Veritas]

34. I alway loved Evian's name...Spell it backwards - Naive

Peace

[Larissa238]

35. Penn and Teller's Bullsh*t did an episode on this

They go to a nice restaurant, and then have the people buy expensive "imported" water, and in another scene you see a guy filling the bottles from a garden hose. They have like 5 different flavors from "all over the world" and you see the people making up crap about how each one tastes different from the last... but then Penn and Teller show that it's all from the same hose.

So, Agua de Coolo, anyone?

[onager]

58. Thanks!! I posted the P&T info...

...over in the Skeptics group, where this was also posted.

The "Designer Water" episode is available on YouTube.

:hi:

[valerief]

38. I buy distilled water. For washing and steaming veggies I use a Brita on my tap. nt

[orleans]

44. i love aquafina. it's my bottled water of choice. n/t

[Hawkeye-X]

45. Nevermind

Nevermind.... I'll continue to buy Aquafina and recycle the bottles.

[LSK]

47. so do the other brands - when I refill the bottles over and over again

[RestoreGore]

48. Posted here too with comments.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1450436&mesg_id=1450436

[bamacrat]

53. So why buy it?

I guess this will end Aquafina never liked it anyway, bottled tap always tastes kinda weird. Fresh tap is where its at.

[sarcasmo]

60. Two dollars for a bottle of tap water. I guess a sucker is born every minute.

[Betsy Ross]

63. More about bottled water and the bottles too.

On edit, found a link to complete article.

Tapped Out: The True Cost of Bottled Water
by Solvie Karlstrom


From childhood, we're told to drink at least eight glasses of water each day. Unfortunately more and more Americans drink those eight glasses out of eight different plastic bottles—a convenience that stuffs landfills, clogs waterways and guzzles valuable fossil fuels.

Last year Americans spent nearly $11 billion on over 8 billion gallons of bottled water, and then tossed over 22 billion empty plastic bottles in the trash. In bottle production alone, the more than 70 million bottles of water consumed each day in the U.S. drain 1.5 million barrels of oil over the course of one year.

Banning the Bottle

Though the sale and consumption of bottled water is still on the rise, certain policy makers and activists have taken steps to reduce it. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in June that bars city government from using city money to supply municipal workers with bottled water, and New York City launched an ad campaign this summer encouraging residents and tourists to forego the bottled beverage for the city's tap, long considered some of the best water in the country. "New York waste and pollution is on a massive scale," says Michael Saucier of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. "Considering that the average New Yorker consumes nearly 28 gallons of bottled water each year, New York clearly hasn't been doing enough to encourage residents to drink tap."

Even restaurateurs are doing their part to keep water bottles out of landfills. Upscale eateries in Boston, New York and San Francisco have taken bottled water off the menu, offering filtered tap instead. At the Italian restaurant Incanto in San Francisco, carafes used to serve filtered tap water are refilled 2,000 times on average before they're cracked and retired. Owner Mark Pastore explains that leaving bottled water off the menu is "a tiny thing that we can do to be a little more sustainable."

More at http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc/121/bottle

[Lydia Leftcoast]

64. I've been using Brita filter pitchers since I moved into an apartment

where the tap water was cloudy.

Then I noticed that my tea no longer had "scum" on the top.

I've used filter pitchers ever since then, and I always have good-tasting water, even in Minneapolis, where the local water supply can have its off days.