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Concerns about drinking water quality have led to a surge in the number of U.S. and Texas residents buying
bottled water. In 1996, for example, U.S. residents drank three billion gallons of bottled water—about 11 gallons per person—and spent more than $4 billion.*
Is the water actually safer to drink? The answer really depends. While bottled water often undergoes more
extensive treatment—such as extra filtration or reverse osmosis—or comes from pristine springs where treatment is not needed—often it is no different than the water people drink out of their
taps. In fact, 35 percent of all bottled water sold in the United States is just municipal water run through a filter.* Recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations have strengthened truth-in-advertising for bottled water. For example, spring water must mean that the water comes from a spring coming from the ground. However, other terms, such as mountain fresh or glacier pure, are marketing terms, not a reference to where the water originates. FDA regulations on water quality are equivalent to EPA drinking water standards, meaning there is no guarantee the bottled water is any cleaner, providing that local water supplies meet EPA standards.*
Because of the success of bottled-water companies, some cities such as Houston have in the past produced their
own bottled water for sale, although the program has been discontinued. Most municipalities -- including Austin and Houston -- that either begun or have considered selling their water have
concluded that their primary responsibility is serving their customers, not competing with private water companies for sales.
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