According to the FDA, bottled water companies are required to use only approved water sources.
Approved Bottled Water Sources
Bottled water can be drawn from two types of sources. The first consists of natural sources such as springs and artesian wells. By law, these sources must be protected from intrusion at the surface and from any other environmental effects. This requirement ensures surface water pollutants such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia are not at hand.
The second source of bottled water is any approved municipal water system. Bottling companies that use municipal water supplies usually use at least one of three processing methods recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for effective elimination of microbial surface water contaminants, including Cryptosporidium. These processing methods are reverse osmosis, filtration and distillation. Ozonation and ultraviolet light may also be effective treatments for ridding water of Cryptosporidium.
Bottled water companies that use either water source usually reprocess water by methods like distillation, reverse osmosis, ozonation, deionization and filtration. This makes certain that the finished product is distinctly different in composition and taste-from the water derived at the source.
What is Cryptosporidium?
Cryptosporidiosis is a disease caused by microscopic parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants. When a person or animal is infected, the parasite lives in the intestine and passes via the stool.
How is Cryptosporidium Spread?
It is spread through contact with your mouth by touching, eating or drinking food or water infected with the parasite.
Avoid Water That Might be Contaminated by Cryptosporidium
Do not swallow water from untreated sources such as wells, lakes, rivers, streams or ponds. Avoid accidentally swallowing recreational water and do not use untreated ice or drinking water.
Safety of our Bottled Water
In the U.S. bottled water is safe from cryptosporidium because of the various treatments that are in place to protect consumers. When you purchase your bottled water from Bottle Your Brand, you can rest assured knowing our spring water is inspected routinely and our bottled water is tested daily to ensure it is of the highest quality. It is tested for chemicals, pesticides, fertilizer, bromides and heavy metals and these tests are consistently negative. The water source, a natural spring, ensures the water you purchase has a fresh, crisp taste.