The FDA protects consumers of bottled water through the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), which makes manufacturers responsible for producing safe, wholesome, and truthfully labeled food products.
There are regulations that focus specifically on bottled water, including:
“standard of identity” regulations that define different types of bottled water
“standard of quality” regulations that set maximum levels of contaminants—including chemical, physical, microbial, and radiological contaminants—allowed in bottled water
“current good manufacturing practice” (CGMP) regulations that require bottled water to be safe and produced under sanitary conditions
Types of Bottled Water
The FDA describes bottled water as water that’s intended for human consumption and sealed in bottles or other containers with no added ingredients, except that it may contain safe and suitable antimicrobial agents. Fluoride may also be added within the limits set by the FDA.
The agency classifies some bottled water by its origin. Here are four of those classifications:
Artesian well water. This water is collected from a well that taps an aquifer—layers of porous rock, sand, and earth that contain water—which is under pressure from surrounding upper layers of rock or clay. When tapped, the pressure in the aquifer, commonly called artesian pressure, pushes the water above the level of the aquifer, sometimes to the surface. Other means may be used to help bring the water to the surface.
Mineral water. This water comes from an underground source and contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. Minerals and trace elements must come from the source of the underground water. They cannot be added later.
Spring water. Derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface, this water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole that taps the underground formation feeding the spring. If some external force is used to collect the water through a borehole, the water must have the same composition and quality as the water that naturally flows to the surface.
Well water. This is water from a hole bored or drilled into the ground, which taps into an aquifer.
Bottled water may be used as an ingredient in beverages, such as diluted juices or flavored bottled waters. However, beverages labeled as containing “sparkling water,” “seltzer water,” “soda water,” “tonic water,” or “club soda” aren’t included as bottled water under the FDA’s regulations. These beverages are instead considered to be soft drinks.
It May Be Tap Water
Some bottled water also comes from municipal sources—in other words, public drinking water or tap water. Municipal water is usually treated before it is bottled. Examples of water treatments include:
Distillation. Water is turned into a vapor, leaving minerals behind. Vapors are then condensed into water again.
Reverse osmosis. Water is forced through membranes to remove minerals.
Absolute 1 micron filtration. Water flows through filters that remove particles larger than one micron—.00004 inches—in size. These particles include Cryptosporidium, a parasitic pathogen that can cause gastrointestinal illness.
Ozonation. Bottlers of all types of waters typically use ozone gas, an antimicrobial agent, instead of chlorine to disinfect the water. (Chlorine can add residual taste and odor to the water.)
Bottled water that has been treated by distillation, reverse osmosis, or another suitable process may meet standards that allow it to be labeled as “purified water.”
Ensuring Quality and Safety
Federal quality standards for bottled water were first adopted in 1973. They were based on U.S. Public Health Service standards for drinking water set in 1962.
The 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act gave regulatory oversight of public drinking water to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FDA subsequently took responsibility, under the FD&C Act, for ensuring that the quality standards for bottled water are compatible with EPA standards for public drinking water.
Each time EPA establishes a standard for a contaminant, the FDA either adopts it for bottled water or finds that the standard isn’t necessary for bottled water.
In some cases, standards for bottled water and public drinking water differ. For example, because lead can leach from pipes as water travels from water utilities to home faucets, EPA has set its limit for lead in public drinking water water at 15 parts per billion (ppb). For bottled water, for which lead pipes aren’t used, the lead limit is set at 5 ppb.
For bottled water production, bottlers must follow the CGMP regulations that are specific to processing and bottling drinking water, put in place and enforced by the FDA. Water must be sampled, analyzed, and found to be safe and sanitary. These regulations also require proper plant and equipment design, bottling procedures, and record keeping.
In addition, bottled water processors are generally required to register with the FDA as food facilities. Domestic and foreign facilities that are required to register as food facilities must comply with the requirements for risk-based preventive controls mandated by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) as well as the modernized Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) of this rule that cover all human food facilities (unless an exemption applies). Please see FDA’s Preventive Controls for Human Food webpage for additional details.
Furthermore, the FDA oversees inspections of bottling plants. The agency inspects bottled water plants under its general food safety program and has states perform some plant inspections under contract. (Some states also require bottled water firms to be licensed annually.)
How long can you keep bottled water? According to the US Food and Drug Administration, bottled drinking water doesn't require an expiration date. We recommend to use the standard best practices and to consume the bottled water within 2 years from the date of manufactured.
If you use plastic PET bottles, keep them out of the sunlight. If outdoors, keep the plastic bottle covered and cool. Don't keep bottled water sitting in the hot car.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety of bottled water and bases its standards on the EPA standards for tap water. If these standards are met, water is considered safe for most healthy individuals.
Drinking water that is thoroughly disinfected can be stored indefinitely in capped plastic or glass containers that water will not rust, as metal containers may. Because the disinfectant that was in the water when you stored it will slowly go away, replacing the water every six months is recommended.
When it comes to drinking bottled water that has been stored, you should be wary of where it was stored, for how long it was stored, and in what conditions it was stored. If you water was stored in a cool or refrigerated area out of direct sunlight, the bottled water should be safe to drink.
That's why many experts recommend keeping plastic water bottles away from hot places like cars or garages and storing them in a cool, dark spot, far away from any heat sources.
That old water on your countertop, water left overnight next to your bed, or even days-old water on your office desk from Friday are all okay and safe to drink. It's very unlikely that they'll cause you to be ill, but they just might not taste very good—especially if they've been left uncovered.
If left in the open, your water may taste slightly different since it will absorb carbon dioxide. For this reason, the recommended period is to consume the water 3 days following the day it was opened. For best refreshment, you can recap your water and store in the fridge, out of sunlight to keep a crisp taste.
Various chemicals have the ability to seep into our bodies from things like plastic bottles and dermatological products. Serious health problems like insulin resistance, weight gain, endocrine disruption, lowered reproductive health and even cancer have all been related to these chemicals.
When handled and stored properly, bottled water can be stored for a long time. While the FDA does not set a limit for the shelf life of bottled water, general industry recommendations are around two years.
What's the best water for good kidney health? Whatever type of water you drink can only benefit your kidneys and overall health. Carbonated water is as effective at keeping you hydrated, refreshed, and kidney-happy as ordinary tap water as long as it doesn't contain potassium or phosphorous additives.
Does Waiākea Have PFAS? Nope! Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water has no PFAS in any of its products, including its sparkling and non-carbonated water. In fact, Waiākea is one of few bottled water brands to have no detectable (ND) levels of PFAS in its still or sparkling water.
The department sent a letter to Baraka earlier this week to explain that the FDA has determined there is no limit to the shelf life of bottled water, as long as it's “produced properly and is unopened.”
Plastic leaches at an extremely small rate which is why it is used to store water. Under normal storage conditions and not under extreme heat it will take a couple years to detect a minuscule amount in the water. If the plastic is scented it would depend on the compound used and how it is used to scent the plastic.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, has determined that there is no limit to the shelf life of bottled water.
Drinking water from a bottle that has been sitting in a hot car may be harmful to your health. If the bottle contains BPA or has been opened, it's best to avoid it. Opting for an insulated reusable water bottle is your best bet. Make sure to clean your bottle between uses.
FIJI Water's 700mL, 1L, and 1.5L bottles are made from high-grade PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic, which is designated with the #1 code at the bottom of the bottle. The FDA approves rPET and PET as safe for contact with food and beverages.
The recommended shelf life is two years. The U.S. Food and Drug administration which regulates bottled water does not require a shelf life be listed but due to degradation of plastic over time, especially in heat we recommend two years for still water and one year for sparkling water.
If the bottle was sealed, it will be safe for much longer than 1–3 weeks from when you bought it. Probably for a couple of years past the “best by date”. Those dates are arbitrary dates LESS THAN the shortest date that the water tested still sterile and safe after packaging and storage.
The FDA has determined that commercially bottled water doesn't have a shelf life, since it comes from sanitary facilities subject to regular inspections and contains no additives to hasten spoilage. Only New Jersey has ever mandated a two-year expiration date on bottled water.
Storing your water in a cool, dark area ensures that the water stays as clean and fresh as possible. Keep water away from chemicals: Plastic bottles are slightly permeable, which means there is a small chance that vapors from household cleaners, gasoline and other chemicals could affect your bottled water.
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