On this page:

• Do you need a water filter?
• Do water filters work?
• Types of water filters: pros and cons
• Other water filter options
• What if you have your own water supply?
• How to fix problems with your tap water
• Types of problems with your water
• Microbiological and chemical risks in water

Safe drinking water requires additives you can often smell or taste, such as chlorine, a disinfectant widely used by Australian water suppliers. Your water supplier’s website more than likely carries regular reports on its water quality.

Filtering the water at the tap is one way of removing the taste of additives. But first you must decide what you want to filter out, what filtering device to use, and how much you want to spend. ÌÇÐÄVlog looks at the pros and cons of buying a water filter.

Do you need a water filter?

Tap water is one of our most important basic necessities and can contain many impurities, both natural and artificial. Some are harmless, or only affect what the water looks, tastes or smells like. Others can give you an immediate infection or slowly damage your health over a long period of time.

Some chemicals (such as chlorine and fluoride) are added to your water in the treatment plant. There are ongoing discussions over potential health risks as a result of this, but the benefits of using the chemicals are still thought to outweigh any potential risk. Generally, most Australians don’t have to worry about getting sick from the water they’re supplied with.

The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines specify that water “should contain no harmful concentrations of chemicals or pathogenic microorganisms, and ideally it should be aesthetically pleasing in regard to appearance, taste and odour”.

Water authorities use settling, coagulation, filtering and disinfecting to ensure the safety of our drinking water, using sufficient disinfectant to stop the re-growth of microorganisms as the water travels through the pipe system to your home.

The downside of ensuring safe drinking water is the lingering taste and smell of disinfectant. If you fill up a jug with tap water and leave it to sit for a couple of hours, the disinfectant smell and taste will gradually dissipate, but many people opt for a water filtering system.

Do water filters work?

How can you be sure water filters do what they say, without proof? One thing to look for is certification. The NSF International provides a range of certifications for products that involve initial and periodic testing:

• NSF 42 covers aesthetic effects such as chlorine, taste, odour and particles.
• NSF 53 covers health effects such as cysts (giardia, cryptosporidium), a range of organic chemicals (such as THM and pesticides) and heavy metals.

The Australian standard AS/NZS 4348 covers a wide range of contaminants, such as taste, odour and microbiological and chemical impurities. There are also standards for water softeners – cation exchangers (NSF 44), reverse-osmosis (NSF 58) and distillation (NSF 62) systems.

There may be models that claim to meet relevant performance standards but aren’t certified (certification costs money, which can be an obstacle for smaller businesses). However, how can you be sure? If you’re treating a potential health threat you have to be able to rely on the filter’s performance, and certification is the best available guarantee.

If you’re not happy with the aesthetics of your tap water (its taste, look or smell), looking for a certified product is still a good idea, but may not be as important. In any case, be aware that a filter can make your water’s quality worse if you don’t use it properly.

Types of water filters: pros and cons

The basic pros and cons of each type of water filtering system are included below, as well as a rough estimate of initial costs. Ongoing costs can be determined by checking the volume or time it claims to filter before requiring replacement.ÌýBe sure to factor in the cost of replacement filter cartridges and always replace as instructed, as spent cartridges can themselves harbour microorganisms. What each cartridge can filter varies even within the different types of dispensers.

Bottle filter

• Prices: $18–30 initial (up to $180/yr ongoing)
• Pros: Convenient, portable, and easy to use and replace filters.
• Cons: Heavier than normal water bottles, short filter lives (high ongoing costs) and limitations on filtering.

Jug filter

• Prices: $20–75 initial ($84–432/yr ongoing)
• Pros: Convenient and easy to use and replace filters.
• Cons: Some are slow, prone to clogging and have short filter lives, meaning high ongoing costs.

Tap mounted

• Prices: $25–75 initial ($50–120/yr ongoing)
• Pros: Most convenient at tap filter, small, and easy to use and replace filters. Easily swap between filtered and non-filtered water. Portable if you rent.
• Cons: Slows the flow of water and cannot be used on all taps.

Counter-top

• Prices: $60–350 initial ($100–200/yr ongoing)
• Pros: Filters large amounts of water without plumbing modification. Less likely to clog than jug or tap-mounted filters. Portable if you rent.
• Cons: Clutters countertops and cannot be used on all taps.

Under-sink

• Prices: $180–600 initial ($200–800/yr ongoing)
• Pros: Filters large amounts of water without cluttering up countertop, or attaching to existing tap. Less likely to clog than jug or tap-mounted filters.
• Cons: Takes up under-sink space and requires plumbing modification. Most expensive upfront cost option.

Fridge filter

• Prices: Supplied initially ($50–100/yr ongoing)
• Pros: Easy to replace, usually just a push/twist motion. Can filter as well as countertop/under-sink options, depending on filter.
• Cons: No option but to replace it – it’s a cost that comes with the fridge.

Other water filter options

You can also buy shower filters or ones built into fridge ice and water systems. These are generally carbon filters. There is also an option to fit out the entire house, but they’re expensive and generally only justified in quite specific situations (for example, if you have a poor-quality water supply).

Filter mediums

All the filter systems above can have different types or combinations of filter mediums. Your choice depends on what you want to filter out.

• Filtration/adsorption: Filtration involves using a substance, typically carbon, to make contaminants adhere to the many pores (like pumice) within the carbon source, also called adsorption. The source of carbon can be coconut, charcoal, ceramic, etc. This helps remove odour, taste and particles in the water.
• Softeners: If you have a hard water source, you’ll notice a build-up in kettles, bathtubs and sinks. These are normally a result of large amounts of minerals in your water. A softener medium will reduce the amount of minerals.
• UV treatment: This uses ultraviolet light to disinfect water. However, it only works on relatively clear water, otherwise the light doesn’t penetrate sufficiently.
• Reverse-osmosis: This uses water pressure from your pipes to pass water through a thin membrane. Most contaminants are physically blocked and washed away. It uses a lot of water, and some use energy as well – up to 60% of the water can be wasted in the process. However, it does remove a wide range of contaminants.
• Distillation: This is also energy intensive. It boils the water, collecting the condensing water to remove many contaminants, though not all.

What if you have your own water supply?

If you’re not connected to town water, but use rain or bore water, it’s important to protect your supply from contamination – particularly with bore water – and inspect it regularly.

For example, an animal carcass close to your bore can be a serious health threat, and herbicides or fertilisers may leach into your water supply over time. A dirty roof, peeling paint or bird droppings can affect the quality of collected rain water.

Many water authorities or your local health department will have brochures on what to look for, and how to maintain a storage tank.

Have your water supply tested regularly, and contact your local or state health department. It may check the water body you’re drawing from as part of its own monitoring program, or it can test your water – in many cases free of charge if you have a health concern.

It will also be able to advise you on how to rectify a problem. As a last resort, you may want to consider buying a suitable water filter.

How to fix problems with your tap water

When you turn on your tap, you should see clear, uncloudy water. If not, or it tastes strange, then there are ways to find out why.

• If your water looks, smells or tastes strange, or if your clothing and plumbing (such as sinks and toilets) become stained by it, use our table below as a starting point to narrow down the number of possible causes.
• Ask your neighbours whether they have similar concerns. This may help to find out whether it’s a general supply problem, or one caused by your home’s plumbing.
• Talk to your water supplier about your concerns. If you’ve recognised a potential problem, tell them – it may help them assess and solve the problem more quickly. Ask them for the latest analytical results of your water supply, and the corresponding Drinking Water Guidelines recommendations. If you still have doubts, get a water sample analysed. Your supplier may do that free of charge, especially if there’s a health concern.
• Your water supplier may be able to solve some aesthetic problems fairly easily by flushing the mains, while other problems may require more extensive cleaning or repair of the distribution system in your area, or work on your home’s plumbing.
• If you’ve suffered damage (for example, rust-spotted clothes after a wash), you may be able to negotiate compensation from your supplier.

Types of problems with your water

Except for microorganisms and lead, most of these contaminants are an aesthetic rather than a health problem, as long as they don’t occur in very high concentrations.Ìý

Microbiological and chemical risks in water

Microbiological risks

Supplying water that’s free from pathogenic microorganisms (those that can make you sick) is the most important task for water authorities.

• Bacteria: Most pathogenic bacteria found in water come from contamination by human or animal faeces. Disinfection (for example, with chlorine) usually kills all bacteria. Another potential threat is bacteria growing in the water mains. That’s why water suppliers try to ensure there’s a residue of chlorine to protect the water on its way from the treatment plant to your home.
• Protozoa: This group includes cryptosporidium and giardia. These can cause severe illness, and their cysts can often resist disinfection.
• Viruses: Some viruses that can be found in water are potentially harmful. While disinfecting the water usually kills most viruses, some may survive and make you sick. However, it’s not known how big a problem this is in Australia, as the source of a viral infection (whether it’s water, food or contact with another infected person) is difficult to trace.

Chemical risks

• Pesticides and herbicides:ÌýThese can leach into waterways in rural areas. Some are potentially carcinogenic and live in the environment for a long time. While low concentrations of these chemicals have sometimes been found, our drinking water is usually free of them when tested. However, not all water authorities check for them regularly.
• Nitrate/nitrite: The main sources for these chemicals in waterways are sewage and fertiliser run-off. Groundwater supplies in rural areas are most likely to have high nitrate concentrations. While nitrate itself is harmless, it can be converted into nitrite, which mainly poses a problem to babies and young children – it can reduce the amount of oxygen the blood can carry. In areas where nitrate is a problem, the water supplier will usually advise people to use bottled or rainwater for children under three months.
• Chlorine and chlorination by-products: Chlorine or chloramine is usually added to kill bugs in the water that passes through the treatment plant and to protect against recontamination while the water’s travelling through the distribution system. However, these chemicals can – depending on a number of parameters – react with naturally occurring organic substances in the water to form potentially harmful by-products (mainly so-called trihalomethanes, or THM). The Drinking Water Guidelines state a maximum concentration for these by-products. They also point out that while their concentration should be minimised, the disinfection of drinking water must not be compromised. The risk posed by by-products is considerably smaller than that posed by the presence of pathogenic microorganisms.
• Fluoride:ÌýThis has been added to drinking water since the 1960s and 1970s as it has a proven record of reducing tooth decay. However, fluoride protection is now available from more sources, like many toothpastes or from fluoride treatments applied by your dentist. Critics say fluoridated water is unnecessary, as it may lead to dental fluorosis (mottled teeth) in people who get too much, and we don’t know the potential health risk of drinking fluoridated water over a lifetime.
• Aluminium: Chemicals containing aluminium are used in a process called flocculation, which removes suspended particles from the water, making it clearer. While most of the aluminium used can be filtered out of the water, small amounts may pass through. Some water authorities have phased out the use of aluminium chemicals in favour of alternatives.

The post Do you need a water filter in Australia? appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How much could you save by switching to a reusable water bottle?
• Are reusable water bottles better for the environment?
• What to look for
• Cleaning tips

But with so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the right bottle for you. From features to cleaning advice, here are our best tips for finding a reusable bottle that you’ll love.

How much could you save by switching to a reusable water bottle?

If you’re inclined to buy water in single-use plastic bottles when you’re out and about, getting into the habit of carrying a reusable water bottle could save you a significant chunk of money.Ìý

If you buy three single-use bottles of water a week, switching to a reusable bottle costing $40 could save you $155 in the first year of use, not to mention a mountain of landfill.

Are reusable water bottles better for the environment?

Yes. Most single-use water bottles are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is produced from crude oil. According toÌý, in total it takes three litres of water and 250mL of oil to produce one litre of bottled water. The bottles also need to be transported to shopfronts which usually requires a vehicle that burns fossil fuels.

Then there’s landfill to consider. Though most plastic bottles are recyclable these days, . The chemicals used in production can also seep into soil and marine environments which causes lasting damage.

What to look for

Materials

Most water bottles in our test are made from stainless steel, which is sturdy and generally resistant to smells and stains, unlike some glass or plastic bottles. Some are insulated, and even those that aren’t usually do a better job of keeping water cool compared to plastic. Some of the bottles we tested also contain plastic or silicone elements, usually in the lid or on the exterior of the bottle.

BPA free claims

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that’s been used in plastic production since the 1950s and some studies have shown that it can seep into food and drink if used in storage containers, like water bottles. Though most studies find that , some manufacturers specifically keep BPA out of their products.

Insulation

Double-walled bottles help keep their contents cool for longer by isolating them from the outside layer. This can also help reduce condensation.

Height

Water bottles with similar volumes can vary in height, so you can’t assume that all 500mL bottles, for example, are created equal. Check the dimensions to make sure the bottle fits in your backpack or drink holder if you plan to carry it around.

Lid fixing and cap screw

The type of lid and cap attachments are important to note if you have limited strength or dexterity. You may find certain ones hard to open or close.

Spare parts

A few brands sell replacement parts online, which are usually cheaper to replace compared to the price of a new bottle.

Volume

Bottles in our test range from 340mL up to 660mL, so remember to check the volume before buying.

Cleaning tips

It’s important to clean your bottle thoroughly with warm soapy water to get rid of any mould or germs and eliminate odours.Ìý

• Bottles with narrow necks or drinking straws will generally need to be cleaned with a bottle brush or straw brush.Ìý
• You can also soak tricky parts such as drinking straws and lids using effervescent water-cleaning or sterilising tablets.
• When cleaning the lid, pay particular attention to any nooks and crannies, or complicated locking mechanisms.Ìý
• Leave your bottle to dry with the lid off – keeping the lid on could trap humidity and odours inside.

The post What to know before buying a reusable water bottle appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How we choose what we test
• How we test reusable water bottles
• Scoring

Our experts have assessed the performance and ease of use of a range of reusable bottles from big brands like Kmart, Kathmandu, KeepCup and more to help you find the best bottle for your needs.

How we choose what we test

We select reusable water bottles from popular brands that are either available in prominent online and traditional retailers, or ones that have strong brand recognition that you’re likely to seek out. The bottles in our most recent test range from $7 up to $85, so you can determine whether more expensive bottles are worth the higher price tag (or if a budget bottle will get the job done).

How we test reusable water bottles

Performance

We measure how long it takes for chilled water to warm up in each bottle. First, we drill a hole in the lid that’s 0.1mm larger than the thermocouple we use to measure temperature. Then we fill each bottle with chilled water (approximately 3ºC) from a 20L container, attach the lid and insert the thermocouple with the tip as close as possible to the centre of the bottle.

The thermocouples are attached to a logger that records the temperature every 60 seconds. The surrounding ambient air temperature is maintained at approximately 24ºC, and we then wait for the water to reach a temperature of 11.5ºC. The data reveals which bottles are the slowest to warm up, and bottles that stay cool for longer earn a higher score.Ìý

Ease of use

In addition to how well the bottles keep water cool, we also assess:

• ease of carrying
• ease of opening and closing
• how easy it is to drink from the bottle
• ease of dismantling to clean
• signs of leaking when the cap is closed
• condensation on the exterior
• signs of spills while drinking
• any strange tastes that may indicate that the bottle has tainted the water.

Scoring

The ÌÇÐÄVlog Expert Rating (our overall score) is made up of performance (50%) and ease of use (50%).

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But while they’re an environmentally-conscious way to keep our kids hydrated, what’s not so thirst-quenching is the fact that water bottles (yours included!) can harbour lots of pesky germs.Ìý

According to one study, the average water bottle has roughly six times more bacteria than a pet bowl.ÌýBut before you start sending your child to school with Fido’s bowl instead, check out our top tips for how to clean kids’ water bottles and stop them from going mouldy.Ìý

Choose your water bottle wisely

Try to choose a water bottle with the least amount of nooks and crannies. Not only is it the best way to avoid build-up of bacteria and other nasties, but you also won’t have to sacrifice your time scrubbing awkward-shaped bottles and components.Ìý

“Definitely look for bottles with minimal parts that are easy to clean – I recommend getting a bottle with a removable lid, plus ones with wide mouths will be easier to clean than narrow mouths,” advises Dee Carter, professor in microbiology at Sydney University.Ìý

As for material, metal is more germ-resistant than plastic.

“Metal bottles are better than plastic from a microbiology perspective, as metal has antimicrobial properties and is less likely to develop cracks where bacteria might be able to colonise,” adds Carter.Ìý

“However, if properly cared for, plastic bottles are fine. Just don’t buy anything with antimicrobial coatings – these may contain harmful chemicals and may give a false sense of security that the bottle doesn’t need to be washed.”

Wash kids’ bottles regularly

For something that only holds water, how dirty can a water bottle be? Answer: very! All that mouth contact and saliva is a bacteria party waiting to happen.Ìý

“Germs can get into containers from the skin and mouth of handlers, plus from the environment,” says Carter.Ìý

“The most likely place to get a build-up is where there is contact with the mouth, but germs can also get into the water inside the bottle as there is often some exchangeÌýbetween water in the bottle and water in the kid’s mouth.”

So get into the habit of emptying and cleaning your kids’ water bottles daily so you can rid them of any biofilm, a slimy substance caused by a build-up of bacteria (just like on pipes, plugs or other objects constantly in contact with water).

“Biofilms are safe havens for microorganisms as they allow them to stick and resist being removed – washing kids’ bottles is important to prevent them building up,” says Carter.Ìý

“If washed every day, it will be easy to remove any contaminating microorganisms.”Ìý

How to wash your water bottle

Give your kids’ water bottles a thorough clean by dismantling all the parts completely and washing them in piping hot soapy water.Ìý

YouÌýcould also use a dishwasher if the bottle is dishwasher-safe, although Carter isn’t a fan due to the risk of causing structural damage that “might then become a home for bacteria”.

To make life easier, and to get in all those tight spots like bottlenecks, spouts and straws, it’s a good idea to invest in a bottle-cleaning brush kit.

But what happens if life gets in the way and you… forget?Ìý

“Don’t panic if you miss a day or two – a good wash with hot soapy water and a scrub around the mouth of the bottle will clean it up,” says Carter. “Just be sure to clean the bottle lid whenever you clean the bottle, as biofilms can also develop on this.”

How to wash with vinegar

• For smaller bottlesÌýplace in a container and cover with undiluted vinegar for 10 minutes, before rinsing washing well.Ìý
• For larger bottlesÌýfill withÌýone part vinegar to four parts water, shake and leave to overnight. Discard the vinegar the next day, rinse well and allow to air dry.Ìý

If you want extra protection you could also try store-bought sterilising solutions in liquid or tablet form to disinfect the bottle and its components. Do take care to make sure that they are safe to use for your bottle type before applying.

How to store your water bottle

If you’re washing your kids’ water bottles by hand, be sure to air-dry them with the lid off. Then, when it comes to putting them away, store them with the lid off or open.Ìý

Dark, moist conditions are what bacteria loves best, so you want to ensure there isn’t any residual moisture left to fester inside. Should you come across any mould or mildew on your kids’ water bottle, remove all traces and then follow the sterilisation steps above.

After all, drinking water is good for you. Drinking slimy scum or (shudder) mould or mildew? Not so much.ÌýÌý

When to replace your water bottle

Despite the best care there will come a time when your water bottle needs to be retired.Ìý

For plastic bottles that should be about every year, as after that they may begin to deteriorate.Ìý

Aluminium bottles may last longer. Glass and stainless steel bottles are the most durable of all and with proper care can last for several years before they need to be replaced.Ìý

The post How to stop kids’ water bottles going mouldy appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• The rise of bottled water
• Why Australians opt for bottled water
• Quality control in Australian water
• Is bottled water safer?
• Plastic particles found in bottled water
• Bottled water manufacturers: as transparent as mud
• Poland Spring Water: a "colossal fraud"?
• Australian Artesian Water: what's really in it?
• Breathe: oxygen-infused water
• Water worries?

So why is bottled water so popular, when it costs more and is bad for the environment? It seems many people think bottled water is more “pure”, seemingly drawn in by label images of natural springs and pristine mountains.

The rise of bottled water

According to research conducted by Roy Morgan in 2015, 5.3 million Australians consumed bottled water in any given seven days – an increase on 2014, when only 4.9 million of us drank it in the same period.

Australians under the age of 50 are more likely to consume bottled water, with the beverage most popular with 25–34 year olds.

As a result, beverage companies raked in an estimated $700 million plus from sales of bottled water last year. But in a country that has some of the safest drinking water in the world – why is bottled water so popular?

Bottled water is no better at hydrating you than tap water, and it’s not any healthier. Blind taste tests have also shown most people can’t even tell the difference between bottled water and tap water. It’s bad for the environment and it costs almost 2000 times the price of tap water.

Plenty of water utilities around Australia run “Choose tap” programs and spruik the benefits of tap water, but often the primary focus of these campaigns is on tap water being the best choice for your hip pocket and the environment.

Many Australians do drink tap water primarily (give or take the odd bottle of water on the run for the sake of convenience), according to research done by Sydney Water, the state-owned company that provides drinking water and other water services across Sydney. But the number of people who say they only drink bottled water 100% of the time is still high. In the Sydney area alone, Sydney Water reports that almost half a million people say theyÌýonlyÌýdrink bottled water.

Why Australians opt for bottled water

Sydney Water’s research showed that convenience, cost and environmental impact were all secondary considerations when it comes to choosing bottled water.

The key influencer for people’s decision to choose bottled over tap was perception of the water quality. Many of the respondents found the imagery of clean and natural sources displayed on the bottled water packaging far more reassuring than that of dams, pipes and taps.

Some comments from this group included: “I’m more about the image of the brand than the quality of the water”, “anything marketed is legit” or “a company couldn’t legally sell something if it wasn’t great quality”.

Many respondents said they loved the idea that bottled water comes from a natural spring or a mountain in Switzerland. There was a perception that this water is clean, pure, high quality, and has been filled up directly at the source.

The water supplier Queensland Urban Utilities carried out a similar survey on bottled water use. Their key findings included:

• 35% of respondents prefer bottled water over tap water.

Of those that said they preferred bottled water:

• 47% said it was for the taste
• 38% believed bottled water is better quality
• 19% said that bottled water is better for their health
• 18% said they know what’s in bottled water.

In Victoria, Yarra Valley Water also conducted research. Its study found that while 79% of those surveyed felt that tap water should be more accessible, of the 38% who said they didn’t consume tap water when they were out and about due to accessibility, 24% said they would not choose tap water anyway – even if it was easily available.

So just how have people come to the conclusion that bottled water is safer than tap water?

Donna Lewis, acting engagement, education and partnerships manager at Sydney Water says,Ìý“Our research found that the perception of water quality is the primary driver for choosing bottled water over tap. The reasons for this association are numerous, but much of it comes down to clever marketing campaigns by bottled water distributors.”

Lewis says that Australia’s bottled water industry has successfully used marketing tactics to artificially manufacture consumer demand. “By telling consumers the safest drinking water comes from a bottle, beverage companies indirectly imply that tap water is unsafe and can’t be trusted.”

Quality control in Australian water

The good news is that the majority of us don’t have to worry about getting sick from our drinking water. And it’s widely agreed among experts that Australia has some of the best tap water in the world.

The specify that tap water “should contain no harmful concentrations of chemicals or pathogenic micro-organisms, and ideally it should be aesthetically pleasing in regard to appearance, taste and odour”.

Water authorities use filtering, settling, coagulation and disinfecting to ensure the safety of drinking water. They also use sufficient disinfectant to stop the re-growth of microorganisms as the water travels through the pipe system to the tap.

Additionally, water utilities monitor the water quality 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and conduct thousands of tests each year to ensure quality and safety.

Is bottled water safer?

According to Stuart Khan, an expert in drinking water quality, anyone in Australia who is under the impression that bottled water is safer than tap water is very much “mistaken”.

Khan, who is an associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of NSW, says that tap water and bottled water are regulated differently; tap water needs to meet much more stringent quality criteria and is monitored far more carefully than bottled water.

Bottled water is considered a packaged food and is regulated by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) via the Food Safety standards and is enforced by state- and territory-level food authorities.

Bottled water producers that are part of the Members of the Australasian Bottled Water Institute (ABWI) must also comply with their own industry code. According to the ABWI, the code is a set of standards for the safe processing of bottled water and requires testing once a year. However, joining the ABWI is voluntary.

According to Khan, while both products are likely to be safe in Australia, and both provide water using a risk management process, bottled water manufacturers (unlike the water utilities) are generally likely to have less control over the catchment where they source their water.

He says that while bottled water companies can do a site survey on their land and make an assessment that it’s safe, they can’t prevent activities offsite but nearby. “This is a commercial enterprise so they are looking for somewhere that is clean and pristine, they can’t put in the sort of large scale catchment activities that a larger water utility can.”

As for bottled water being completely pristine, Dr Peter Cox, principal advisor on public health at Sydney Water, says that even if you take the cleanest water out of a spring, microorganisms will change the water quality. “People like to believe bottled water is pure, straight from nature, with no human intervention, but it has to be treated.”

Plastic particles found in bottled water

In mid-March the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a review into the potential health problems that may arise from microplastics in bottled drinking water. This announcement came after the results of a study conducted by nonprofit US-based organisation OrbÌýMedia revealed that .

The study foundÌýplastic in 93% of the samples analysed that were fromÌý250 bottles of water in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Thailand and the United States and wereÌýcontaminated with plastic including polypropylene, nylon, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The research found that the microplastic in the water was coming from processes to do with bottling or from the cap itself.Ìý

Bottled water manufacturers: as transparent as mud

While water utilities in Australia are upfront about where their tap water is sourced from, when it comes to bottled water things are murkier.

We contacted the manufacturers of some of Australia’s highest-selling spring water brands to ask where their water was sourced.

Coca Cola Amatil – who produce Mount Franklin and Pump – responded that all of its water brands are sourced locally within each state from springs that are as close as possible to the bottling facilities. However, they said they’re unable to disclose the actual addresses, citing privacy.

A spokesperson from Asahi, which own the brands Frantelle and Cool Ridge, says that their product is sourced “locally” but provide little more information.

A spokesperson from Coles says they don’t disclose the location of the spring water source on the label of the bottles, but that they work with two Australian suppliers across five sites in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA to source the water. However, the specific locations were not supplied.

Poland Spring Water: a “colossal fraud”?

Nestle’s best-selling bottled water brand in the USA – Poland Spring – is “a colossal fraud” according to a class-action lawsuit filed this August. The lawsuit alleges that instead of spring water, the brand has been selling common groundwater to customers instead.

According to the lawsuit, unknown to the general public, one or more wells at each of Nestle Waters’ six largest volume groundwater collection sites in Maine – which recently have collectively supplied up to 99% of the water in Poland Spring Water products – are near a present or former human waste dump, refuse pit, landfill, ash pile, salt mound, farm where pesticides were previously used, fish hatchery or toxic petroleum dump site.

While there are no concerns that the water is contaminated, the lawsuit maintains the company’s claims are misleading because the water comes from wells in low-lying populated areas near potential sources of contamination, while consumers expect ‘spring water’ to come from a naturally occurring spring and pay premium prices as a result.

A statement from Nestle says that the claims made in the lawsuit are without merit and that the product meets the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations defining spring water.

Australian Artesian Water: what’s really in it?

While there’ve been few issues safety-wise in Australia from the tap or the bottle, people who choose bottled water under the impression that it’s more trusted may be surprised by what we found with one local bottled water brand.

Australian Artesian Water claims its bottled water is sourced from the great artesian basin in northern NSW and is “full of mineral salts that are quickly absorbed by your body, replenishing and cleansing”. While not a large brand, it is available at a number of retailers in Sydney at the time of publishing.

ÌÇÐÄVlog received a tip-off that the product inside the bottle may not be what’s claimed on the label. We sent two samples of the product to the National Measurement Institute to see if the contents of the bottle matched the typical analysis provided on the label.

What we discovered from the testing is that the water in the bottle did not match the label at all. We then asked an external expert to take a look at the results and he confirmed that the water in the bottle “couldn’t be more different” to the type of water claimed on the label – it’s “not even close”.

He said that the “typical analysis” provided on the label not only bears no resemblance to the water inside but that the water inside appears to have been treated by reverse osmosis, which has removed almost all of the ionic constituents. In short, this means it’s impossible to know where the water was originally sourced.

While our expert confirmed that the water was not a health risk, he says that the claimed contents are misleading and that the purported benefits of the mineral contents that are being claimed just don’t apply to the actual water inside the bottle.

In fact, for all the claims of minerals and salts made by Australian Artesian Water, the plain old Sydney tap water we had tested along with it actually contained more minerals than the bottled water brand!

Breathe: oxygen-infused water

We also spotted another unusual bottled water brand on sale at a major Sydney Hospital, of all places.

Zouki Breathe oxygen-infused water was being advertised in the foyer café of Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with a large poster proclaiming benefits such as “energy levels”, “vitality”, “endurance”, “mental focus” and “recovery”. The product itself was on sale inside the nearby cafe.

The water, which claims to be directly sourced from a spring in Ballarat and featuring one of the “highest concentration levels of oxygen in any spring water in Australia”, costs $3.50 for a 575ml bottle. So is oxygen-infused water any better than regular water?

Our drinking expert Stuart Khan is blunt. “Oxygen water is a rubbish idea.” He explains that once you extract water from underground, the dissolved oxygen concentrations quickly establish a balance with atmospheric levels.

In fact, he adds that tap water (especially if it has been chlorine disinfected) is just as as highly oxygenated as any groundwater could be.

And when it comes to water quality? Khan says if a spring water claims to be “highly oxygenated”, this suggests it’s been sourced from close to the surface, rather than from a deep and confined aquifer – which would mean the water is actually more vulnerable to contamination.

Water worries?

If you’re concerned about the contents of your bottled water or something doesn’t seem right you can contact the manufacturer or the .

If your tap water looks, smells or tastes strange, or if your clothing and plumbing (such as sinks and toilets) become stained, here are some suggestions for what to do next.

• Ask your neighbours if they have similar issues to try to work out if it’s a general supply problem or one caused by your home’s plumbing.
• Talk to your water supplier about your concerns. If you’ve recognised a potential problem, tell them – it may help them assess and solve the problem more quickly. Ask them for the latest analytical results of your water supply and the corresponding Drinking Water Guidelines recommendations. If you still have doubts, get a water sample analysed.
• Your supplier may analyse a sample free of charge, especially if there’s a health concern.
• Your water supplier may be able to solve some aesthetic problems fairly easily by flushing the mains, while other problems may require more extensive cleaning or repair of the distribution system in your area, or work on your home’s plumbing.
• If you’ve suffered damage (for example, rust-spotted clothes after a wash), you may be able to negotiate compensation from your supplier.

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On this page:

• Names used to suggest links with nature
• Where does bottled water come from?
• Why so many brands use transparent labels
• Bottled versus tap water
• ÌýMaking fitness a target
• The rise of sugar-packed flavoured waters
• The environmental impact
• Cut your bottled water use

It’s been hailed as the marketing triumph of the century – getting people to buy bottled water when they can get it from a tap at a fraction of the price. This year alone, beverage companies are expected to rake in a cool $688 million from sales of bottled water, and that figure is expected to bubble over even further in coming years.

So how has it come to be that bottled water is so popular? After all, bottled water is no better at hydrating you than tap water, and it’s not any healthier either. Taste tests have also shown most people can’t even tell the difference between bottled water and tap water.

And if all that wasn’t quite enough, it all becomes a little more extraordinary to think that some beverage companies source their water for bottling from … the humble tap.

So why are people payingÌýalmost 2000 times the priceÌýfor bottled water?

Names used to suggest links with nature

“The bottled water companies aren’t telling us their water is any better than tap water,” says Paul Henry, an Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s Business School and an expert in brand management. “People make that association from the imagery and the labelling that it comes with.”

Elizabeth Royte, author of Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It, agrees. She says it’s easy for beverage companies to make consumers feel bottled water is superior to tap water by giving their water a clean and pure image.

“Bottled water companies use names and images that either subtly or overtly evoke purity and links with nature, and consumers might presume these to be ‘better’ and ‘cleaner’ than tap water. You’ll see many images of mountains, rivers, creeks and forests on the label – the iconography of the pure and the natural,” Royte says.

Take a stroll down the drinks aisle at the local supermarket and it’s easy to see what Royte means. Names like Cool Ridge, Mount Franklin, and even Woolworths’ private label brand, Mountain, adorn the labels of bottled water. And there’s no shortage of images of snow-capped mountain ranges, waterfalls, rolling green hills and alpine lakes.

But while a brand of water might be named after a mountain, it doesn’t mean the water comes from there. The water in Coca-Cola Amatil’s Mount Franklin, for example, doesn’t necessarily come from Mount Franklin, as the name implies. Coca-Cola actually sources its water from various springs across five different states, one of which is in Queensland, more than 1600km drive from Victoria’s Mount Franklin. Another spring is no more than a two-hour drive from Sydney on the Central Coast – hardly the pristine alpine region the brand name evokes.

And then there’s Nature’s Best. With a tantalising name and a label featuring snow-capped mountains, the water is actually nothing more than treated tap water – and they’re not the only brand doing this.

Where does bottled water come from?

There are many different types of water that get bottled up for sale: spring, mineral, artesian, glacier, rain and yes, even tap water is sometimes used as a source of water for bottling. And while a label will usually tell you what type of water is inside the bottle, beverage companies aren’t quick to disclose this when their water comes from the tap.

And that’s probably because there’s no requirement for them to do so. While bottled water falls under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, the code doesn’t require manufacturers to state on the bottle what type of water it is or where the water is sourced from, apart from the country of origin.

Of course, manufacturers aren’t simply bottling water as it pours out of the tap. There’s usually some extra treatment, such as reverse osmosis, distillation, or even ozonation. For this reason, you’ll often see something like “purified water” or even just “pure water” written on the label.Ìý

Some of the brands treating tap water and bottling it up include:

• Nature’s Best
• Pureau
• Aqua Pura
• Refresh

Why so many brands use transparent labels

The marketing spin around bottled water doesn’t just stop with the label. With the name and the imagery in place, the next item on the agenda is to get that bottle looking as appealing as possible. And what’s the most appealing way to bottle water? In clear packaging, it seems, so you can see right through the contentsÌý– again adding to the perception that the water is clean and pure. Adding a tint of blue to the bottle is also a popular option.

Premium brand Fiji has taken its packaging one step further by putting a transparent label on the front of its bottles, allowing you to see straight through to the attractive island landscape on the back. Evian has followed suit, stating that the transparent labels on its bottles are “showcasing the purity of the contents”.

But even with a transparent label, these waters clearly lack the elegance of the more upmarket waters, like Australia’s own Cape Grim, Tasmanian Rain or King Island Cloud Juice. While these waters also sport a clear bottle, the plastic has given way to glass because, as Henry puts it, “glass denotes quality, of course”.

Bottled versus tap water

In case you miss all the cues in the name, imagery and style of bottle used, beverage companies also try to entice people to buy their water through clever wording on their labels.

Pick up any bottle of spring or mineral water and you’ll most likely find words like “pristine”, “natural”, and “pure” being splashed around. On a 600mL bottle of Mount Franklin, the word “pure” shows up no less than four times. And Evian likes to spruik its water with the phrase “as nature intended”.

Royte says it’s clear what the intention is behind the use of such emphatic words: “The marketers want potential consumers to think that tap water is unnatural.”

But is bottled water actually any “purer” or more “pristine” than tap water? Not according to Stuart Khan, an Associate Professor at the University of New South Wales and an expert in drinking water quality.

“Australia is a world leader in the way we manage drinking water quality and we have some of the best tap water in the world,” Khan says.

Tap water and bottled water are regulated differently in Australia, so they don’t need to meet the same standards. Tap water needs to meet more stringent quality criteria and actually gets monitored more carefully than bottled water.

“Tap water is managed in a much more holistic way than bottled water. And the safety practices around pathogens like bacteria and viruses are much more rigorous with tap water than they are with bottled water,” Khan says.

ÌýMaking fitness a target

Of course, it’s not all about pure mountain streams and pristine lakes for bottled water. Beverage companies also target the fitness crowd with their products, and here the association with cleanliness and purity gives way to making the impression bottled water is invigorating.

“Take Coke’s Pump brand, for example,” Henry says. “Just the word ‘pump’ gives the imagery of being able to lift you up and give you more energy, so it’s perfect for the gym scene.”

Pump has also sponsored dance party events – another market it seems the name is particularly apt for.

“All the beverage companies are aligning their waters with particular events. It generates habit and makes it seem more acceptable,” Henry says.

The rise of sugar-packed flavoured waters

Beverage companies are now turning to flavoured waters in a bid to lure in more people to drinking bottled water and extending their customer base. But while they sport energetic names like Mango Blast and Berry Storm, flavoured waters aren’t exactly a healthy option.

“I certainly wouldn’t recommend flavoured waters,” says Dr Michael Foley, director of the Brisbane Dental Hospital and a member of the Australian Dental Association’s Oral Health Committee. “They’ve usually got sugars and acids added to them, which can lead to tooth decay.”

For example, a single 600mL bottle of Aqua Pura Wildberry Fruit Splash contains around seven teaspoons of sugar – about the same as a can of Red Bull. A 500mL bottle of Ovi Hydration flavoured water or the healthy-sounding Glaceau Vitamin Water each contain around five teaspoons of sugar, which is more than you’ll find in a 250mL cup of red cordial. And while bottles of Pump flavoured water carry a “low in sugar” tag on the label, each 600mL bottle still contains more than three teaspoons of sugar.

And it’s not just the sugar that can be problematic for teeth. Food acids are also added to flavoured waters to help extend shelf life.

“The bacteria that causes tooth decay needs an acidic environment and flavoured water encourages that through the food acids they add to them,” Foley says.

The problem is compounded by the lack of fluoride in most bottled waters, which can actually help prevent tooth decay. While fluoride is added to tap water in all of Australia’s capital cities, you won’t find it in most bottled waters – whether it’s flavoured or not.

“Every reputable scientific and health authority in Australia endorses water fluoridation,” says Foley. “Fluoride prevents cavities – it’s as simple as that.”

The environmental impact

While beverage companies like to give the impression their water is more natural than tap water, environmental groups are quick to point out there’s nothing natural about drinking water from a plastic bottle – no matter how many pictures of mountain ranges are etched onto the label.

For starters, there’s all the water that’s wasted just making the plastic to hold the water. The Pacific Institute estimates it takes twice as much water to make a plastic bottle than the amount of water it holds.

The amount of energy used to transport the water around the globe – and then refrigerate it – is another environmental concern. After all, it’s a heck of a long way from the foothills of the French Alps to the fridge of your local corner store. But even with locally sourced water, the food miles involved can be staggeringly high, with the water needing to be transported from its collection point to a bottling plant and then on to a warehouse before it finally makes its way to the supermarkets and other retail outlets.

And once the water has been downed, there’s the problem of disposing of the plastic bottle. While they’re made from recyclable PET, the sad reality is only a small proportion of PET bottles actually end up in the recycling bin, with Clean Up Australia reporting plastic bottles and lids as being among the most common rubbish items picked up on Clean Up Australia day.

“Bottled water is often consumed away from home and there are very few facilities where you can recycle water bottles properly outside of your house,” explains Jon Dee, founder of Do Something! and campaigner against bottled water. “So they usually end up getting dumped in the bin or end up as litter.”

Cut your bottled water use

If you want to cut your own use of bottled water – and save some money in the process – follow these simple tips:

• Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it up from the tap. If you like your water cold, get an insulated water bottle and top it up with water kept in a jug in your fridge.
• Be on the look out for public water fountains. Some local councils have installed purpose-built refill zones for people to refill their water bottles.
• If you don’t like the taste of the water coming out of your tap, install a water filter.
• Letting your tap water age for a little bit can help get rid of any chlorine taste. Simply fill up a jug of water and keep it in the fridge overnight.

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