Bottled water is sold all over the world. Many brands are sold as alternatives to tap water. Other bottled waters with attractive packaging and promotion are sold as soft drink and alcohol alternatives.
Bottled water is increasingly sold in plastic containers made from PET or polycarbonate to meet market preference for this kind of packaging.
Within the bottled water market, there is a range of products. These include mineral waters from natural springs and as well as waters harvested from other more conventional sources. Some products are carbonated and others are "still".
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines do not address bottled water, or other packaged water or ice. These products are regulated by Food Standards Australia New Zealand under the Australia New Zealand Food Standard Code. Standard 2.6.2: Non-alcoholic beverages and brewed soft drinks deals with labelling and composition of packaged waters, mineral waters and water-based beverages. The Code is available at Food Standards Australia New Zealand: http://www.foodstandards.gov.au
A litre of bottled water purchased at a supermarket costs more than one dollar. To fill a one litre bottle at the kitchen tap costs less than 0.1 cents. That is more than a one thousand-fold difference in price.
The Australian Consumers’ Association magazine “Choice” published an article in July 2005 comparing tap water and bottled water. They concluded that:
• For most people, there’s no good reason to believe bottled water is any healthier than tap water.
• Bottled water doesn’t necessarily taste better than tap water.
• Bottled water can be a handy alternative to soft drinks or juice when you’re out and about, and it has no kilojoules.
The article can be found at www.choice.com.au (enter “bottled water” in the ‘Search’ field)
Consumer's Guide to Drinking Water - May 2006