大部份發展嘅國家，水會加入氯氣來消毒。如果啲水存在有機物，就會產生有 jaam 味因為氯氣氧化有機物之後會產生 trihalomethanes 同 haloacetic acids (If the water contains organic matter, this may produce other byproducts in the water such as) trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids, resulting in off-smell or taste. ) The level of residual chlorine found at around 0.0002 g per litre, which is too small to cause any health problems directly.[12] The chlorine concentration recommended by World Health Organization is between 0.0005 and 0.0002 g/L.[15]
The Showtime series Penn & Teller: Bullshit! demonstrated, in a 2003 episode, that in a controlled setting, those diners could not discern between bottled water and water from a garden hose behind the restaurant.[16]
The United Church of Christ, United Church of Canada, National Council of Churches, National Coalition of American Nuns, and Presbyterians for Restoring Creation are among some of the religious organizations that have raised questions about whether or not the "privatization" of water is ethical. They regard the industrial purchase and repackaging at a much higher resale price of a basic resource as an unethical trend.[17]
The recent documentary Tapped argues against the bottled water industry, asserting that tap water is healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and more ecologically sound than bottled water. The film focuses on the bottled water industry in the United States. The film has received largely positive reviews, and has spawned college campus groups such as Beyond the Bottle.
In February 2012, the Grand Canyon National Park Service has approved a plan that would eliminate the sale of bottled water within 30 days. Visitors can use $290,000 water stations to refill their own water bottles, which they can tote in from the outside, concerns that empty plastic bottled scaterred around the park are spoiling views of the natural wonder.[18]
The Beverage Marketing Corporation defines the bottled water market segment as "retail PET, retail bulk, home and office delivery, vending, domestic sparkling and imports", but excluding "flavored and enhanced water."[19]
The Plastics Symbol no. 7 is a recent concern worldwide on discovery that large numbers of no.7 plastics are made with Polycarbonate plastic which, experimentally were found to leach bisphenol A. This chemical is a known hormonal disruptor causing miscarriages and birth defects, according to a study conducted by Case Western Reserve scientists. “Synthetic xenoestrogens,” one of which is Bisphenol A or BPA “are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.” Responsible baby bottle industries are producing BPA-free bottles that are clearly marked.
Bottle-less drinking water vending machine in Pattaya, Thailand. Customers bring their containers
A number of cities and companies worldwide have vending machines that dispense purified water into customer's own containers. All dispensers filter the location's tap water. In North America, these machines are typically located outside of supermarkets.
Of all the water vending companies, Glacier Water is by far the largest. Since its inception in 1983, Glacier Water has experienced significant growth in machine placements and has created an extensive network of approximately 17,000 water vending machines (year 2010) located throughout the United States and Canada.
Many plumbers install final purification devices into the homes and businesses of customers. Several methods of treatment are offered, ranging from carbon filtration to reverse osmosis and the degree of filtration ranges from making the tap water more palatable to removal of specific minerals and contaminants. Counter-top filtration systems also are sold in grocery and department stores that make tap water more palatable.
Similar in principle to traditional canteens that have been used for generations, stainless steel containers for carrying one's personal water supply (drawn from the home or public supply) now are being marketed, however, they are built to resemble contemporary water bottles. Whether that is intended symbolically or as an attempt to fit so many products designed for soda cans or plastic bottles, is uncertain. Similar to glass, stainless steel has been proven as a safe container for water or food for generations because they do not leach any contaminants into its contents.
Reverse osmosis water purification systems can remove up to 90% or more of certain inorganic chemicals. These inorganic chemicals include: fluoride, sulfate, nitrate, iron, copper, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, silver and zinc. Reverse osmosis can even remove some microbiological contaminants, including Giardia cysts. However unless equipped with an activated charcoal post-filter, reverse osmosis by itself does not remove dissolved gases and organic chemicals such as radon and trihalomethanes,<http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/water/az9419.pdf>.
An office water cooler with a reusable 5美制加侖（19公升） bottle
It is not uncommon for business or individuals to subscribe to a bottled water service. These services deliver water either monthly or weekly, sometimes even daily. Traditionally, water in glass bottles (jugs) was provided to electric coolers in areas of businesses without plumbing. Plastic containers have replaced those glass jugs, however, dispensers at businesses now may stand alongside of existing water taps or fountains.
The Australasian Bottled Water Institute is a regional member of the International Council of Bottled Water Associations. The bottled water industry in Australia is worth approximately $400 million per year,[20]
An upmarket restaurant in Sydney has stopped selling bottled water and started using a machine costing A$5000 to filter, chill and carbonate tap water to get the same quality water.
In 2009, the New South Wales town of Bundanoon voted to become the first town in the world to outlaw bottled water.[21] Its citizens voluntarily chose to ban bottled water in response to a bottling company's desire to sell water from the town's local aquifer.[22] The initiative was proposed by local businessman Huw Kingston and carried out by the grassroots organization name Bundy On Tap (the name is a pun which refers to Bundaberg, an Australian brand of rum which is sometimes served as a pre-mixeddraught). In a community meeting of 356 of the town's 2,500 residents, all but one voted in favor of the ban,[20] prohibiting the selling or dispensing of bottled water within the town precinct.[23]
Bundanoon's six stores have removed bottled water from their stock. The town now offers public drinking fountains and filtered water dispensers where people can fill up reusable water bottles and canteens. The reusable empty bottles are sold in place of full bottles in the local stores. Bundanoon's bold stand against bottled water's damaging effects on the environment and on communities has thrust it into a global spotlight. Bundanoon has caught the attention of many other cities around the world who soon could have similar policies.[20][24]
The decision to ban bottled water came partly from opposition to the proposed bottling plant, and partly from opposition to the environmental and health impacts. There is skepticism that singling out bottled water is necessarily the best option, as there is a worry that soda will be purchased more frequently in place of bottled water because of the convenience the disposable bottle offers.[20]
Directive 2009/54/EC[25] deals with the marketing and exploitation of natural mineral waters in the European Union. The two main types of bottled water recognized are mineral water and spring water.
Broadly speaking, "mineral water" is groundwater that has emerged from the ground and flowed over rock. Treatment of mineral water is restricted to removal of unstable elements such as iron and sulfur compounds. Treatment for such minerals may extend only to filtration or decanting with oxygenation. Free carbon dioxide may be removed only by physical methods, and the regulations for introduction (or reintroduction) of CO2 are strictly defined. Disinfection of natural mineral water is completely prohibited, including the addition of any element that is likely to change bacterial colony counts. If natural mineral water is effervescent, it must be labelled accordingly, depending on the origin of the carbon dioxide: naturally carbonated natural mineral water (no introduction of CO2); natural mineral water fortified with gas from the spring (reintroduction of CO2); carbonated natural mineral water (CO2 added following strict guidelines).
Directive 2001/83/EC[26] deals with bottled water that is considered a "medicinal product" and is thus excluded from the scope of the other regulation.
Bottled Water Refill Station in a Canadian grocery store
Water is the chief natural resource of Lebanon where the porous fractured limestone of the mountains, both the Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon ranges, create an excellent aquifer that are replenished over spring and early summer by the melting snow.[27] Lebanon has an advantageous position in the region as far as the amount of rainfall the country receives and water resources available where springs are abundant, due to the exceedingly “fractured geologic rocks,” and where streams amount to a length of 730 km.[28] Lebanon has one of the fastest growth rate of per capita consumption of bottled water.[29]
Lebanon has seven major brands of bottled mineral water for local consumption and for exportation to the water-starved countries on the Arabian Peninsula and in the Persian Gulf:[30]
Due to contaminated water being widespread, in the mid-1990s urban families started installing filtration units at home. This later developed into companies providing mineral water delivery services at home. Use of these1美制加侖（3.8公升） bottles that could be attached to a dispenser is still widespread.
Bottled water was made famous by one of the largest marketing campaigns in Pakistan history undertaken by Nestle. Eventually, other bottlers including dozens of local ones, Coca Cola, Pepsi,Dawn Dew Drop 3D, and other imported brands such as Evian began marketing in the country.
The U.S. is the largest consumer market for bottled water in the world, followed by Mexico, China, and Brazil.[31] In 2008, U.S. bottled water sales topped 8.6 × 109美制加侖（33,000,000立方米） for 28.9% of the U.S. liquid beverage market, exceeding sales of all other beverages except carbonated soft drinks, they are followed by fruit juices, and sports drinks.[19] Americans drink 21美制加侖（79公升） of bottled water per capita per year.[32]
↑Ikem, A., Odueyungbo, S., Egiebor, N.O., & Nyavor, K. (2001). "Chemical quality of bottled waters from three cities in eastern Alabama". The Science of the Total Environment. 285 (1–3): 165–175. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00915-9. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: 作者名單 (link)
↑World Health Organization, "How to measure
chlorine residual in water" WHO - Technical Notes for Emergencies, Technical Note No. 11, 4 Draft revised: 7.1.05 (pdf)
↑Bottled Water. Penn Jillette, Teller. Bullshit!. Showtime. 2003-03-07. No. 7, season 1.
↑ 19.019.1"Smaller categories still saw growth as the U.S. liquid refreshment beverage market shrunk by 2.0% in 2008, Beverage Marketing Corporation reports", press releaseBeverage Marketing Corporation, 3/30/2009.
↑"Changing Consumer Tastes Creates Explosive Growth For Domestic And International Bottled Water Brands - Revenue In 2007 Expected To Reach $5.974 Billion With Growth Set To Climb Higher Through 2012", press release, IBISWorldArchive.is嘅歸檔，歸檔日期2009年8月12號，, May 21, 2008.
