Sludge Watch ==> Take Back the Tap - Bottled water not safer

[Maureen Reilly]

>From Susan Howatt - Council of Canadians



Hi all,
Here is a link to a recent report by Food and Water Watch on the bottled 
water industry.

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/pubs/reports/take-back-the-tap

There are many lessons that are shared with our US friends, and there is a 
mention of the ongoing campaign by the Wellington Water Watchers of Guelph, 
Ontario against Nestle Waters.

Bottled water is not safer

The bottled water industry has created a misconception in the United States 
that bottled water is cleaner, safer, and healthier than tap water. In fact, 
both regulation and enforcement of bottled water safety is weaker than of 
tap water safety. Federal, state, and local environmental agencies require 
rigorous testing of tap water safety. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration 
regulates bottled water – if the water is sold over state lines, meaning up 
to 70 percent of all bottled water produced and sold within states is exempt 
from FDA regulation. Most food processing plants are not even inspected once 
a year and any safety testing of bottled water is performed by the companies 
themselves.2 A landmark study by the Natural Resources Defense Council found 
approximately one-third of tested bottled water brands violated, in at least 
one sample, an enforceable standard or exceeded microbiological-purity 
guidelines. The most common contaminants were arsenic and synthetic organic 
carcinogens.3





Susan Howatt

National Water Campaigner, The Council of Canadians

Tel: 613- 233-4487 ext 239   or   1-800-387-7177 ext 239

Cel: 613-761-2482

http://www.canadians.org/water





Call to action against the SPP! Council of Canadians to mobilize in Ottawa, 
Montebello and across the country from August19-20. Visit 
www.IntegrateThis.ca for more info.